I used to live in Davenport, have fond memories of sitting on the station watching for the class 31s hauling trains between Manchester to Sheffield and beyond. I also remember being near the Mirrlees factory, Woodsmoor/Hazel Grove and viewing the freight only line, watching the double headed class 37's pulling the vacuum braked PHV/JGV ICI Hopper Wagons to and from the Peak District.
It defy’s how anyone could dislike that video! The footage is of exceptional quality, the visual narration is perfectly balanced, & informative. And the historical pictures are the icing! Don, please keep knocking these masterpieces, from one very happy subscriber👍🏻
One person got a bit too big for his boots and got blocked so I suspect he is the culprit! There is also a chance that when somebody searches for say “Buxton” they are expecting a town video or something else and trains may not be their cup of tea! Thanks for subscribing Kevin. I’m just working on the next video - coming soon!
@@doncoffey5820 That's the main problem with the Internet. Idiots can go from website to website, especially Google Maps reviews, giving everything an anonymous one star with no comment. When I was a kid we used to knock on people's front doors and run away.... Nuff said?
Fantastic ! Quality absolute awsome ! .. Just took me down memory lane ! .. of course a ton of changes since i travelled this line ... places, train mode, and just time itself ! .. thank you for your time ...
Don you have no idea just what this video did to calm my nerves. Last night at approx 8pm (Australian Eastern Standard), my wife was rushed to the hospital with a heart-attack. After the kids and I were sent packing by the Nursing staff at 2:00 am, we arrived home and, after calming and reassuring my youngest daughter (12) and putting her to bed, I could not find it in me to sleep. I sat watching RUclips videos but what I was watching just kept my nerves on edge. Then I got the notification that you had produced a new video and the trip down memory lane was just what the Doctor ordered! My family spent a lot of weekends Caravanning in the Peak district, (mostly Castleton / Buxton), on those occasions when we camped at Buxton I would get to meet my parents by catching the Bus to Oldham, then catching the train to Victoria, Piccadily then straight down this line! Please extend our thanks to your friend who recorded this trip, it has been more appreciated than I guess either of you would have anticipated, and I thought I should express my gratitude directly. The Wife is doing as well as can be expected at this stage, but she will be staying put in the Coronary Care Unit for "at least" another 4 days whilst they continue to perform batteries of tests.
For goodness sake I-540, I cannot imagine. I sincerely hope she makes a full recovery and wish you and your family all the best. Ironic that the main theme of the Lewis Capaldi video featured is to promote organ donation. I hope many people heed it. My mate at Northern has been a star for getting me out on these Northern Routes and another ex-colleague has offered to let me do some of the north routes out of Victoria so we can look forward to those. I have permission to film TransPennine routes but that would be the extent of it without these willing helpers at Northern. Once agin, best wishes buddy.
Thnx so much for this video, Don. I am an ex-pat, living in Canada. l lived and worked for many years in the area between Buxton and Stockport. This brought back many fond memories. l look forward to more of these. Thank you, once again.
Thank you for a very in formative video,my dad was a signalman in the fifties till the nineties,had many pleasurable times with him and the accasionable tripe with a driver on the south eastern railway as it was known as then.
Very good work, Don! I'm impressed by all the effort you've put in with all the explanations about signalling, the area in general and especially the history of the railway lines. For me (I live in Koenigstein im Taunus, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany) these explanations are very helpful. Thank you for bringing the beautiful Middle England closer! Thumbs up!
Thanks Enno. I used to travel to Frankfurt regularly when I was in the motor industry. Our technology centre was at Bad Camberg near Limberg. I used to love going there every couple of weeks. My boss lived in Hiedelburg which was also beautiful. We regularly travelled from Mannhiem to Zurich on the train whilst on business. Your railways are fantastic.
@@doncoffey5820 The german railways had been fantastic in times of former Deutsche Bundesbahn (nowadays Deutsche Bahn AG; the state tried to sell shares of the Deutsche Bahn to investors and have completely forgotten to continue investing in good infrastructure and rolling stock). Nowadays we have a dilapidated network and a high failure rate of trains, delays everywhere, etc. ... Every stronger wind brings the railway to a standstill. Switzerland has a fantastic railway network.
@@doncoffey5820 if I find any I'll be sure to let you know. The Federal Railroad Administration has banned all personal electronics from the cab at this time...
Yes, you had some high profile accidents due to mobile phones. We are strictly forbidden from having them switched on too but I’ve got special permission for the camera as it doesn’t send or receive data. Thanks for your efforts anyway.
Great journey, watched this a week ago, adding comment now, the Toddbrook reservoir brought me to your page, pleased all looks like turning out better than expected. Now to watch more of your fine work.
I live at Chapel en le Frith where the people were evacuated to and my daughter lives a few hundred metres from the reservoir in Whaley Bridge. She lives level with the top of the dam so didn’t need to evacuate. I appreciate your comments - thank you.
I live in Hazel Grove, and my mum used to take me to Buxton when i was a kid on this route, and also into Manchester. So I was so pleased to see you do this route. It's brought back alot of nice memories. I started watching your vids a couple of months ago, and was almost going to ask for a request for this route. And now you have done it, thinks
Excellent video. I remember the Chapel crash when an 8F hit the rear of a freight train. The 8F was leaking high pressure steam into the cab and the driver, John Axon, could not close the regulator, His train careered down hill and there was an almighty smash at the station. Sad to relate John died sticking to his post when he might have jumped clear at Bibbington sidings.
I do volunteer work on the station at Chapel and we held a short remembrance in the station on the anniversary in Feb. I made the replica signs at Chapel station.
I'm loving these great videos. Just done the Leeds to Derby run, ready to step aboard in beautiful Buxton to Manchester Piccadilly. Keep them coming Don. Take no notice of the idiots. You have a large legion of happy fans here.
Beautifully done! I know this line well, because I have family in Whaley Bridge and travel on it several times a year, including to Buxton. The combination of excellent photography and informed historical commentary is really good, and is complemented by the historical photos. The class 150s seem to handle this line rather better than they handled the stopping services between Exeter and Penzance until they were moved elsewhere from late 2018 to early 2019.. (I live in Camborne, so used them often.) They were constantly running behind time, were not the most reliable, and seemed constantly to be under pressure - something I've never felt when travelling on the Buxton line. Some of the gradients in Devon and Cornwall are steeper than those on the Buxton line; but I wonder also if it is because the climbs are longer too. Thank you! I've subscribed.
