Very interesting video of the Cromford and High Peak Railway, where the railway ascended and descended a 1 in 14 grade...! Now wouldn't that make for an awesome model railway...?? Cheers, Gary.
I've walked and cycled on this track many times Gary, as it's only a few miles from my home. As I recall, it only closed in around 1967, and Derbyshire County Council (who took over the trackbed and created the 'High Peak Trail') have restored the Middleton Top engine house stationary engine, and it is in steam at certain times of the year. There is a 'catch pit' near the bottom of the Middleton incline which was an afterthough as a result of a runaway batch of trucks which vaulted over and into the Cromford canal at the base of the incline! Anyone standing at the foot of the incline could be excused for wondering how they ever got trucks and loco's up there, but it wouldn't have been possible without wire rope haulage. Keith.
Excellent video Gary, one I haven't seen before. The wagon catch pit at 2.20 on the video still has a wagon in it that ran away all those years ago. Like Keith, I cycled the track bed 20+ years ago and imagined what it must have been like back in the day. Another place on the route that would be very modelagenic is Friden. There was a factory there in the middle of nowhere. I will see if I can find my book on the line as there are some great photos in it. Cheer's, Pete.
Found a link on the High Peak Railway Walks, Minninglow to Friden. Full of great photos from 2012 and black & whites from the years of steam along the line. http://theatreorgans.com/hammond/keng/kenhtml/High Peak Railway Walks New/Minninglow To Friden via Gotham Curve.htm Here is a pic of the incline catch pit (photo courtesy of Mike Fowkes) on the branch. Cheers, Gary.
The first incline where the catch pit is is called Sheep pasture. Middleton is the climb from black rocks up past wirksworth. Lovely route. Walked it a few times in my teens as part of the Duke of Edinburgh awards. The wheel pit at the bottom of Sheep pasture (Cromford canal) has recently been restored.
