Cromford and High Peak Railway

The Cromford and High Peak Railway ( C & HPR ) in Derbyshire, England, was completed in 1831 to transport coal and goods between the Cromford Canal at High Peak Junction and the Peak Forest Canal at Whaley Bridge.

Track construction

The first part of the route from the dock at the High Peak Junction on the Cromford Canal to Hurdlow was opened in 1830. From the canal, the route climbed at 5 miles to more than a thousand feet ( 8 km to more than 330 m), four gradients of 1 in 14-1 in 8 - Cromford, Sheep Pasture, Middleton and Hopton above Wirksworth. The line then went over the relatively gentle slope at Hurdlow with a gradient of 1 in 16, the second half of Hurdlow according to Whaley Bridge, opened in 1832 with a descent through four more inclines, the steepest it was 1 in 7 The highest part the track was reached on Ladmanlow at a height of 1266 ft.

The tracks were made ​​of so-called fish-bellied rails on stone blocks, as it was then instead of wooden sleepers customary to use on the flat portions of horses for traction can. In nine inclined planes, stationary steam engines were used with the exception of the last climb in Whaley Bridge, was working on the with a horse - mill. The engines, rails and other ironwork were produced by the Butterley Company. The 33- mile trip took about two days. Luckily the track was laid with Stephenson - gauge of 4 feet 8 ½ inches, instead of the usual Outram - gauge 4 ft 2 inches.