Better than Pendolino

Yesterday we went on a steam train…

Peak Rail visitor guide

The Peak Rail line is part of the Midland Railway track which used to run between Manchester and London, and which closed in 1968. From 1975 onwards, a team of enthusiasts and volunteers have been working hard to restore the line between Matlock and Rowsley South, as an independent heritage and community railway.

Derbyshire skys

Approach

Platform

The train, approaching

You can ride on an old fashioned steam train from Rowsley South station, to Matlock and back again. There are also loads of special events which run throughout the year, such as WW2 weekends, Halloween ghost train rides, and steam and diesel events.

Wooden interior

Corridor/sliding door

The inside of the train is really cool, and all the interior walls and fixtures are made from wood. The best carriages are the ones with the long corridor and compartments with sliding doors.

Compartment with flip down arm-rests

The seats in the compartment are the most comfy train seats I’ve ever sat on. If I could get one of these as a sofa for the front room, then I would.

Seats, with tables

There are different types of seating in each carriage. There is also a Restaurant carriage with proper tables and chairs.

Blue seats

I like the shape of the head-rests and tables, and the design of the luggage racks.

Aboard

The whole journey takes around an hour. It was quite quiet as it was late in the day. The people who work on the train are part of the Peak Rail Association, and some of them dress in old fashioned uniforms.

Matlock Riverside - through the sliding windows

It was dark by the time we got back, and the windows on the train were steamed up!

Through the window

Getting dark

We’re going to go back another time and take more photos.

Peak Rail ticket

You can visit the Peak Rail website for more info about the railway and stations along the line – www.peakrail.co.uk