Ashbourne Line
Encyclopedia
The Ashbourne Line was a 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
.
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, which it had leased in 1862, at Hindlow Junction just south of Harpur Hill. 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
in 1894.
Meanwhile the North Staffordshire Railway had extended into Ashbourne from its Churnet Valley Line
in 1852.
The section from Parsley Hay to Ashbourne was opened in 1899 at a new station built jointly by the NSR and the LNWR. The Station Hotel (now called The Beresford Arms) dates from this time.
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 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 a tunnel 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.
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
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. 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 October 30 1954 , but specials and excursions of various kinds continued until 1963.
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.
, was one of the first of such ventures in the country. Later, Ashbourne Tunnel was acquired by Sustrans
.
However there are hopes one day a section of the old line could be reinstated & reopened as a heritage railway called the "Mid Derbyshire Railway" alongside the trails which would be beneficial to the local economy as finances allow.
The line is still open from Buxton to Hindlow for stone traffic from Buxton Lime Industries and Lafarge Dowlow.
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
via Ashbourne
Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Ashbourne is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales, England. It has a population of 10,302.The town advertises itself as 'The Gateway to Dovedale'.- Local customs :...
to Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter is a historic market town in Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. The current population is approximately 13,711, though new developments in the town will increase this figure. Uttoxeter lies close to the River Dove and is near the cities of Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and...
. It was built by the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
using a section of the Cromford and High Peak Railway
Cromford and High Peak Railway
The Cromford and High Peak Railway in Derbyshire, England, was completed in 1831, to carry minerals and goods between the Cromford Canal wharf at High Peak Junction and the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge -Origins:...
(C&HPR) and it joined the North Staffordshire Railway
North Staffordshire Railway
The North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
at Ashbourne, proceeding to Uttoxeter with a junction onto the main line at Rocester
Rocester
Rocester is a village and civil parish in the East Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. Its name is spelt Rowcestre in the Domesday Book.-Geography:...
.
Origins
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 limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
was building up and the LNWR's only route southwards was through the Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
area. Finally, and not least, the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
was threatening to take over the Derbyshire business through its attempts to reach Manchester from Derby via Buxton
Buxton railway station
Buxton railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Buxton in Derbyshire. It is managed and served by Northern Rail. The station is 25¾ miles south east of Manchester Piccadilly and is the terminus of the Buxton Line.-History:...
.
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, which it had leased in 1862, at Hindlow Junction just south of Harpur Hill. At the other end, it would build High Peak Junction
High Peak Junction
High Peak Junction, near Cromford, Derbyshire, England, is the name now used to describe the site where the former Cromford and High Peak Railway , whose workshops were located here, meets the Cromford Canal...
near Cromford
Cromford
Cromford is a village, two miles to the south of Matlock in the Derbyshire Dales district in Derbyshire, England. It is principally known for its historical connection with Richard Arkwright, and the Cromford Mill which he built here in 1771...
. 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
Parsley Hay railway station
Parsley Hay railway station served Parsley Hay, a hamlet about 15 km south east of Buxton, Derbyshire, on the LNWR line to Ashbourne. The nearest large settlement is the village of Hartington.-History:...
in 1894.
Meanwhile the North Staffordshire Railway had extended into Ashbourne from its Churnet Valley Line
Churnet Valley Line
The Churnet Valley line was one of the three original routes planned and built by the North Staffordshire Railway. Authorised in 1846, the line opened in 1849 and ran from in Cheshire to in East Staffordshire...
in 1852.
The section from Parsley Hay to Ashbourne was opened in 1899 at a new station built jointly by the NSR and the LNWR. The Station Hotel (now called The Beresford Arms) dates from this time.
Construction
Buxton station having been built as a terminus facing north it was first necessary to proceed around a tight 180 degree curve over Hogshaw Viaduct, with a gradient as steep as 1 in 62, to the station at Higher Buxton. On leaving the town the line passed over Dukes Drive Viaduct, 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 to the summit of the line at Dowlow, a height of 1260 feet 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.From there the line fell at 1 in 60 to Hurdlow (for Longnor
Longnor, Staffordshire
Longnor is a village in the Staffordshire Peak District, England. The settlement dates from early times, the first recorded Church building being in the Middle Ages. The village was named Longenalre in the Domesday Book. Located on a major crossroads, Longnor was a significant market town in the...
and Monyash
Monyash
Monyash is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District about five miles west of Bakewell.Monyash lies at an elevation of 300m above sea level, and has a population of about 280 people. The village is located in a shallow hollow in the limestone plateau at the head of Lathkill Dale, which starts just...
), but then the gradient eased considerably to Parsley Hay, where it left the CH&PR. From there to Ashbourne the line was single and although the line was initially fairly level it included a number of tight curves. The next stop was Hartington
Hartington
Hartington is a village in the Derbyshire Peak District, England, lying on the River Dove close to the Staffordshire border. According to the 2001 census, the parish of Hartington Town Quarter, which also includes Pilsbury, had a population of 345...
, where after about a couple of miles the line began to fall steeply again at 1 in 60 through Alsop en le Dale
Alsop en le Dale
Alsop en le Dale is a tiny village in Derbyshire, England. Located some 5 miles north of Ashbourne, it lies close to the Staffordshire border, and is only a mile from Dovedale, a popular tourist location....
, Tissington
Tissington
Tissington is a village in Derbyshire, England. It is part of the estate of Tissington Hall, owned by the FitzHerbert family since 1465. It is regarded as one of the most picturesque English villages and is a popular tourist attraction, particularly during its well dressing week. It also gives its...
, Fenny Bentley
Fenny Bentley
Fenny Bentley is a village close to Dovedale, Derbyshire, England. It lies two north of Ashbourne, on the A515 Buxton to Ashbourne Road.The Church of St Edmund at Fenny Bentley probably dates back to the 14th century but it was very heavily restored in the 19th century when the spire was added to...
, where there was a goods depot, and Thorpe Cloud
Thorpe Cloud
Thorpe Cloud is an isolated limestone hill lying between the villages of Thorpe and Ilam at the southern end of Dovedale. It is a popular hill amongst the many day-trippers who visit the area, and provides a fine viewpoint north up the dale and south across the Midland plain.Like much of the dale,...
, and finally through a tunnel 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.
River Dove, Derbyshire
The River Dove is the principal river of the southwestern Peak District, in the Midlands of England and is around in length. It rises on Axe Edge Moor near Buxton and flows generally south to its confluence with the River Trent at Newton Solney. From there, its waters reach the North Sea via the...
History
There were regular trains from Ashbourne to Derby.Baedeker
Baedeker
Verlag Karl Baedeker is a Germany-based publisher and pioneer in the business of worldwide travel guides. The guides, often referred as simply "Baedekers" , contain important introductions, descriptions of buildings, of museum collections, etc., written by the best specialists, and...
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
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. 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 October 30 1954 , but specials and excursions of various kinds continued until 1963.
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.
Preservation & Proposed Heritage Railway
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 TrailTissington Trail
right|thumb|200px|The Trail at the site of the former Tissington station, now a picnic site.The Tissington Trail is a bridleway and walk/cycle path in Derbyshire, England...
, was one of the first of such ventures in the country. Later, Ashbourne Tunnel was acquired by Sustrans
Sustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
.
However there are hopes one day a section of the old line could be reinstated & reopened as a heritage railway called the "Mid Derbyshire Railway" alongside the trails which would be beneficial to the local economy as finances allow.
The line is still open from Buxton to Hindlow for stone traffic from Buxton Lime Industries and Lafarge Dowlow.