This page provides information and photographs relating to the closed railway line running between Cromford and Whalley Bridge.

The map below shows the railway running due West from High Peak junction at Cromford as far as Longcliffe. This section of the line was steeply graded at 1 in 8 and required the creation of two independent rope hauled inlines, one named Sheep Pasture incline (1,320 yards long) and the Middleton incline (708 yards long). From Middleton Top the line continues to climb, ascending the adhesion operated Hopton incline on a gradient of 1 in 14. On reaching Longcliffe the line proceeds in a North Westerly direction to connect with the Ashbourne line at Parsley Hay and the main line to Buxton at Whaley Bridge. A short branch continued beyond Hindlow on the Ashbourne line to Ladmanlow, serving a number of limestone quarries en route. This was once part of the original Cromford and High Peak line to Whalley Bridge.

In addition to the inclines further serious infrastucture investment was required to complete the line including tunnels at Hopton (113 yards long), Newhaven (51 yards long) and Hindlow (514 yards long). Several impressive embankments and dry stone retaining walls were also built to carry the line, such as the structures at Minninglow, Longcliffe, Gotham and Middleton.

Originally a passenger service operated over the line in the 1870's conveying passengers from Whalley Bridge to Cromford. These services ceased in 1877. The staple traffic on the line was of course limestone from the numerous quarries served. The railway generated its own need for traffic in the form of water from Cromford to feed both the locomotives and winding engines. The transportation of water along the railway made use of a small fleet of ancient LNWR locomotove tenders, especially converted for this purpose, one of which is seen below on the ramp at Longcliffe.

The line was notable as an outpost for a variety of tank engines capable of negotiating the steep gradients an tight curves that charecterised the line. The last North London 0-6-0T number 58850 remained on the line until withdrawal and ultimate preservation. During the 1960's a number of Kitson built 0-4-0ST were also employed, along with the more modern J94 0-6-0ST.

Closure of the line was celebrated on the 30th April 1967 with the SLS running several farewell special trains using brake vans to carry passengers between Parsley Hay and Middleton. Freight services did continue beyond this date between Friden and Parsley Hay lasting until September 1967.

A gallery of photograhs taken at the various locations along the line appears below between Cromford, Parsley Hay and Ladmanlow. Note: as much of the line is similar in nature, it has not always been possible to provide a precise location in the photo caption.