Millers Dale railway station
Encyclopedia
Millers Dale railway station was a station situated in Millers Dale
in the Peak District
. It was built in 1863 by the Midland Railway
on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway
from Rowsley
.
It served an important junction where passengers for Buxton
joined or left the trains between London
and Manchester
. It was originally to be called "Blackwell Mill" but, in the end, was named "Millers Dale for Tideswell
". For such a rural location it was unusually large; indeed, it was one of the largest stations on the line, and was one of the few stations in England to have a post office on the platform. Millers Dale also sent dairy, agricultural and quarried products from the surrounding areas to the major cities. While also serving local towns and villages—notably Tideswell, Taddington
and Wormhill
—much of its activity was concerned with the connecting service to and from Buxton. Traffic for Buxton actually followed the main line north for nearly two miles, before diverging at Millers Dale Junction, beside Blackwell Mill Halt
.
Built on a shelf carved out of the hillside, Millers Dale station originally had two platforms, but a bay platform was added in 1905 to accommodate Buxton trains, plus the down platform became an island platform to serve the extra tracks. At this time the second (northerly) viaduct was added. Whilst the piers for the two viaducts are identical, the older viaduct is supported by an arch structure, whereas the later one is a more practical box structure.
For a while, 'through' carriages for Buxton were attached to and detached from expresses. Part of the original Parliamentary Act, approving the line, considered the needs of invalids taking the waters at Buxton. This therefore alleviated the problem of changing trains. In addition, the two main platforms were connected by a subway.
Changing at Millers Dale often involved a wait, and the High Peak News of November 1900 referred to the station as "Patience Junction". The station was later immortalised in the 1964 song "Slow Train
" by Flanders and Swann
.
Since the railway was closed in 1967 the station has become a car park serving the Monsal Trail
, although the main buildings remain, partly being used as public toilets. Although disused, the hamlet of Millers Dale is still dominated by the two large viaducts over the Wye
valley. The older of the viaducts today forms part of the Monsal Trail, an 8.5 miles (13.7 km) walking and cycle track.
Millers Dale
Millers Dale is a valley on the River Wye in Derbyshire.It is a popular beauty spot in the Peak District of England, much of the area being preserved as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Nearby is Ravenstor and Cheedale, both popular with rock-climbers...
in the Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
. It was built in 1863 by 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....
on its extension of the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway
Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway
The Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway ran from a junction with the Midland Railway at Ambergate to Rowsley north of Matlock and thence to Buxton....
from Rowsley
Rowsley
Rowsley is a village on the A6 road in the English county of Derbyshire.It is at the point where the River Wye flows into the River Derwent and prospered from mills on both.-Overview:...
.
It served an important junction where passengers for 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:...
joined or left the trains between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and 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...
. It was originally to be called "Blackwell Mill" but, in the end, was named "Millers Dale for Tideswell
Tideswell
Tideswell is a village and civil parish in the Peak District of Derbyshire, in England. It lies east of Buxton on the B6049, in a wide dry valley on a limestone plateau, at an altitude of above sea level, and is within the District of Derbyshire Dales...
". For such a rural location it was unusually large; indeed, it was one of the largest stations on the line, and was one of the few stations in England to have a post office on the platform. Millers Dale also sent dairy, agricultural and quarried products from the surrounding areas to the major cities. While also serving local towns and villages—notably Tideswell, Taddington
Taddington
Taddington is a village in Derbyshire, England. It lies over 1100 feet above sea level, on the former A6 road between Buxton and Bakewell, in the Derbyshire Dales district. To the east, the A6 runs through Taddington Dale, while Taddington Moor lies to the west.Taddington grew around farming and...
and Wormhill
Wormhill
Wormhill is a village in Derbyshire, England, situated east by north of Buxton.Wormhill was mentioned in the Domesday book as belonging to Henry de Ferrers and containing of meadow. The name is said by the English Place-Name Society to be derived from the Old English 'Wyrma's hyll'.There was a...
—much of its activity was concerned with the connecting service to and from Buxton. Traffic for Buxton actually followed the main line north for nearly two miles, before diverging at Millers Dale Junction, beside Blackwell Mill Halt
Blackwell Mill
Blackwell Mill is a location in Derbyshire, near to the village of Blackwell near Buxton, but not part of it.There was once a corn mill on the River Wye which may have dated from 1066. Most of it has disappeared, apart from the weir. What is left is marked as an Ancient Monument.It stands at the...
.
Built on a shelf carved out of the hillside, Millers Dale station originally had two platforms, but a bay platform was added in 1905 to accommodate Buxton trains, plus the down platform became an island platform to serve the extra tracks. At this time the second (northerly) viaduct was added. Whilst the piers for the two viaducts are identical, the older viaduct is supported by an arch structure, whereas the later one is a more practical box structure.
For a while, 'through' carriages for Buxton were attached to and detached from expresses. Part of the original Parliamentary Act, approving the line, considered the needs of invalids taking the waters at Buxton. This therefore alleviated the problem of changing trains. In addition, the two main platforms were connected by a subway.
Changing at Millers Dale often involved a wait, and the High Peak News of November 1900 referred to the station as "Patience Junction". The station was later immortalised in the 1964 song "Slow Train
Slow Train
"Slow Train" is a song by the British duo Flanders and Swann, written in 1963.It laments the loss of British stations and railway lines in that era, due to the Beeching cuts, and also the passing of a way of life, with the advent of motorways etc....
" by Flanders and Swann
Flanders and Swann
The British duo Flanders and Swann were the actor and singer Michael Flanders and the composer, pianist and linguist Donald Swann , who collaborated in writing and performing comic songs....
.
Since the railway was closed in 1967 the station has become a car park serving the Monsal Trail
Monsal Trail
The Monsal Trail is a cycle, horse riding and walking trail in the Derbyshire Peak District.-Route description:It follows a section of the former Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway, built by the Midland Railway in 1863 to link Manchester with London...
, although the main buildings remain, partly being used as public toilets. Although disused, the hamlet of Millers Dale is still dominated by the two large viaducts over the Wye
River Wye, Derbyshire
The River Wye is a limestone river in the Peak District of Derbyshire, England. It is in length, and is one of the major tributaries of the River Derwent, which flows into the River Trent, and ultimately into the Humber and the North Sea....
valley. The older of the viaducts today forms part of the Monsal Trail, an 8.5 miles (13.7 km) walking and cycle track.