We lost the footage on the up line to Buxton Martin but the 150s struggle up there in summer as they tend to overheat. They always get there but a little steady! I live in Chapel-en-le-Frith, not far from your relatives.
Thanks for another great video. It has helped me focus in last week as I have just undergone some dental surgery which has caused me to have a very painful head and mouth, your videos have helped me immensely, I can't thank you enough.
Another great video Don, with lots of interesting facts and technical pointers. Must of been a slog in steam days working a stopping service to Buxton, with the steep climb and careful use of vacuum brakes. Nice also to see absolute block signalling still in use. When it appears the ROC is taking over the world, its just nice to see this traditional signalling type.
Yes, some of these out of the way lines are late going to the ROC but it costs a lot of money to completely re-signal a route and to automate the crossings so they enjoy a stay of execution for now!
It's interesting to see the mix of upper quadrant signalling and LED signals, manual level crossings and things like cellphone towers all in one place, all in 2019. Amazing video as always Don.
Should take a trip to Cornwall then... wind turbines next to unique lower quadrants, solar farms next to lines still using the same wooden tokens from 100 years ago. Thankfully places like south pennines, peak district, rural Wales, Scottish highlands and Cornwall still have public networked railways where time has slowed to a crawl and heritage items have remained without the need to make then into private heritage lines for tourists .
I used to live in Westhoughton... but back then they didnt have cellphones... and not many fir trees that I can remember... Just two Chinese takeaways and a station served by 11?'s out of Mcr Victoria.
i loved watching this vid. as a young boy/teenager i lived in hazel grove with my parents, my mum still does. i now live and work in Leeds. i used to travel this line regularly in the 1960s early 1970s. because i went to secondary school in longsight and i played cricket for hazel grove in the buxton league wednesday evenings and on Saturday afternoons. in them days this line was not electrified and i can still remember steam trains on the freight line. i'm now 66 going on 67. i liked and subscribed, i have wached a few of your vids.
in hazel grove there was 2 lines one freight and the other passenger where the station is now. i used to watch the steam trains on the freight line. i never knew where they came from or where they were going. i just presumed the were going to manchester or buxton. I wonder if that line is still there. As a very young boy i lived in droyelsden and the line ran at the back of our back garden. i watched steam trains on there as well.
Interesting video. The last time I came out of Buxton was in the late 1970's onboard one of the old Birmingham Carriage & Wagon DMU's. I take it this is one of the 150 DMU's that doesn't have the front gangway. By the way the ''Shallcross Line'' is actually the old Cromford and High Peak, which had a Shallcross Incline not far from Whaley Bridge. That incline closed in the 1890's.
Great video! When I was a child in the 1950s, my grandparents' house backed on to the railway on the right side just before (in the video) Woodsmoor Station. There was no station there in those days and there were long goods loops on both sides of the line, so it was effectively 4-track. The loops ran from Hazel Grove to just before Moorland Road bridge, (first one after the new station). I used to sit on the fence and watch the trains, - all steam of course. Very often long goods trains would be held in the loops waiting for passenger trains to pass. The scene is very different now, - in those days there were open views to the left across the fields and what was Mirrlees golf course. You could see the Midland line in the distance. Views are obscured by trees now.
Thanks Ken. I don’t know if you’ve see the J.W. Sutherland collection but there good photos of those loops which you might find interesting. sutherland.davenportstation.org.uk/aaprint/haz.html
@@doncoffey5820 Thanks, Don. Yes, I have the two 'Buxton Line' books by Gregory Fox and J M Bentley, which contain a lot of J W Sutherland's pics, including ones of the Woodsmoor loops. In the 'Part 1' book on P45, the bottom picture shows the row of houses, extreme right, one of which was my grandparents', and the low wooden fence separating the gardens from the railway where I used to sit. When a goods train came along the loop line, I was literally only a few feet away as the loco passed and I remember it being quite scary! (I was only a nipper at the time). Anyway it started my interest in railways. I have two or three photos taken on my little Brownie camera of trains passing that spot.
Excellent. Steam engines are a bit scary at close quarters! I can’t quite remember that stretch of line in steam days but it looks very interesting. John (Mick) Bentley is a friend of mine - lovely fella' with an astonishing knowledge of railways in the area.
Excellent run from Buxton Don brilliant weather like all the info along the route went up to Buxton with our 8F from the. Severn valley. With 11 on years ago slipped to a stand inside Eaves Tunnel rescued with a 37 into Buxton I live in Macclesfield and work in Derbyshire sometimes have my dinner at the café at Barmoor Clough
You will have worked to Hazel Grove I guess? They certainly do now at Vic. Yes, its strange but the line to Clitheroe is just as alien to us on the south side. Hopefully I will get to film that soon.
Love the captions and side views, the production values on this channel is commendable. If possible i'd like to see some of the north west routes to places like Blackpool, Blackburn (via Bolton) and also Wigan via Atherton.
The last time I rode this line would be circa 1953, my brother (5) and I (9) went on a jaunt for home (Hazel Grove) to Buxton and back. Once the video gets outside Buxton, very little seems to have changed. The A6 looks a little busier and there are some new houses, but mostly it's pretty much how I remember it until Hazel Grove where the sidings from where I listened to the shunting every night have now become a car park. My grandfather used to catch the train every morning at Furness Vale. If he was running late the train would wait. You wouldn't get that now. From Hazel Grove onward things have changed a little bit though. The only station before Stockport was Davenport. My mother told me that Stockport Viaduct was a target during WWII, and one night coming home from Manchester the train she was on had to stop on the viaduct during a bombing raid. Fortunately the bombers were lousy shots... The birth of the River Mersey is in Stockport, it's a pity you can't see it from the viaduct but since it runs underneath a road you couldn't see it even if you could (If you catch my drift...). Piccadilly looks to be the same building as you enter it. It's been upgraded some since I was last there (To say the least) and yet it still looked familiar. All told a very pleasant trip. I might make it again tomorrow.
Thats my local line - I live at Chapel en le Frith where the residents were evacuated to and I used to drive that line before going to TPE. I did have the footage in the other direction but occasionally the camera gets that hot it shuts down so I lost it. I can get it again at some stage.
@@doncoffey5820 Yes, it would be a treat to see the run from the other direction, but preferably not going into the sun. Buxton Station looks like it has/had many platforms - is it well used? Best wishes, Dave.
