Monsal Dale railway station
Monsal Dale railway station was opened in 1866 by the Midland Railway on its line from Rowsley, extending the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway.
Monsal Dale | |
|---|---|
 The station remains in 2006 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Derbyshire Dales England |
| Coordinates | 53.2445°N 1.7357°W |
| Platforms | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Status | Disused |
| History | |
| Pre-grouping | Midland Railway |
| Post-grouping | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
| Key dates | |
| 1 September 1866 | Station opened |
| 10 August 1959 | station closed for regular services |
| 3 April 1961 | closed completely |
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History
The original intention was merely to have a goods depot to serve the nearby Cressbrook Mill, to be called Cressbrook or Cressbrook Sidings. However a passenger station would also serve the villages of Upperdale and Cressbrook.
The down line and platform was built on a shelf carved in the rock face, while the up was built on wooden trestles over the hillside. The wooden buildings for the latter were obtained from Evesham railway station.
From Monsal Dale, the line proceeded through Cressbrook 471 yards (431 m) and Litton 515 yards (471 m) tunnels to Millers Dale on its way north. Cut through solid limestone, they were both complex tunnels on a gradient of 1 in 100, and curved to allow the line to conform to the terrain.
It was written:
There is not in the whole range of Peak scenery such a lovely landscape in so small a space as can be viewed from the platform of this singular and romantically situated station.[3]
The station closed to regular passenger traffic in 1959[4] but continued to be used by occasional ramblers specials and excursions until April 1961.[5] Trains continued to pass through the station until 1968 when the line was closed.
Today this section of line forms part of the Monsal Trail, an 8.5-mile (13.7 km) walk and cycleway. The down platform edge can still be seen, but nothing remains of the up platform or timber buildings. The tunnels previously mentioned were re-opened in 2011, and the previous path diversions over the river via a permissive path by Cressbrook Mill are still available.
Stationmasters
- James Lister ca. 1867
- Richard Coe ca. 1871–1873[6] (afterwards station master at Longstone)
- J. Freer 1874[6]
- J. Hudston 1874–1876[6] (afterwards station master at Chapel-en-le-Frith)
- G. Barnett 1876–1880[6] (afterwards station master at Chorlton-cum-Hardy)
- W. Daw 1880[6]–1881[7] (afterwards station master at Warmley)
- Richard Foskett 1881–1884[7] (afterwards station master at Blackwell)
- William James 1884[7]–1904[8] (afterwards station master at Tanhouse Lane, Widnes)
- A.W. Jepson 1904–1906[8]
- J. Greenbank from 1906[8]
- H.R. Wilcox until 1909[9] (afterwards station master at Bugsworth)
- Joseph Jennings 1909–ca. 1911
- D.H. Jones ca. 1914
- Mr. Tompkins ca. 1932
- J.H. Adams 1944–1947[10] (afterwards station master at Radway Green)
From 1 October 1931 the stationmastership was merged with that of Longstone.[11]
Route
| Preceding station | Disused railways | Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millers Dale Line and station closed |
Midland Railway Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway |
Longstone Line and station closed |
References
- "The Monsal Trail". A Taste of the Peak District. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- Bickerdike, Graeme (June 2009). "The story of structures of the Monsal Trail: A Week in the Peak". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- Truman, P., Hunt, D., (1989) Midland Railway Portrait Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing
- Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
- "Disused stations" website by N.Catford
- "1871–1879 Coaching". Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts: 259. 1871. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- "1881–1898 Coaching". Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts: 259. 1881. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- "1899–1908 Coaching; Piece 1026". Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts: 453. 1899. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- "Midland Railway Stationmasters". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. England. 7 January 1909. Retrieved 30 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "New Radway Green Stationmaster". Staffordshire Sentinel. England. 3 June 1947. Retrieved 30 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- "Station Changes". Sheffield Independent. England. 4 September 1931. Retrieved 30 December 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.