The Anonymous Widower

Travelling Along Peak Rail

Whilst at Matlock, I took a trip on Peak Rail to Rowsley South station.

The heritage line has a very professional feeling.

It makes me think that their aim to expand the railway to Bakewell, is feasible on an engineering basis, given enough money.

But it is the politics and other interests.

In Connecting The Powerhouses, I said this.

But there are possible problems.

• The A6 has to be crossed.
• One local landowner didn’t allow consultants access to the line for an inspection.
• Severn Trent Water are digging a large pipe into the track-bed.

It sounds to me that everybody should find a good hostelry and thrash out a comprehensive co-operation agreement on the backs of engineering envelopes, fuelled by some excellent real ale.

The landowner lives between the current end of the line and Bakewell.

After my visit, I still feel optimistic, that the route can be restored.

It was talking to several local people, both on and off the Peak Rail train, who recalled times when they they would use the line for days out in Manchester, Derby and Nottingham. One guy had even used the line to go to Scotland with a change in Manchester.

June 1, 2017 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Heritage, Peak Main Line, Peak Rail, Steam, Trains