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The Ashbourne line was a 33+1⁄2 mi (53.9 km) [1] railway from Buxton via Ashbourne to Uttoxeter. It was built by the London and North Western Railway using a section of the Cromford and High Peak Railway (C&HPR) and it joined the North Staffordshire Railway at Ashbourne, proceeding to Uttoxeter with a junction onto the main line at Rocester.
Although the country between Buxton and Ashbourne was sparsely populated, and the terrain immensely difficult, there were a number of motivations for its construction. Ashbourne was one of the few large settlements in the area without a railway connection until the North Staffordshire Railway built its branch from the Churnet Valley line in 1852. Meanwhile, a lucrative trade in limestone was building up and the LNWR's only route southwards was through the Manchester area. Finally, and not least, the Midland Railway was threatening to take over the Derbyshire business through its attempts to reach Manchester from Derby via Buxton.
The LNWR sought to consolidate its position by building a line southwards across the Midland's path. Both railways had arrived at Buxton almost simultaneously in 1863, with termini adjacent to each other (and Buxton lost its chance to be served by a mainline railway).
The LNWR had leased the Cromford and High Peak in 1861 and in 1874 it gained permission to link Buxton with the C&HPR at Hindlow Junction just south of Harpur Hill, which it reached in 1892. [1] At the other end, it would build High Peak Junction near Cromford. After some delay, a further bill was sought in 1887 which, in addition, allowed the complete takeover of the High Peak line. Services began to Parsley Hay on 1 June 1894. [1]
The 13 mi (21 km) section from Parsley Hay to Ashbourne was authorised by the LNWR Act of 4 August 1890, the building contract awarded to Naylor Brothers on 10 December 1895, [1] and it was opened on 4 August 1899. [1] A new Ashbourne station was built jointly by the NSR and the LNWR. The Station Hotel (known as The Beresford Arms for some time, but which has now reverted to its original name) dates from this time.
Buxton station having been built as a terminus facing north it was first necessary to proceed around a tight 180 degree curve over the 15-arch Hogshaw Viaduct, [1] with a gradient as steep as 1 in 62, to the station at Higher Buxton. On leaving the town the line passed over 13-arch Dukes Drive Viaduct, [1] and then climbed steadily at 1 in 62 to Beswick's Sidings. The gradient eased from there to Hindlow, where the line joined the CHPR. It then climbed once more at 1 in 60, through the 514 yd (470 m) Hindlow Tunnel, [1] to the summit of the line at Dowlow, a height of 1,260 ft (380 m) above sea level, making it the highest public line in England at that time. This section still exists, serving various lime works at Hindlow and Dowlow. [2]
From there the line fell at 1 in 60 to Hurdlow (for Longnor and Monyash), but then the gradient eased considerably to Parsley Hay, where it left the CH&PR. From there to Ashbourne the line was single, with passing loops at all stations except Thorpe Cloud, and although the line was initially fairly level it included a number of tight curves. The next stop was Hartington, where after about a couple of miles the line began to fall steeply again at 1 in 60 through Alsop en le Dale, Tissington, Fenny Bentley, where there was a goods depot, and Thorpe Cloud, and finally through 378 yd (346 m) Church St tunnel [1] to Ashbourne.
It can be seen that the gradients and curves meant that it was always a difficult line to work, particularly during winter when it was exposed to the elements on the high moors. By contrast, the line from Ashbourne southwards was relatively easy, following river valleys as it did, first the Henmore Brook and then the River Dove.
There were regular trains from Ashbourne to Derby.
Baedeker for 1890 gives the following information: Railway from Ashbourne to Derby, 30 M., in 1¼-2 hours (fares 2s.6d., 2s., 1s. 3d.) – 5M Norbury with a highly interesting church (14-15cent; fine stained-glass) and an ancient manor house – At 7M Rocester( rail, refreshment rooms) the pretty 'Churnet Valley line' diverges to the right; the first station on it is (3½M) Alton – 11M Uttoxeter 19M Tutbury – 30M Derby [3]
Once the line to Parsley Hay was open in 1899, there were six trains a day between Buxton and Ashbourne, but the expected expresses were no more than through coaches being attached to London trains. [4] Until 1914 it was possible to travel the 168+1⁄2 mi (271.2 km) from Euston to Buxton in 4hr 24min. [1] Nevertheless, it was valuable for freight, not only minerals, but milk and other farm produce. Moreover, it became a lifeline during the winter snowstorms: two years after the line opened, a train of six-wheeled carriages became derailed by the snow and was marooned for three days, during which time the crew were given hot food and drinks by local farmers. This camaraderie ensured that the trains would always get through somehow.
Throughout its existence It served townsfolk who wished to explore the countryside, and country folk who wanted to visit town. Regular passenger services finished on 30 October 1954, [5] but specials and excursions of various kinds continued until 1963. in its last years the line was worked by a LMS Fowler 2-6-2T and 2 coaches. [1]
In the same year, freight traffic finished between Ashbourne and Hartington, to Rocester in 1964, from Hartington to Parsley Hay in October 1967, and to Hindlow the following month.
Although all trace of the old NSR lines has practically disappeared, the track bed from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay was acquired by Derbyshire County Council and the Peak National Park for a cycle and walking route. This, the Tissington Trail, was one of the first of such ventures in the country. Later, Ashbourne Tunnel was acquired by Sustrans.
