I’ve always wanted to
visit this preserved line. It has an unusual gauge, it is home to the
former BR diesel shunter ZM32 now named “Horwich” and it’s
accessible from Wirksworth. So a journey by vintage coach to
Wirksworth enabled me to see the railway.
Established in 1985,
the Steeple Grange Light Railway is an 18-inch gauge line near
Wirksworth in Derbyshire. You’ll find it between Black Rocks and
The National Stone Centre on the High Peak trail. It is built on the
trackbed of the Killer’s branch [note 1] of the old Cromford and
High Peak Railway. Motive power is provided by ex-industrial diesel,
battery-electric and petrol locomotives. Passengers are carried in an
old National Coal Board manrider. More information at
http://www.steeplegrange.co.uk/
Much of the original stock and some track work came from the former
Ladywash Mine at Eyam and more information about the history can be
found at http://www.steeplegrange.co.uk/history.htm
and the locomotives and rolling stock details can also be found from
the menu on the first link.
Actually the railway runs two lines, a branch line to a quarry and
the “main” line towards Middleton. The branch line is close to
the High Peak trail but not seen from the latter due to vegetation.
At the end of the branch you get the opportunity to see the quarry
formed of limestone created millions of years ago when this area was
under water. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff show you things to
look out for in the rocks and foliage like fossils and fool’s gold.
[I don’t often manage to get a bit of chemistry into these
articles.]
The main line heads towards Middleton, a future goal for the railway
to reach, and travels up a 1:27 incline to Porter Lane Bridge – its
120ft length housing a second line used to store equipment, wagons
and things like a turntable. Passing Recreation Ground Bridge and
station you reach Sandyhill Crossing. Just the other side of this is
the current end of the line, but the train travels back to Recreation
Ground Station for you to get out and stretch your legs whilst staff
explain the history of the line and answer your questions. My train
had their chairman Martin Smith as Guard, and it seems an appropriate
time to thank him and others at the railway for making my visit so
enjoyable. Several locomotives are actually stored off site, but they
offer refreshments, and a good place to stop off for anyone walking
or cycling the High Peak Trail. I definitely recommend a visit to
this friendly railway.
The railway is normally open Sunday afternoons and Bank Holiday
Mondays plus Saturday afternoons in the summer months. You can also
ring 07769 802587 during these operational times to check the railway
is running.
[note 1] Killer is the name of the original brothers who owned the
quarry and paid for the construction of the standard gauge line in
1884. This line ceased in 1967 when it was found to be more cost
effective to use road transport.
The railway is signposted from Ravenstor station on the
Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, but it is uphill and can be slippery in
wet weather. You can also walk to it from Wirksworth, and I chose to
walk back to the town, but the best signage is along the High Peak
Trail, with parking facilities at The National Stone Centre.
“Peter” takes a few
passengers on a trip to the old quarry. This loco is one of three at Steeple
Grange that come from the Derbyshire manufacturer Clayton Equipment. It is a
Compact 1¾ tonne, 7hp (5.2kW) locomotive, designed to work through tunnels only
3' 6" in diameter. It has an electronic controller, and a single traction motor
driving both axles through spiral reduction gearing. It previously carried the
name “Lady Margorie”. It was renamed following the sudden death of its owner and
the former SGL Society chairman Peter Sellers.
Loco1881 is one of three
locomotives which are products of FC Hibberd & Co Ltd of Park Royal in
London. It was
built in 1934 and worked on a 1' 8" gauge tramway at Crowle Brickworks near
Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. It is a Hibberd "Y" type, with a
Ford 8hp petrol engine, and fitted with a cab. The line closed in June 1968. The
engine is not operational and needs re-gauging.
“Peter” and train at the
end of the quarry branch
The star of the line has
to be ZM 32 “Horwich”. This famous locomotive is a conventional Ruston &
Hornsby 20hp Class LAT locomotive, but enjoys considerably more celebrity than
any similar machine due to it having been in the ownership of British-Railways.
It was built in 1957 as works number 416214 and worked for eight years on the
18" gauge railway at Horwich Locomotive Works in Lancashire alongside “Wren”, the last of Horwich's 0-4-0
saddle tanks now at the NRM
View of inside the cab of
“Horwich”
The train seen at
Recreation Ground Station showing 4w 16
seat Bevercotes Manrider. This vehicle has been fitted with air
brakes and end windows, and was regauged from 2' 3" to 18".
A poor shot of “Hudson”. This machine was constructed by Alwyn
Ambrey of Bakewell in 1988 and is based on the frame of a small four-wheeled
manrider of Hudson manufacture obtained from Ladywash Mine.
The power unit is a Villiers petrol engine of uncertain vintage, cannibalised
from a cricket pitch roller! A chain drive connects the engine to a sprocket
fixed on one of the axles. The trolley accommodates the driver plus two
passengers and is operational.
“Greenbat” arrives at the
carriage shed. It is a 5hp battery-electric locomotive built by Greenwood &
Batley Ltd of Leeds, works number 6061, supplied new in November 1961 to the
Halesowen Steel Co Ltd for use on the railway system inside their plant in the
Black Country. It operated there until the works closed in March
1974.
“Greenbat” pulls out
“Lizzie” for a photographic opportunity for me
“Lizzie”. This
locomotive dates from 1973 and operated on a 2' gauge line at the Spun Pipe
Plant of the Clay Cross Co Ltd of Clay Cross, near Chesterfield. It was one of
two diesel-engined locos built there using parts supplied by R & A Lister
& Co Ltd of Dursley, Gloucestershire. It’s been re-gauged to 18 inch and has
been fitted with a Lombardini diesel engine and is operational.
Inside the carriage shed,
showing an assortment
of locomotives and rolling stock
“Horwich” is seen passing
the traverser
All
pictures taken by Ken Jones, with permission of The Steeple Grange
Light Railway.
A
Ken Jones contribution to Focustransport.
Visit
Ken Jones' railway website HERE.
Visit
Ken Jones' gallery on SCT'61 website HERE.
Visit
Ken Jones' Flickr site HERE.