Excellent as always. I see a Don Coffey video in my recommendations, I come as soon as I am able! Incidentally, I never thought I'd see semaphore signals on an AC (overhead catenary) electrified line! That did seem to be an anachronism. ^_^
All the usual superlatives! Thanks Don. I have a copy of the Ian Allan 1955 BR Atlas (so pre-Beeching) and I find it interesting to follow the route in it. So, when you say something like 'on the right you can still see where the line that used to run to (place name) branched off' guess what - it was there in 1955. Adds value to the viewing experience. Thanks again.
Superb Video Don. So much interesting comments. Went down & back to Buxton while on holiday in Manchester last June. Wish I had seen this first and if there was a good 4G signal I might have been able to view as I went. Nice place Buxton.
Yes, it is a nice run. We actually filmed the other direction but the confounded camera stopped recording about 5 minutes from the end. Thats a future project now!
Lovely video Don. I have taken this trip many times. Used to live in Hazel Grove and now Whaley. Would be great to see it also in the other direction. The Coombs valley opening up from Whaley to Chapel is just stunning
You know what? We filmed it Andy and the camera stopped recording with only a couple of miles to go. I’ve stopped using Sandisk memory cards because they crashed like that quite frequently.
Great videos, I always find them useful for checking the location of infrastructure. One minor point on leaving Buxton the first line coming in from the right before the box is indeed from Dowlow (but originally continued to Ashbourne & Uttoxeter, not Derby - unless you went via the Cromford & High Peak at Parsley Hay). The second line on the right - behind the box - from Chinley etc, was also the main connection to Derby via the triangular junction at Millers Dale.
This brings back great memories for me, as I worked as a Guard/later Conductor on this very line from 1979 to 1999. I was actually based at Buxton for the whole of my time on the railways, from 1973 to 1999, working freight trains from 73 to 79, and then passenger trains from then until I left to pursue a new career in the Church of England, where I am now a parish priest in Exeter. Another major part of my life also began while working on the trains, as working on them was part of how I met my wife, who is originally from Whaley Bridge, which is of course on this line. I remember all this like it was yesterday.
Glad it brought back memories John. I started as a driver there in 2003 so missed you. I also live in Chapel and my daughter lives in Whaley Bridge as you are familiar with the area.
@@doncoffey5820 Thanks very much for your reply. Yes, I was brought up in Buxton, spending the first 44 years of my life there. My dad also worked on the railways for a few years as a fireman on the steam engines in the late 1940s/early 50s. When I started in 1973 - when I was just 18 - there were still a lot of the old hand drivers who were my dad's age who remembered him, so it was a good way of breaking the ice for me.
Brilliant video, and very well done, as usual. Travelled on the route from Manchester as far as Hazel Grove on Saturday, for a model railway exhibition. My journey started at Southport on a pair of 142s. I'm new to the North West from the Surrey/SW London boarders. I absolutely love it here, and so does my partner. It's beautiful, and there is so much to explore, be it interesting towns and cities and the stunning countryside. There is a good range and variety of Rover, Ranger and regional Metro tickets to, unlike the South. The odd Rover and the TfL travelcard. Keep 'em coming. They are great to watch. Thank you.
More on the way Neil. I imagine its quite different to the south. I did used to call at Reading when I was working down there and see some of the Thumpers, HSTs and 50s passing through.
Talking about UP and DOWN Lines - there's an odd length of Track on the M.R. out of St Pancras between Saxby and Melton Mowbray where Melton Mowbray is approached in two directions by DOWN lines from St.Pancras - one Via Leicester London Rd. and the other from St.Pancras Via Manton. Odd.
@@doncoffey5820 You're welcome, Don. It has long been an ambition of mine to see what the view is like from the front - thanks to you I now know. Such videos give great pleasure and instruction to many, and yours are the best, and I should say that they are well up with the best professional standards. Thanks again sir!
Thanks for the shot of that concrete Gradient Post: 1:58 | 1:150! The first I had seen. at 12:45 there is a pair of white posts - one on either side of the Track. I have noticed these in pairs and wonder what they indicate?
I’ve had a look and I can’t find them. There is one near a mileage marker which I suspect is the remains of the early type. Maybe thats what you saw???
The only thing I’ve got planned up there is the return journey at the moment. I may be able to get one of the TPE services to Cleethorpes at a later date.
I've been interested in the lines around this area for years, particularly the freight line from Buxton to Manchester via Chaple-le-Frith (Central) and Chinley (the old LMS London to Manchester line),
No photographs of the train crash at chapel in le frith (south) on the 9 February 1957 when the 11.05 from Buxton to Warrington worked by stanier class 8f locomotive 48188 collided with the 08.45 rowsley to Stockport the engine driver of the 11.05 was John axon who was awarded the George cross posthumously for trying to regain control of the locomotive which suffered a fractured valve which put the brakes out of action Question If chapel in le frith (south) the south was removed when the other station central was closed in 1967 But still had the south in it’s name today what would it have in common with the underground stations mansion house and South Ealing Answer They have all the vowels of the alphabet in their names An other wonderful video
I am in the “Friends” volunteer group at Chapel and also worked at Northern when we commemorated the 50th anniversary in 2008. It was a fowl day I can tell you. Interesting factoid about the vowels Martyn 👍
Excellent as usual. I was interested to note that you didn't mention the incident in, I think, 1957 where the train driven by driver John Axxon lost its steam brake. Folksinger Ewan McColl produced a radio ballad of the event called "The ballad of John Axon" and I was deeply moved to see places named in the songs shown in your video. "On the road to Chapel en le Frith his steam brake pipe did blow" Hair raising stuff. I still sing ""The Iron Road" from that recording. Good 'ealth, John Warner. Murrumbateman, NSW, Australia
I live in Chapel en le Frith Janey and am a member of the friends group. I drove on that line for some years too. One of the trains is named after Axon.
@@doncoffey5820 Are you sure it runs through the Chatsworth estate? It might run through/over some Chatsworth owned land, but not the estate proper. Do you mean Haddon Hall? It does run through the Haddon estate. I'd heard the current Duke there was a bit more amenable, but it's likely Haddon and the Peak Park authority (who own a lot of the trackbed) would be the biggest blockers to restoration. If reinstated, I'm sure it would pay its way - the most scenic line after Settle-Carlisle, maybe - and a useful secondary route. Anyway, I love all your videos. So interesting to watch, and strangely relaxing :) Thank you.
