Talk:Cromford and High Peak Railway

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[edit] Uttoxeter link

My recollection is that the Ashbourne-Buxton line (which was axed in the early 50s I think) continued southwards to Uttoxeter. Could someone check and add if correct?Linuxlad 08:56, 29 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I now have some info from David Moore (Churnet Valley guru) on this.


Later (much :-)) - we seem to have lost the Ashbourne- Uttoxeter info - I've put some of it back, but haven't reinstated the story of the through trains from London to Buxton which ran for a time, because it's probably been filleted off somewhere else by now. Could someone who has been keeping better tabs on it please check Bob aka Linuxlad (talk) 18:48, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] adhesion-hauled v loco-hauled

we need to separate adhesion-hauled from locomotive-hauled - which could be rack and pinion (eg Snowdon Railway is 1 in 8 average, 1 in 5.5 steepest, I read) Linuxlad 11:53, 1 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] route via Fernilee

I've put a line in about the section down the Goyt Vally, and written that this was abandoned in the late 1800s - this is from memory (where _is_ my copy of Rimmer!). Can others please correct if wrong.Linuxlad 14:13, 4 Jun 2005 (UTC)

  1. I've corrected your Goyt Valley note (with the aid of Mr Rimmer), also added a few other notes.AHEMSLTD 19:01, 7 October 2005 (UTC)
Thanks! Ah Ladmanlow - the name had all but faded! Nearly as evocative as Minninglow. Bob aka Linuxlad.

[edit] Engineers

Can we clarify who were the engineers for the line - my memory was that it was the Jessops - (And indeed there is a plaque on a bridge near the junction at Parsley Hay to this effect I recollect). But I gather that William Moorsom may also have had a role - if so, what??Linuxlad 09:17, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

The Jessops certainly surveyed and built the line. I think Moorsom must have come in later, or assisted, as he was in Nova Scotia until about 1831-2 (The dates are not very clear) If there were two William Scarth Moorsoms it throws my research into a tizzy, but I don't think it likely Chevin 09:39, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

OK, I've added a note on Josias to the article on William, and set a reference-in via a redirect. But, problem, according to a canals web ref, Josias died in 1826, so he couldn't have done more than get the line surveyed, the bill through Parliament in 1825, and start the opening up. Linuxlad 10:41, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

Hum. A problem. I've confirmed the date of Josiah's death on a geneology website. Moorsom initially worked for or with the Stevensons, so they might have been approached in the first instance. Josias was the second of eight children, maybe one of them was also an engineer. Also I haven't been able to find out exactly when Moorsom left Canada. A bit more reasearch to do, I guess. Incidentally I've found a fascinating page on the Wirksworth website. Chevin 14:58, 7 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Proper Route Map?

Can anyone create a proper route map, and get in the northern/southern extents, and if possible, connect it up to real railways? (Killers Hill and Ravenstor Incline link to the Steeple Grange/Ecclesbourne Valley respectively). Cheers, Bluegoblin7 17:38, 30 September 2007 (UTC)

As an aside, 'when I were a lad', my parents had a map (half inch Bartholomews (on cloth, late 50s/early 60s, but probably based on a pre-war survey, I guess) which had an extension shown from Wirksworth up to the line near Middleton. I gather this was never built (it would probably have needed another incline) but was proposed - anyone (Chevin??) able to shed any light. Linuxlad (talk) 18:57, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

I have seen something somewhere but I assumed it was the Steeple Grange Light Railway? I'll have to go up to Wirksworth sometime and ask a few questions Chevin (talk) 09:42, 30 January 2008 (UTC)

I've just bought a copy of Geoffrey Kingscott's "Lost Railways of Derbyshire." In it he says the Steeple Grange was orginally a quarry line. However, he also notes that an inclined plane was built from the CHPR but never used. This was around 1857 but I'm not sure about his idea that it was to connect with the Wirksworth Branch to Duffield. I think it also mentioned in Sprenger, H., (1987) "The Wirksworth Branch" It may been part of the complex politics of the area at that time, a "stopper" by the LNWR against the Midland's plans to gain access to Rowsley by their own route. Certainly it would have been unusable for passengers, since they would have to walk behind the train on any inclines (See the Leicester and Swannington Railway ) However when the Midland gained full control of the Ambergate line it would have been superfluous. Chevin (talk) 14:29, 30 January 2008 (UTC)

Hi Chevin,
Perhaps I could shed some light, being a volunteer at the EVR (the subject of Howard Sprenger's The Wirksworth Branch.). From Wirksworth station, there is an old quarry line that heads north, up the (current) uk's steepest preserved incline. it's 1-in-30 average, with 1-in-27 at the steepest point, if I remember correctly!
At the top of the workable incline, there is a small halt called Ravenstor (i'll send a link to a pic soon!). From there, the company that built the EVR was offered 1 million (in the currency of the day) to build up the hill and connect with the CHPR. This they did. It is unclear whether or not the link was ever used - the gradient being as steep as there was. There is no evidence of a winding house, so either a cable was bought from Middleton Top (unlikely - the two companies were still opostition!) or it used Gravity Shunting, again unlikely.
The Steeple Grange Light Railway is a light railway, again built for access to a quarry, but it is on the other side of the stone centre. The two lines were never linked.
If you do need to know more, Sprenger's publication is very useful, and I will also suggest that you join wirksworth's yahoo! group if you need answers - we're all friendly, don't worry! link ---> http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/wirksworths_railway
Hope this helps!
Bluegoblin7 14:48, 30 January 2008 (UTC)