The stalemate lasted until 1862, when the Midland realigned the track and moved to a new station as it extended the line into Buxton (Midland)). The original station building, which had been designed by Joseph Paxton, was used as a goods office until closure in 1967. It still exists within a shopping centre. The new station was particularly grand, with large first- and third-class facilities and, unusually, a subway between the platforms to cater for dignitaries visiting the Duke of Devonshire in 1891.[4]
The through line
Finally, in 1867, the line reached Manchester and became part of one of the Midland's most prized assets. Besides the London expresses, some of which called at the station, there was substantial goods traffic; this included limestone southwards from the Peak District and, in particular, coal northwards from the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Coalfield.
Northwards from Rowsley, the line climbed over 600 feet in fourteen miles to its summit at Peak Forest with punishing gradients. A large motive power depot and marshalling yard was opened in 1877 to provide banking engines and to split trains as necessary. This was not so much due to the lack of powerful engines, but because of the need to limit the strain on wagon couplings. Thus, in theory, a class 8F locomotive could haul 37 wagons, but a banker would still have to be provided.[5] Moreover, account had to be taken of the braking capacity on the downhill stretch towards Chinley, such that larger engines were no more capable than the ubiquitous "4Fs".
In June 1933, Express Dairies were granted a 99-year lease on approximately 2,538 square yards (2,122 m2) of railway land, on which to build a creamery. The company were also granted dedicated use of one of the five newly created sidings. Express built a facility that included a milk cooling depot, spray, pond condenser and filter plant. Milk Tank Wagons were normally attached to the 5.18pm local to Derby for Cricklewood or the 10.15pm express freight to Brent sidings. In the 12 months to the end of May 1934, the LMS noted that the carriage value of milk forwarded from Rowsley was £16,886.[6]
Closure
The station closed in 1967; the line was closed the following year and the track was removed subsequently.
Stationmasters
Henry Swift ????–1852
William Beck c.1855–1875
Amos Reed 1875–1890 (afterwards stationmaster at Hitchin)
Thomas Pitt 1890–1897
Samuel Pitt 1897–1907[7] (formerly stationmaster at Spondon, afterwards stationmaster at Buxton)
James Sparling 1907[8]–1913 (formerly stationmaster at Nottingham Road, Derby, afterwards stationmaster at Melton Mowbray)
J.W. Griffin 1913–1920[9] (afterwards stationmaster at Redditch)
George Raymond Hemming ????–1947 (afterwards stationmaster at Spondon)
Derrick Hoyle ????–1963 (also stationmaster at Darley Dale from 1958)
Current status and future plans
The line has since been reopened in stages from Matlock by Peak Rail as a heritage railway, reaching its present terminus at a new station at Rowsley South, which opened in 1997.
Peak Rail are close to securing a 99-year lease with the local council on the disused trackbed from Rowsley South to the A6 road, at the site of the former station site. Rowsley station will have to be rebuilt.[11]
^Butt, R.V.J., (1995) The Directory of Railway Stations, Yeovil: Patrick Stephens
^Williams, F.S., (1874) The Midland Railway: Its Rise and Progress Derby: Bemrose and Son
^Kingscott, G. (2007). Lost Railways of Derbyshire. Newbury: Countryside Books.
^Bentley, C., (1997) British Railways Operating History: Volume One, The Peak District, Carnarvon: XPress Publishing.
^Hudson, Bill (1989). Through Limestone Hills. OPC Railprint. p. 232. ISBN0860932176.
^"Midland and G.W.R. Appointment". Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal. England. 1 October 1921. Retrieved 24 January 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Midland Railway Changes". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. England. 5 October 1907. Retrieved 24 January 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.