Must be lovely to have an office with a view like that... not so nice on a cold dark snowing night though. The track looks so smooth and nicely canted... bit different to 40 years ago
I’ve come out of Buxton with the first train after snow has fallen all night. Its a strange feeling when you can’t see the track but really beautiful when the whole scene is lit by bluish moonlight.
Excellent Don - Buxton seems to have quite a lot of new property. Whaley Bridge also seems to be developed lineside. Chapel En Le Frith is as I remember it in the mid 60s. I had never realised Eaves tunnel had a full 45 degree turn. You supply detail as a natural teacher, though I might add being a natural is not an advantage in school education these days - it's all ideological method. School athletics were a feature at Lyme Park in the 60s and geography field trips to the Goyt Valley. Many thanks for this!
Yes Alf, it would have continued through Derby to Ambergate and then on through my neck of the woods at Chapel en le Frith (literally at the back of my house) on to Manchester Central. If you watch the Leeds to Derby video, you’ll see the Ambergate to Derby stretch.
Another superb video mr coffey, keep up the excellent work that you do, Can i ask in future will you be doing the trans pennine service from Manchester airport to cleethorpes return ???
My favourite video to pop on whilst doing the ironing of a Sunday. Living the dream!
Good idea! It could catch on - mind that crease now ;-)
Taken this trip again as it's such a lovely ride through beautiful scenery.
Yes, that’s my “neck of the woods” up there!
Absolutely well-filmed video. The last time I worked on this route was when I was a guard at Buxton until 1989. Many thanks!
Thanks. Its still good to see old signage in place of bygone times.
I made the signs at Chapel Station.
I used to live in Davenport, have fond memories of sitting on the station watching for the class 31s hauling trains between Manchester to Sheffield and beyond.
I also remember being near the Mirrlees factory, Woodsmoor/Hazel Grove and viewing the freight only line, watching the double headed class 37's pulling the vacuum braked PHV/JGV ICI Hopper Wagons to and from the Peak District.
I lived close to the line at Chapel-en-le-Frith and those 37s used to move the ornaments in the house!
Seeing it from this view, you quickly realise how incredibly complex operating a rail network is
Yes, its a big contrast to say, the Middlesbrough video which is all main line.
It defy’s how anyone could dislike that video! The footage is of exceptional quality, the visual narration is perfectly balanced, & informative. And the historical pictures are the icing!
Don, please keep knocking these masterpieces, from one very happy subscriber👍🏻
One person got a bit too big for his boots and got blocked so I suspect he is the culprit! There is also a chance that when somebody searches for say “Buxton” they are expecting a town video or something else and trains may not be their cup of tea! Thanks for subscribing Kevin. I’m just working on the next video - coming soon!
@@doncoffey5820 That's the main problem with the Internet. Idiots can go from website to website, especially Google Maps reviews, giving everything an anonymous one star with no comment. When I was a kid we used to knock on people's front doors and run away.... Nuff said?
Brilliant never seen this before now living in Cornwall for 60 years gave me memoirs of the past thank you
Glad you enjoyed it peter.
Me too from the area and in Cornwall for past 40 years.
You have never failed to teach me something new on each trip. This time it is the treddle switch 15:11. Another great run.
Glad to be of help Walt!
another brilliant video thank you sir
Thanks Lennie
Many thanks for this: it brought back happy memories of travelling the line back in the early 1990's with my dad.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Fantastic ! Quality absolute awsome ! .. Just took me down memory lane ! .. of course a ton of changes since i travelled this line ... places, train mode, and just time itself ! .. thank you for your time ...
Glad you enjoyed it! Its my local line and as a member of the “Friends” group, I made all those signs and hanging basket posts at Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Don you have no idea just what this video did to calm my nerves. Last night at approx 8pm (Australian Eastern Standard), my wife was rushed to the hospital with a heart-attack. After the kids and I were sent packing by the Nursing staff at 2:00 am, we arrived home and, after calming and reassuring my youngest daughter (12) and putting her to bed, I could not find it in me to sleep. I sat watching RUclips videos but what I was watching just kept my nerves on edge. Then I got the notification that you had produced a new video and the trip down memory lane was just what the Doctor ordered!
My family spent a lot of weekends Caravanning in the Peak district, (mostly Castleton / Buxton), on those occasions when we camped at Buxton I would get to meet my parents by catching the Bus to Oldham, then catching the train to Victoria, Piccadily then straight down this line!
Please extend our thanks to your friend who recorded this trip, it has been more appreciated than I guess either of you would have anticipated, and I thought I should express my gratitude directly.
The Wife is doing as well as can be expected at this stage, but she will be staying put in the Coronary Care Unit for "at least" another 4 days whilst they continue to perform batteries of tests.
For goodness sake I-540, I cannot imagine. I sincerely hope she makes a full recovery and wish you and your family all the best. Ironic that the main theme of the Lewis Capaldi video featured is to promote organ donation. I hope many people heed it. My mate at Northern has been a star for getting me out on these Northern Routes and another ex-colleague has offered to let me do some of the north routes out of Victoria so we can look forward to those. I have permission to film TransPennine routes but that would be the extent of it without these willing helpers at Northern. Once agin, best wishes buddy.
I'm in ccu at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.after heart attack last Thursday 28th. So calming watching these videos.
Best wishes to you and your family.
Best wishes for a full recovery.
@@paulwhitear4983 sorry to hear of your predicament, I hope you make a full recovery.
Thnx so much for this video, Don. I am an ex-pat, living in Canada. l lived and worked for many years in the area between Buxton and Stockport. This brought back many fond memories. l look forward to more of these. Thank you, once again.
Glad you enjoyed it Steve.
Lovely video with detailed explanations of the route....thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it Bryan.
Another enjoyable video Don. Very informative and some nice shots from years gone by.
Thank you for a very in formative video,my dad was a signalman in the fifties till the nineties,had many pleasurable times with him and the accasionable tripe with a driver on the south eastern railway as it was known as then.
Yes Ken, trespass on the railway was common not so long ago. I used to ride all over the place when I was a kid in the 60s.
Very good work, Don!
I'm impressed by all the effort you've put in with all the explanations about signalling, the area in general and especially the history of the railway lines. For me (I live in Koenigstein im Taunus, near Frankfurt am Main, Germany) these explanations are very helpful. Thank you for bringing the beautiful Middle England closer! Thumbs up!
