Thorpe Cloud railway station
Encyclopedia
Thorpe Cloud railway station was opened in 1899 between the villages of Thorpe
and Fenny Bentley
in Derbyshire
, south east of Buxton
.
, built by the LNWR as a branch from the Cromford and High Peak Railway
(which ran from Whaley Bridge
to Cromford
) at Parsley Hay.
It utilised part of the Cromford and High Peak Railway
(which ran from Whaley Bridge
to Cromford
) joining it at Hindlow and proceeding to a branch to Ashbourne
at Parsley Hay.
In common with the other stations on this line, the platforms and buildings were of timber construction. From Parsley Hay to Ashbourne the line was single with passing loops at the stations, though provision was made for doubling which never occurred. Like the previous station at Tissington
it was built on a gradient of 1 in 60, downwards towards Ashbourne, and the modular buildings were stepped to accommodate this.
The station took its name from a nearby hill, Thorpe Cloud
which is at the entrance to Dovedale
, and was therefore a popular venue for ramblers
.
Regular passenger services ended in 1954, though excursions continued until 1963. Freight continued until October of that year, the track to Ashbourne finally being lifted in 1964.
The track bed from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay was acquired by Derbyshire County Council and the Peak National Park in 1968 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
.
Thorpe, Derbyshire
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....
and 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...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, south east of Buxton
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"...
.
History
It was on the Ashbourne LineAshbourne Line
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 and it joined the North Staffordshire Railway at Ashbourne, proceeding to Uttoxeter with a junction onto the main...
, built by the LNWR as a branch from 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:...
(which ran from Whaley Bridge
Whaley Bridge
Whaley Bridge is a small town and civil parish in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England, situated on the River Goyt. Whaley Bridge is approximately south of Manchester, north of Buxton , east of Macclesfield and west of Sheffield, and had a population of 6,226 at the 2001 census. This...
to 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...
) at Parsley Hay.
It utilised part 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:...
(which ran from Whaley Bridge
Whaley Bridge
Whaley Bridge is a small town and civil parish in the High Peak district of Derbyshire, England, situated on the River Goyt. Whaley Bridge is approximately south of Manchester, north of Buxton , east of Macclesfield and west of Sheffield, and had a population of 6,226 at the 2001 census. This...
to 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...
) joining it at Hindlow and proceeding to a branch to Ashbourne
Ashbourne Line
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 and it joined the North Staffordshire Railway at Ashbourne, proceeding to Uttoxeter with a junction onto the main...
at Parsley Hay.
In common with the other stations on this line, the platforms and buildings were of timber construction. From Parsley Hay to Ashbourne the line was single with passing loops at the stations, though provision was made for doubling which never occurred. Like the previous station at Tissington
Tissington railway station
Tissington railway station was opened in 1899 near to Tissington , a village in Derbyshire near Ashbourne.-History:It was on the Ashbourne Line, built by the LNWR as a branch from the Cromford and High Peak Railway at Parsley HayIn common with the other stations on this line, the buildings were of...
it was built on a gradient of 1 in 60, downwards towards Ashbourne, and the modular buildings were stepped to accommodate this.
The station took its name from a nearby hill, 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,...
which is at the entrance to Dovedale
Dovedale
Dovedale is a popular dale in the Peak District, England. It is owned by the National Trust, and annually attracts a million visitors. The valley is cut by the River Dove and runs for just over between Milldale in the north and a wooded ravine near Thorpe Cloud and Bunster Hill in the south...
, and was therefore a popular venue for ramblers
Ramblers
The Ramblers, formerly known as the Ramblers' Association, is the largest walkers' rights organisation in Great Britain which aims to look after the interests of walkers...
.
Regular passenger services ended in 1954, though excursions continued until 1963. Freight continued until October of that year, the track to Ashbourne finally being lifted in 1964.
The track bed from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay was acquired by Derbyshire County Council and the Peak National Park in 1968 for a cycle and walking route. This, the Tissington Trail
Tissington 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"...
.