Small gauges in the Peak District
Steeple Grange and Rudyard Lake
13 May 2001
This was a trip to a couple of lesser lines, different in their
own way, but with something in common.
The common elements are gauge - both railways are constructed
to relatively slim proportions - and trackbed. The Steeple Grange
Light Railway is, unusually, 1'6" gauge, and uses ex-industrial
rolling stock. It is constructed on the bed of the strangely-named
"Killer Branch" off the Cromford and High Peak line near
Wirksworth, and offers rides to the general public. Several
locomotives are based there - best known is the former Horwich
works shunter, ZM32, but this loco and another were away from
the site, and our motive power was "Lizzie". This loco was built
at Clay Cross, from parts supplied by Lister, and is powered by a
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Ford Escort engine. Due to Lizzie's being somewhat
underpowered, passenger accommodation was limited to a four-
seater wagon - and rides were free! Needless to say, we "had a
go".
A rather attractive locomotive shed was under construction - the
design and materials being subject to national park scrutiny and
approval. "There are one or two interesting 1'6" steam
locomotives around" I suggested to our driver. "Look at those
doorways into the shed", he replied, "why do you think they are
so much taller than our locomotives?". Clearly the Steeple
Grange Light Railway will go a long way, so to speak...
Link:
Steeple Grange Light Railway
Just over 30 years ago, I had visited, with friends, the remains of the
Cromford and High Peak Railway. This remarkable line had closed in 1967,
and the scene at Middleton top was one of disuse and dereliction. Today
the C&HPR is a walking and cycling route, and there is a National Trust
visitor centre at Middleton top. The ancient winding engine, built in 1825,
is still in existence, and is operated from time to time using compressed
air, the boilers being beyond repair. A solitary wagon, on a short length of
track, serves as a reminder of the route's original purpose.
We had a pleasant drive across the southern Peak District,
passing en route the restored station at Hulme End, terminus of
the Leek and Manifold, but time was getting short, so we
continued via Leek to Rudyard Lake. The lake, strictly a
reservoir, was built as a canal feeder. The North Staffs Railway's
Churnet Valley route ran along its eastern shore, and the
Rudyard Lake Miniature Railway is built on the trackbed, to 10¼"
gauge.
The term "Miniature Railway" may conjure up, for many, an
image of rather small replicas of standard gauge classes, with a
short line going nowhere much. This railway is quite the opposite
- a very pleasant run, long enough for a useable (and well used)
intermediate station, properly timetabled
service, and locomotives which, being
based on narrow gauge prototypes, are
large enough for the driver to ride inside
the cab. And what beautiful locomotives
they are! Working loco today was "Merlin",
which arrived on the railway just a month
previously; sister loco "Rudyard Lake" was kindly pushed out of
the shed for photographs. Both were built in the Exmoor Steam
Railway's workshops - clearly they know how to build
locomotives.
And that was it - time for home after an excellent day out. The
Steeple Grange Railway is well worth an hour of anyone's time -
a very friendly setup. Similarly, the Rudyard Lake Railway is
much more then just another miniature railway - equally
friendly, with locos that take some beating.
Link:
Rudyard Lake Steam Railway