Thanks Enno. I used to travel to Frankfurt regularly when I was in the motor industry. Our technology centre was at Bad Camberg near Limberg. I used to love going there every couple of weeks. My boss lived in Hiedelburg which was also beautiful. We regularly travelled from Mannhiem to Zurich on the train whilst on business. Your railways are fantastic.
@@doncoffey5820 The german railways had been fantastic in times of former Deutsche Bundesbahn (nowadays Deutsche Bahn AG; the state tried to sell shares of the Deutsche Bahn to investors and have completely forgotten to continue investing in good infrastructure and rolling stock). Nowadays we have a dilapidated network and a high failure rate of trains, delays everywhere, etc. ... Every stronger wind brings the railway to a standstill. Switzerland has a fantastic railway network.
We never had any problems that I can remember. I’m probably talking about 2000 to 2003 period of time.
Another fine video Don, I can appreciate the massive problems John Axon had with the 8F on the Chapel-en -le Frith runaway.
Have look at JW Sutherland’s photo collection. Some really good photo’s in there;
sutherland.davenportstation.org.uk
Truly enjoy your videos! You've taught this retired American train driver a lot about British railroad practices! Thanks from Paris, Arkansas!
Thanks Bruce, much appreciated. It must be interesting to draw comparisons. Are there any similar US videos?
@@doncoffey5820 if I find any I'll be sure to let you know. The Federal Railroad Administration has banned all personal electronics from the cab at this time...
Yes, you had some high profile accidents due to mobile phones. We are strictly forbidden from having them switched on too but I’ve got special permission for the camera as it doesn’t send or receive data. Thanks for your efforts anyway.
Don, these videos are phenomenal. Especially when road learning! The ATW MIA to Llandudno JN would be even better! Keep up the great work. Thank you
We have to have lighter days for that one but we’ll get to it soon!
Excellent and informative as ever. Thanks Don.
Great journey, watched this a week ago, adding comment now, the Toddbrook reservoir brought me to your page, pleased all looks like turning out better than expected. Now to watch more of your fine work.
I live at Chapel en le Frith where the people were evacuated to and my daughter lives a few hundred metres from the reservoir in Whaley Bridge. She lives level with the top of the dam so didn’t need to evacuate. I appreciate your comments - thank you.
I live in Hazel Grove, and my mum used to take me to Buxton when i was a kid on this route, and also into Manchester. So I was so pleased to see you do this route. It's brought back alot of nice memories. I started watching your vids a couple of months ago, and was almost going to ask for a request for this route. And now you have done it, thinks
Glad you enjoyed it Michael.
It's a great vid, with a good mix of beautiful Peak District scenery and then dropping into busy city area.
Thank you for this fascinating video and the informative captions. Much appreciate your efforts.
Glad you like them Ian, thank you.
Excellent video. I remember the Chapel crash when an 8F hit the rear of a freight train. The 8F was leaking high pressure steam into the cab and the driver, John Axon, could not close the regulator, His train careered down hill and there was an almighty smash at the station. Sad to relate John died sticking to his post when he might have jumped clear at Bibbington sidings.
I do volunteer work on the station at Chapel and we held a short remembrance in the station on the anniversary in Feb. I made the replica signs at Chapel station.
I'm loving these great videos. Just done the Leeds to Derby run, ready to step aboard in beautiful Buxton to Manchester Piccadilly. Keep them coming Don. Take no notice of the idiots. You have a large legion of happy fans here.
That goes through my home town of Chapel en le Frith and in fact I made all the signs on the station!
Beautifully done! I know this line well, because I have family in Whaley Bridge and travel on it several times a year, including to Buxton. The combination of excellent photography and informed historical commentary is really good, and is complemented by the historical photos.
The class 150s seem to handle this line rather better than they handled the stopping services between Exeter and Penzance until they were moved elsewhere from late 2018 to early 2019.. (I live in Camborne, so used them often.) They were constantly running behind time, were not the most reliable, and seemed constantly to be under pressure - something I've never felt when travelling on the Buxton line. Some of the gradients in Devon and Cornwall are steeper than those on the Buxton line; but I wonder also if it is because the climbs are longer too.
Thank you! I've subscribed.
We lost the footage on the up line to Buxton Martin but the 150s struggle up there in summer as they tend to overheat. They always get there but a little steady! I live in Chapel-en-le-Frith, not far from your relatives.
Thanks for another great video. It has helped me focus in last week as I have just undergone some dental surgery which has caused me to have a very painful head and mouth, your videos have helped me immensely, I can't thank you enough.
Very pleased to hear it Richard. I’m glad it took your attention away from discomfort.
Really enjoyed this, thank you. Superb quality with loads of information and interesting facts. A great production expertly done.
Much appreciated HoBo.
Another very enjoyable run,thanks for the opportunity for me to see all these hitherto unknown places!
I live close to that line Huge.
I am an Aussie and I love your videos, you give lots of interesting information on each line. Keep up the good work.......
Thanks, will do!
Another great video Don, with lots of interesting facts and technical pointers. Must of been a slog in steam days working a stopping service to Buxton, with the steep climb and careful use of vacuum brakes. Nice also to see absolute block signalling still in use. When it appears the ROC is taking over the world, its just nice to see this traditional signalling type.
Yes, some of these out of the way lines are late going to the ROC but it costs a lot of money to completely re-signal a route and to automate the crossings so they enjoy a stay of execution for now!
It's interesting to see the mix of upper quadrant signalling and LED signals, manual level crossings and things like cellphone towers all in one place, all in 2019.
Amazing video as always Don.
Should take a trip to Cornwall then... wind turbines next to unique lower quadrants, solar farms next to lines still using the same wooden tokens from 100 years ago. Thankfully places like south pennines, peak district, rural Wales, Scottish highlands and Cornwall still have public networked railways where time has slowed to a crawl and heritage items have remained without the need to make then into private heritage lines for tourists .
Some of the cellphone masts near Westhoughton are disguised as Fir Trees!
