Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway
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Amber Gate
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The Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway initially served neither Manchester nor the Midlands, since its connection with the North Midland Railway at Ambergate Junction was in a northerly direction.
The initial plan was to build a line from Ambergate to Stockport as a joint venture between Manchester and Birmingham Railway and the Midland Railway, using the former's line to allow the latter to gain access to Manchester. However, almost immediately the Manchester and Birmingham became part of the LNWR, which was averse to the Midland entering Manchester.
The line opened as far as Rowsley in 1849, but went no further, giving its promoters something of a problem. In order to derive some income from it, they developed Matlock Bath as a tourist town.
In 1853, a junction was made by the Cromford and High Peak Railway now LNWR-owned. Meanwhile, with LNWR's support, the Stockport, Disley and Whaley Bridge Railway connected Manchester to the north end of the C&HPR, and in 1863 extended to Buxton. However, undaunted, the Midland extended from Rowsley to Buxton, at almost the same time.
For many years, the town of Wirksworth had been considering plans for a branch line from Duffield. The CH&PR was interested, but had insufficient funds. The Midland was initially unenthusiastic, but then realised that the branch could be extended to Rowsley, avoiding the section to Ambergate, being unsure about what might occur when joint lease expired in 1871.
It opened to Wirksworth in 1867 and in the same year the Midland joined with the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (another competitor to the LNWR) in what was known as the Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee. This provided a path into Manchester, so the Midland diverted north from Millers Dale to New Mills. The whole line had been extremely costly to build, with many tunnels and earthworks. With its bends and gradients, it proved a challenge to footplate crews.
The section between Rowsley and Ambergate was still jointly leased with the LNWR. If the latter gained control, it would cause considerable problems. However, the LNWR gave up its share of the lease on a line that was isolated from the rest of its system when it expired, and the Midland was relieved of the necessity of extending from Wirksworth over a very difficult piece of terrain.
The Midland thus had a path from London to Manchester London Road (now Piccadilly), and later constructed a more direct line from New Mills into Manchester Central station. In LMS days it featured named expresses, such as the Palatine and the Peaks.
The line from Matlock to Buxton was closed in 1968. Continuing support is being given by a heritage group Peak Rail who have restored the section from Matlock to Rowsley. The line from Matlock to Ambergate, plus the section of the Midland Main Line to Derby are now referred to as the Derwent Valley Line. Meanwhile, the Wirksworth branch still exists and is currently being restored as the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.
Although the track has been lifted between Rowsley and Buxton and is now part of the Monsal Trail, plans to re-open it are proposed from time to time, and the Derbyshire County Council has pledged to keep the trackbed free of development.
[edit] References
- Pixton, B., (2000) North Midland: Portrait of a Famous Route, Cheltenham: Runpast Publishing
- Truman, P., Hunt, D., (1989) Midland Railway Portrait Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing
- The newsletter of the Friends of the Derwent Valley Line,May 2005.
- Derbyshire County Council (2004) Derby to Manchester Railway Matlock to Buxton / Chinley Link Study. Main Report, Volume 1A: Version: Final.