The line is still open from Buxton to Hindlow for stone traffic from the Buxton lime industry and Lafarge Dowlow. [2]
Ashbourne is a market town in the Derbyshire Dales district in Derbyshire, England. Its population was measured at 8,377 in the 2011 census and was estimated to have grown to 9,163 by 2019. It has many historical buildings and independent shops. The town offers a historic annual Shrovetide football match. Its position near the southern edge of the Peak District makes it the closest town to Dovedale, to which Ashbourne is sometimes referred to as the gateway.
Hartington is a village in the centre of the White Peak area of the Derbyshire Peak District, England, lying on the River Dove which is the Staffordshire border. According to the 2001 census, the parish of Hartington Town Quarter, which also includes Pilsbury, had a population of 345 reducing to 332 at the 2011 Census. Formerly known for cheese-making and the mining of ironstone, limestone and lead, the village is now popular with tourists.
The Cromford and High Peak Railway (C&HPR) was a standard-gauge line between the Cromford Canal wharf at High Peak Junction and the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge. The railway, which was completed in 1831, was built to carry minerals and goods through the hilly rural terrain of the Peak District within Derbyshire, England. The route was marked by a number of roped worked inclines. Due to falling traffic, the entire railway was closed by 1967.
The Tissington Trail is a bridleway, footpath and cycleway in Derbyshire, England, along part of the trackbed of the former railway line connecting Ashbourne to Buxton. It takes its name from the village of Tissington, which it skirts. Opened in 1971, and now a part of the National Cycle Network, it stretches for 13 miles (21 km) from Parsley Hay (53.1706°N 1.7828°W) in the north to Ashbourne (53.0196°N 1.7397°W) in the south.
Thorpe is a village and civil parish in the English county of Derbyshire; it is on the Derbyshire/Staffordshire border, on the east bank of the River Dove, about four miles north of Ashbourne. The population of the civil parish as at the 2011 census was 183.
Parsley Hay railway station served Parsley Hay, a hamlet within Hartington Middle Quarter civil parish, about 9.3 miles (15 km) south east of Buxton, Derbyshire, on the LNWR line to Ashbourne. The nearest large settlement is the village of Hartington.
Higher Buxton railway station was opened in 1894 to the south east of Buxton, Derbyshire, on the LNWR line to Ashbourne and the south.
Hindlow railway station was opened for goods in 1833 near to Hindlow near King Sterndale to the south east of Buxton, Derbyshire on the Cromford and High Peak Railway and the LNWR line to Ashbourne and the south.
Dowlow Halt was opened in 1920 between Dowlow and Greatlow to the south east of Buxton, Derbyshire on the London and North Western Railway line to Ashbourne and the south.
Hurdlow railway station was near to the hamlet of Hurdlow within Hartington Middle Quarter civil parish, to the south east of Buxton, Derbyshire on the LNWR line to Ashbourne and the south.
Rocester railway station was a railway station built by the North Staffordshire Railway (NSR) located at Rocester in Staffordshire.
Thorpe Cloud railway station was opened in 1899 between the villages of Thorpe and Fenny Bentley in Derbyshire, south east of Buxton.
Tissington railway station is a disused British railway station near Tissington, a village in Derbyshire near Ashbourne. It opened on 4 August 1899 and closed on 7 October 1963.
Alsop en le Dale railway station was opened in 1899 near Alsop en le Dale and Alstonefield, villages in Derbyshire southeast of Buxton.
Hartington railway station opened in 1899 about two miles away from the village it served - Hartington in Derbyshire, south east of Buxton.
Ashbourne railway station formerly served the town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire. There have been two stations in the town. The first, opened in 1852, was operated by the North Staffordshire Railway (NSR); it was replaced in 1899 by a station at a new location, jointly operated by the NSR and the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). In 1923 the station passed into the ownership of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and in 1948 that of the London Midland Region of British Railways. It was finally closed to all traffic in 1963.
The Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway was an early railway company in England which was opened in 1857 between Stockport Edgeley and Whaley Bridge.
High Peak Junction, near Cromford, Derbyshire, England, is the name now used to describe the site where the former Cromford and High Peak Railway (C&HPR), whose workshops were located here, meets the Cromford Canal. It lies within Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, designated in 2001, and today marks the southern end of the High Peak Trail, a 17 miles (27 km) trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. The Derwent Valley Heritage Way also passes this point, and popular walks lead from here along the towpath in both directions.
The White Peak Loop is a 60-mile (97 km) route for walking, cycling and horse riding in the Peak District of England. The trail combines sections of the High Peak Trail and the Monsal Trail with linking sections through the towns of Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock. The White Peak Loop is being developed by Derbyshire County Council and as of 2022 some sections are not yet complete.
Ladmanlow railway station was a minor railway station located on the Cromford and High Peak Railway near Buxton in Derbyshire. It was located on a line mostly used for mineral and quarry traffic. It opened to passengers in 1855 and closed in 1876 due to relatively but not uncommonly low usage. The goods station then closed in 1967 along with the rest of the line. Today, nothing remains of the station. It was also the terminus of the line originally for passengers until 1874 when it was extended to Buxton/Whaley Bridge. The trackbed now forms part of the A54 Road.