I used to live in Westhoughton... but back then they didnt have cellphones... and not many fir trees that I can remember... Just two Chinese takeaways and a station served by 11?'s out of Mcr Victoria.
i loved watching this vid. as a young boy/teenager i lived in hazel grove with my parents, my mum still does. i now live and work in Leeds. i used to travel this line regularly in the 1960s early 1970s. because i went to secondary school in longsight and i played cricket for hazel grove in the buxton league wednesday evenings and on Saturday afternoons. in them days this line was not electrified and i can still remember steam trains on the freight line. i'm now 66 going on 67. i liked and subscribed, i have wached a few of your vids.
Thanks David. I’m 61 next so can really only just remember steam. There were a few about though in the late 60s.
in hazel grove there was 2 lines one freight and the other passenger where the station is now. i used to watch the steam trains on the freight line. i never knew where they came from or where they were going. i just presumed the were going to manchester or buxton. I wonder if that line is still there. As a very young boy i lived in droyelsden and the line ran at the back of our back garden. i watched steam trains on there as well.
Best way to get to Buxton, its a nightmare driving there from Manchester. The A6 is a horrible cluttered and busy road.
Yes, it can be bad. I actually have to drive to Piccadilly most days to start my turn of duty!
Excellent video as are they all... Very therapeutic...
Great! On All The Stations they said that Colonel Davenport demanded a station at Davenport.
Great video and very informative. Thank you for the upload
Excellent. Enjoyed all the infomation along the way too.
Thanks Mike.
excellent ride and comments!...thanks!
Glad you liked it. That is my local railway.
Brilliant video, thanks Don
It is nice to see the line. Last time I was there they were still running steam (Derbyshire end that is)
I bet The Blue Pullman was also running in those days Don.
Beautiful Buxton views and great history lessons from you. I can see the logic of the20mph speed limit at Eaves tunnel, that looked tight.
Thanks Rob.
Interesting video. The last time I came out of Buxton was in the late 1970's onboard one of the old Birmingham Carriage & Wagon DMU's. I take it this is one of the 150 DMU's that doesn't have the front gangway. By the way the ''Shallcross Line'' is actually the old Cromford and High Peak, which had a Shallcross Incline not far from Whaley Bridge. That incline closed in the 1890's.
It was a 150/1 - ex FGW. The incline is now the access road to Errwood Reservoir and I have driven up and down it many times.
Another brilliant video Don. Thanks. It reminded me of the time I used to live in that area!
I live in Chapel en le Frith Bernie!
Great video! When I was a child in the 1950s, my grandparents' house backed on to the railway on the right side just before (in the video) Woodsmoor Station. There was no station there in those days and there were long goods loops on both sides of the line, so it was effectively 4-track. The loops ran from Hazel Grove to just before Moorland Road bridge, (first one after the new station). I used to sit on the fence and watch the trains, - all steam of course. Very often long goods trains would be held in the loops waiting for passenger trains to pass. The scene is very different now, - in those days there were open views to the left across the fields and what was Mirrlees golf course. You could see the Midland line in the distance. Views are obscured by trees now.
Thanks Ken. I don’t know if you’ve see the J.W. Sutherland collection but there good photos of those loops which you might find interesting.
sutherland.davenportstation.org.uk/aaprint/haz.html
@@doncoffey5820 Thanks, Don. Yes, I have the two 'Buxton Line' books by Gregory Fox and J M Bentley, which contain a lot of J W Sutherland's pics, including ones of the Woodsmoor loops. In the 'Part 1' book on P45, the bottom picture shows the row of houses, extreme right, one of which was my grandparents', and the low wooden fence separating the gardens from the railway where I used to sit. When a goods train came along the loop line, I was literally only a few feet away as the loco passed and I remember it being quite scary! (I was only a nipper at the time). Anyway it started my interest in railways. I have two or three photos taken on my little Brownie camera of trains passing that spot.
Excellent. Steam engines are a bit scary at close quarters! I can’t quite remember that stretch of line in steam days but it looks very interesting. John (Mick) Bentley is a friend of mine - lovely fella' with an astonishing knowledge of railways in the area.
Excellent stuff. Your videos just keep getting better and better.
Thank you.
Really like the historical inserts, would loved to have seen an Edgeley shed insert as it was on its old site. Many thanks.
There are some nice photos in the Sutherland collection Barry.
www.sutherland.davenportstation.org.uk/aaprint/edg.html
Excellent run from Buxton Don brilliant weather like all the info along the route went up to Buxton with our 8F from the. Severn valley. With 11 on years ago slipped to a stand inside Eaves Tunnel rescued with a 37 into Buxton I live in Macclesfield and work in Derbyshire sometimes have my dinner at the café at Barmoor Clough
I live in Chapel-en-le-Frith and could hear you when you got stuck!!!
Never worked that line as a Victoria man but what a wonderful, scenic line that is,well until Hazel Grove that is.
You will have worked to Hazel Grove I guess? They certainly do now at Vic. Yes, its strange but the line to Clitheroe is just as alien to us on the south side. Hopefully I will get to film that soon.
Love the captions and side views, the production values on this channel is commendable. If possible i'd like to see some of the north west routes to places like Blackpool, Blackburn (via Bolton) and also Wigan via Atherton.
Yes, quite possible, bear with me.
The last time I rode this line would be circa 1953, my brother (5) and I (9) went on a jaunt for home (Hazel Grove) to Buxton and back. Once the video gets outside Buxton, very little seems to have changed. The A6 looks a little busier and there are some new houses, but mostly it's pretty much how I remember it until Hazel Grove where the sidings from where I listened to the shunting every night have now become a car park. My grandfather used to catch the train every morning at Furness Vale. If he was running late the train would wait. You wouldn't get that now.
From Hazel Grove onward things have changed a little bit though. The only station before Stockport was Davenport. My mother told me that Stockport Viaduct was a target during WWII, and one night coming home from Manchester the train she was on had to stop on the viaduct during a bombing raid. Fortunately the bombers were lousy shots... The birth of the River Mersey is in Stockport, it's a pity you can't see it from the viaduct but since it runs underneath a road you couldn't see it even if you could (If you catch my drift...).
Piccadilly looks to be the same building as you enter it. It's been upgraded some since I was last there (To say the least) and yet it still looked familiar. All told a very pleasant trip. I might make it again tomorrow.
I’m glad it inspired you and thanks for sharing your memories.
Great video again Don. Nice to see the old semafore singling.
It survives for now Paul!
Excellent as ever Don and to see the Whatley Bridge area close-up is a privilege after it's recent potential dam flooding problems.
