Thorpe Cloud railway station

"Thorpe Cloud railway station"' was opened in 1899 near to Hartington gbmapping|SK156503 a village in Derbyshire south east of Buxton

It was on the Ashbourne Line built by the LNWR as a branch from the Cromford and High Peak Railway (which ran from Whaley Bridge to Cromford) at Parsley Hay

It utilised part of the Cromford and High Peak Railway (which ran from Whaley Bridge to Cromford) joining it at Hindlow and proceeding to a branch to Ashbourne at Parsley Hay

In common with the other stations on this line, the platforms and buildings were of timber construction. From Parsley Hay to Ashbourne the line was single with passing loops at the stations, though provision was made for doubling which never occurred. Like the previous station at Tissington it was built on a gradient of 1 in 60, downwards towards Ashbourne, and the modular buildings were stepped to accommodate this.

The station took its name from a nearby hill, Thorpe Cloud which was also the beginning of Dovedale. It was a popular venue for the Ramblers' Association.

Regular passenger services ended in 1954, though excursions continued until 1963. Freight continued until October of that year, the track to Ashbourne finally being lifted in 1964

The track bed from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay was acquired by Derbyshire County Council and the Peak National Park in 1968 for a cycle and walking route. This, the Tissington Trail was one of the first of such ventures in the country. Later, Ashbourne Tunnel was acquired by Sustrans.

ee also

* Cromford and High Peak Railway

References

* Bentley, J.M., Fox, G.K., (1997) "Railways of the High Peak: Buxton to Ashbourne (Scenes From The Past series 32)," Romiley: Foxline Publishing

External links

* [http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/hptt/ Tissington & High Peak Trails - access and facilities]
* [http://www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/penninebridleway.html The Pennine Bridleway]