The lines are based on old quarry railwasy and they now operate small narrow gauge stock so it’s a bit different to most. When I arrived they were having a very quiet time, I was only the third passenger of the day but that soon changed, having the High Peak Trail alongside is a good way to get people in and they managed to persuade a group of six, who were just looking over the wall, that they really wanted to go for a ride! I’m sure they enjoyed it though.
The battery-electric mine locos are used for the sort run to Steeplehouse Quarry
This is the only heritage railway I know that includes lectures on geology and fossils as part of the journeys. The first trip is a short one ending in a limestone quarry (now also used for high ropes work by an adventure centre). Highlights include what is effectively fossilised shark skin - their rough skin, which helps them pass through water easily and quietly, is formed by having “teeth”, dermal denticles, on the surface which act in a similar way to the dimples on a golf ball, breaking up the flow around them.
This diesel Hunslet was the motive power, its their larger engine used due to the rain as the track could be slippery
The longer line is the old Killers Branch of the High Peak Railway, built by the LNWR in 1884 for the export of Hoptonwood Limestone. The top part of the existing line is 1:14, which wasn’t the case originally as it had to be rebuilt on a slightly different route. The rebuild largely happened after someone noticed an advert for free hardcore from a farm. They had no idea how much would be available but thought anything would help - it turned out they were offered 180 tonnes! The farmer had offered free delivery, planning to do it by tractor and trailer, but the distances were too great so he kindly said he’d honour that and hired two tipper wagons for the weekend, in the end they made 15 deliveries of 20t each for a total of 300t. Fortunately the landowner at the top of the railway offered the use of a tracked excavator to help place and level it as well.
Looking down the track from the summit you get an idea of how steep it is
The factory at the top of the line was turned over to producing headstones for war cemeteries after WW1
I decided to take a bit of a detour on the way back, partly to avoid keeping driving on the same roads and partly as I’d forgotten to get some cereal bars (energy food when cycling). Matlock was absolutely heaving, with a lot of motorcycles of all shapes and sizes so I didn’t stop; despite the best efforts of the SatNav I found the Coop at Darley Dale and got what I wanted. Back at the site a couple of the wardens happened to be doing something near my pitch so I had a quick word and asked if it would be ok to move pitch - when I arrived the site was very busy but it really emptied out this morning and if by any chance it comes out hot again being under the trees is an advantage. Of course it was no problem, and I was soon in my new spot in splendid isolation; inevitably within 20 minutes two motorhomes had parked nearby! One of them took an age, and quite a bit of shouting, just to reverse onto the pitch. It’s not as if the Club haven’t made it easier than it used to be by having two pegs at the back, as long as you’re between them you’re ok (you used to line up on a single peg).
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