Thats my local line - I live at Chapel en le Frith where the residents were evacuated to and I used to drive that line before going to TPE. I did have the footage in the other direction but occasionally the camera gets that hot it shuts down so I lost it. I can get it again at some stage.
@@doncoffey5820 Yes, it would be a treat to see the run from the other direction, but preferably not going into the sun. Buxton Station looks like it has/had many platforms - is it well used? Best wishes, Dave.
@@doncoffey5820 A view in the opposite direction would be very welcome sometime Don - Best Dave.
I do the side shots when I can Dave. When I’m driving I can’t do any of course.
Thank you for this great video. Also thanks for the explenations. Groeten van Johan uit Nederland.
Thanks for watching.
Again another excellent video many thanks don
Much appreciated Terry.
Excellent as always. I see a Don Coffey video in my recommendations, I come as soon as I am able!
Incidentally, I never thought I'd see semaphore signals on an AC (overhead catenary) electrified line! That did seem to be an anachronism. ^_^
Thanks John - I had to look that word up! I’m trying to think where you saw a semaphore under the wires on that route?
Great video Don, nice to see my old station New Mills Newtown. I started there, and eventually retired from there, with a 17 year gap in between. 👍😊
I was born and brought up in New Mills and I believe I remember you Stuart.
Just watching this while on the train 😀
You’ll be passing my house!
Excellent Don many thanks, this is better/more enjoyable than Telerail and Video 125!
Thanks GM.
All the usual superlatives! Thanks Don. I have a copy of the Ian Allan 1955 BR Atlas (so pre-Beeching) and I find it interesting to follow the route in it. So, when you say something like 'on the right you can still see where the line that used to run to (place name) branched off' guess what - it was there in 1955. Adds value to the viewing experience. Thanks again.
Thanks RWM, much appreciated.
Superb Video Don. So much interesting comments. Went down & back to Buxton while on holiday in Manchester last June. Wish I had seen this first and if there was a good 4G signal I might have been able to view as I went. Nice place Buxton.
Yes, it is a nice run. We actually filmed the other direction but the confounded camera stopped recording about 5 minutes from the end. Thats a future project now!
Another great video of a very scenic line. Love the archive pictures to!
Glad you enjoyed it
Lovely video Don. I have taken this trip many times. Used to live in Hazel Grove and now Whaley. Would be great to see it also in the other direction. The Coombs valley opening up from Whaley to Chapel is just stunning
You know what? We filmed it Andy and the camera stopped recording with only a couple of miles to go. I’ve stopped using Sandisk memory cards because they crashed like that quite frequently.
Excellent again Don. Keep them coming.
Another one soon Clive.
Great videos, I always find them useful for checking the location of infrastructure.
One minor point on leaving Buxton the first line coming in from the right before the box is indeed from Dowlow (but originally continued to Ashbourne & Uttoxeter, not Derby - unless you went via the Cromford & High Peak at Parsley Hay). The second line on the right - behind the box - from Chinley etc, was also the main connection to Derby via the triangular junction at Millers Dale.
Yes it did Martyn, quite right.
Whaley Bridge looks quite a nice place. Fortunately looks as if it's escaped becoming part of a new lake then.
This brings back great memories for me, as I worked as a Guard/later Conductor on this very line from 1979 to 1999. I was actually based at Buxton for the whole of my time on the railways, from 1973 to 1999, working freight trains from 73 to 79, and then passenger trains from then until I left to pursue a new career in the Church of England, where I am now a parish priest in Exeter. Another major part of my life also began while working on the trains, as working on them was part of how I met my wife, who is originally from Whaley Bridge, which is of course on this line. I remember all this like it was yesterday.
Glad it brought back memories John. I started as a driver there in 2003 so missed you. I also live in Chapel and my daughter lives in Whaley Bridge as you are familiar with the area.
@@doncoffey5820 Thanks very much for your reply. Yes, I was brought up in Buxton, spending the first 44 years of my life there. My dad also worked on the railways for a few years as a fireman on the steam engines in the late 1940s/early 50s. When I started in 1973 - when I was just 18 - there were still a lot of the old hand drivers who were my dad's age who remembered him, so it was a good way of breaking the ice for me.
You’ll know Mssr’s Nevell, Bentley and conductor Taylor then - all from your era. They are all retired now.
@@doncoffey5820 Oh yes indeed. Dave Nevell and I started on the same day in September 1973. I'm glad to hear they are all ok.
I’ll be speaking to him this week so I’ll mention you to him.
Great video, thanks!
Thanks Iivari.
Brilliant video, and very well done, as usual.
Travelled on the route from Manchester as far as Hazel Grove on Saturday, for a model railway exhibition. My journey started at Southport on a pair of 142s. I'm new to the North West from the Surrey/SW London boarders. I absolutely love it here, and so does my partner. It's beautiful, and there is so much to explore, be it interesting towns and cities and the stunning countryside. There is a good range and variety of Rover, Ranger and regional Metro tickets to, unlike the South. The odd Rover and the TfL travelcard.
Keep 'em coming. They are great to watch.
Thank you.
More on the way Neil. I imagine its quite different to the south. I did used to call at Reading when I was working down there and see some of the Thumpers, HSTs and 50s passing through.
Another excellent one!
Thanks Martin.
great video with such great views
Thanks!
Passed through Whaley Bridge on the way to Snake Pass and Ladybower Reservoir a couple of weeks ago. Lovely scenery and perfect conditions.
Very close to where I live Paul. Glad you enjoyed it.
Another superb video by a true railway Artisan
Thanks Andrew.
It's a shame this line closed off at Buxton and the bit down to Matlock part of the MML is closed :( Great video :)
They keep talking about opening it again but whether it ever does remains to be seen. Now that would make a good video!!!
Talking about UP and DOWN Lines - there's an odd length of Track on the M.R. out of St Pancras between Saxby and Melton Mowbray where Melton Mowbray is approached in two directions by DOWN lines from St.Pancras - one Via Leicester London Rd. and the other from St.Pancras Via Manton. Odd.
It can be utterly baffling at times but it’s usually because bits of line have been altered or closed.
Hi don thanks for another great video,love the old steam days photo's well done cheer's bob.
Thanks Bob. A new video to Crewe out on Saturday night and lots more planned.
Thanks for another great video Don, keep up the good work!
Thanks Geoff.
