Matlock Riverside railway station

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[edit] History

Matlock Riverside is the southern terminus of Peak Rail, a preserved steam railway of approximately 5 miles in length. The station itself is a temporary wooden construction, and was previously used at Chee Dale Halt near Buxton, when Peak Rail was based there in the 1980s. Due to operating complications at the Buxton end of the route, Peak Rail moved south to Darley Dale near Matlock, and the former Chee Dale Halt was re-used, forming Matlock Riverside.

[edit] Present Day

The station consists of one plaform, situated on the Up side of the former deviation, whilst the Down line is used as a run-round loop, which permits the use of a single locomotive on services (although top-and-tail operation occurs on Special Event Days). Access to the station is via a public footpath from Matlock, the distance between the two being no more than a quarter mile. Disabled access is currently unavailable, as the works associated with the Matlock A6 bypass have resulted in the unfortunate circumstances whereby passengers are required to use the riverside path and thence a flight of stairs to access the station. a ramp at its southern end. These arrangements will change, however, following the completion of the works that currently affect the normal access route.

For a time, Matlock Riverside possessed a small hut that functioned as a Ticket Office. After this was frequently damaged by local vandals, however, the station became permanently unmanned and tickets must now be purchased onboard the train.

When Peak Rail realises its ambition of operating services into Matlock proper, it is projected that Matlock Riverside will close and be subsequently dismantled.