Rowsley South railway station

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[edit] History

Rowsley South lies approximately a mile short of Rowsley village, the location of the settlement's previous stations. The initial station in Rowsley was opened in 1849 and formed a terminus for the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock & Midlands Junction Railway line from Ambergate. That location became a goods yard in 1862, serving a new station built at that time, which lay on a through deviation. The latter took the line over the present day A6 road and the River Derwent, then into the Duke of Rutland's estate and on towards Bakewell. This later station in Rowsley closed in 1967 when the route itself was rationalised, prior to complete closure early in 1968.

As a result, this makes Rowsley South the third station to be built in the area, constructed as it was by Peak Rail volunteers in the latter part of the 1990s. Opened to passenger services in 1997, the station was for a time referred to as 'Northwood', which is the part of Rowsley settlement that is nearby to the terminus. This 'connection' can still be observed through the name of the café that stands on the station, which is known as the 'Northwood Buffet'.

[edit] Present Day

Rowsley South is now the main centre for the activities of preservation and heritage group Peak Rail and its various affiliated societies. The former operate a heritage steam service over some five miles of the one-time London, Midland and Scottish Railway route to the south, with an intermediate station at Darley Dale and terminating at Matlock Riverside.

Built as it is by the site of Rowsley's former Goods Yard, the station has both good access and extensive space available for future developments. Part of the Goods Yard has been restored as sidings for locomotives and coaching stock, a number of which lead to the sheds that are operated by the London, Midland and Scottish Carriage Assocation and also by the Heritage Shunters Trust. Another preservation society to maintain locomotives on this site is the Renown and Repulse Preservation Group, who are currently restoring a brace of Class 50 locomotives. Other tracks from the sidings lead to Peak Rail's locomotive shed, which is currently under construction, and also to a turntable which is close to becoming operational.

The actual station is in the form of a single platform based, like the railway's other utilised platforms, on the Up side of the track. It forms Peak Rail's northern terminus, although negotiations regarding an extension into Rowsley proper are ongoing. Facilities at the location include a Ticket Office (open many operating days), the 'Northwood Buffet' (open most operating days), and a shop (opening times as Buffet), along with disabled access toilets. In addition, at the station's northern end is a small park, a play-area and also the narrow guage line of the Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway Group. These are located across the tracks, and can be accessed by a crossing. The latter attraction is usually in operation in the summer and also on many Sundays when Peak Rail's own trains are in steam.

Parking at the station is both extensive and free of charge. Access to the station's facilities and to the yard is also without charge, though this only applies on operating days (on other occasions, the site is closed to the public). The LMSCA operate a small visitor centre inside their shed at the yard's southern end, and both they and the Heritage Shunters Trust welcome interested visitors. However, except in the case of such visits, the yard is closed to public access.

[edit] External links


Preceding station Heritage Railways  Heritage railways Following station
Darley Dale   Peak Rail   Terminus
Terminus   Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway   Parkside
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../r/o/w/Rowsley_South_railway_station_25ca.html"