@@doncoffey5820 You're welcome, Don. It has long been an ambition of mine to see what the view is like from the front - thanks to you I now know. Such videos give great pleasure and instruction to many, and yours are the best, and I should say that they are well up with the best professional standards. Thanks again sir!
Thanks for the shot of that concrete Gradient Post: 1:58 | 1:150! The first I had seen. at 12:45 there is a pair of white posts - one on either side of the Track. I have noticed these in pairs and wonder what they indicate?
I’ve had a look and I can’t find them. There is one near a mileage marker which I suspect is the remains of the early type. Maybe thats what you saw???
Again another excellent video
Thanks Tim.
Nice to see the semaphore signals coming out of Buxton.
Haha, I see you are catching up on some of the older videos. Glad to have you riding with us Ian. Yes, the semaphores are still there to this day.
@@doncoffey5820 Yep. Off work through injury, so what better way to pass the time? Lots to see still :)
Thank you once again Don, brilliant work. Your videos are interesting and informative. I’d love to see more featuring Sheffield Midland in the future.
The only thing I’ve got planned up there is the return journey at the moment. I may be able to get one of the TPE services to Cleethorpes at a later date.
I've been interested in the lines around this area for years, particularly the freight line from Buxton to Manchester via Chaple-le-Frith (Central) and Chinley (the old LMS London to Manchester line),
Glad you enjoyed it. I live in Chapel en le Frith and made all of those replica signs and hanging basket posts at the station!!
No photographs of the train crash at chapel in le frith (south) on the 9 February 1957 when the 11.05 from Buxton to Warrington worked by stanier class 8f locomotive 48188 collided with the 08.45 rowsley to Stockport the engine driver of the 11.05 was John axon who was awarded the
George cross posthumously for trying to regain control of the locomotive which suffered a fractured valve which put the brakes out of action
Question
If chapel in le frith (south) the south was removed when the other station central was closed in 1967
But still had the south in it’s name today what would it have in common with the underground stations mansion house and South Ealing
Answer
They have all the vowels of the alphabet in their names
An other wonderful video
I am in the “Friends” volunteer group at Chapel and also worked at Northern when we commemorated the 50th anniversary in 2008. It was a fowl day I can tell you. Interesting factoid about the vowels Martyn 👍
Excellent as usual. I was interested to note that you didn't mention the incident in, I think, 1957 where the train driven by driver John Axxon lost its steam brake. Folksinger Ewan McColl produced a radio ballad of the event called "The ballad of John Axon" and I was deeply moved to see places named in the songs shown in your video. "On the road to Chapel en le Frith his steam brake pipe did blow" Hair raising stuff. I still sing ""The Iron Road" from that recording. Good 'ealth, John Warner. Murrumbateman, NSW, Australia
I live in Chapel en le Frith Janey and am a member of the friends group. I drove on that line for some years too. One of the trains is named after Axon.
All the trains in the Manchester area should be running your videos on board. It would make the journeys so much more enjoyable and educational.
It might be interesting for enthusiasts. You never just know! Thanks for the feedback Bill.
Nice cab ride
This is the best video yet and the added bonus of good weather. My only criticism is the text wasn't as easy to read as it normally is.
Yes, it was bleached out by the unusually bright sunlight. I should have used something better at the beginning.
Another excellent video.
Thanks Stephen.
love these videos, its a relaxing escape from driving on our stressed out roads, do you think there is a sound case to re-open the line to matlock?
I think there is but there is a lot of opposition to that line. It runs through the Chatsworth Estate if that is a clue.
@@doncoffey5820 Are you sure it runs through the Chatsworth estate? It might run through/over some Chatsworth owned land, but not the estate proper.
Do you mean Haddon Hall? It does run through the Haddon estate. I'd heard the current Duke there was a bit more amenable, but it's likely Haddon and the Peak Park authority (who own a lot of the trackbed) would be the biggest blockers to restoration.
If reinstated, I'm sure it would pay its way - the most scenic line after Settle-Carlisle, maybe - and a useful secondary route.
Anyway, I love all your videos. So interesting to watch, and strangely relaxing :) Thank you.
Buxton, and the line down to the metropolis is so nice that you just want to get off at Stockport and ride the first train back up.
Haha! I’ll be covering the return journey one day but I’ll mix them up a bit first.
Must be lovely to have an office with a view like that... not so nice on a cold dark snowing night though. The track looks so smooth and nicely canted... bit different to 40 years ago
I’ve come out of Buxton with the first train after snow has fallen all night. Its a strange feeling when you can’t see the track but really beautiful when the whole scene is lit by bluish moonlight.
oh i didn't see this till now.
My local line Pete. In fact I made all the signs and the hanging basket posts in the header photo in my garage.
Excellent Don - Buxton seems to have quite a lot of new property. Whaley Bridge also seems to be developed lineside. Chapel En Le Frith is as I remember it in the mid 60s. I had never realised Eaves tunnel had a full 45 degree turn.
You supply detail as a natural teacher, though I might add being a natural is not an advantage in school education these days - it's all ideological method.
School athletics were a feature at Lyme Park in the 60s and geography field trips to the Goyt Valley.
Many thanks for this!
Thanks for the kind words GL.
Me and the mrs are staying in buxton this weekend 27/09 taking a trip to manc pic on saturday morning 28/09 on the 0936.
I was working at that time - probably Leeds to Manchester Victoria or otherwise I would have said hello when you got to Piccadilly!
@@doncoffey5820 will put some pics up of our travels tomorrow on manchester railways fb page.
I’ll watch out Phil.
Thank you for the video. Is this part of the route that St Pancras to Manchester trains, including the 'Palatine' would have taken?
Yes Alf, it would have continued through Derby to Ambergate and then on through my neck of the woods at Chapel en le Frith (literally at the back of my house) on to Manchester Central. If you watch the Leeds to Derby video, you’ll see the Ambergate to Derby stretch.
The captions are great, having never travelled the line.
My local line so a favourite of mine Matt.
Another superb video mr coffey, keep up the excellent work that you do, Can i ask in future will you be doing the trans pennine service from Manchester airport to cleethorpes return ???
You’d think that would be easy but it isn’t due to how the company operates. Not impossible but not easy. Bear with me while I investigate.
Lots of semaphore distant signals instead of the colour light variant you see nowadays. Good watch.
Thanks, yes, the Buxton line has escaped the ROC for the time being.
all youre videos are fantastic oh to be a train driver be safe
You too Lennie. Take care buddy.