Cromford and High Peak Railway
A series of 9 inclines used to travel over the Peak District on this 33 mile railway, the most noteworthy was Hopton which used a stationary steam engine to haul trains, it was replaced in 1887 with locomotives which traveled up the steepest railway in the UK (adhesion) at 1:14, the railway closed in 1967. Another called Sheep pasture was the site of a runaway which shot two wagons over a canal. Whaley Bridge incline closed in 1952 was the smallest with a 40ft rise at a 1:13.5 incline used an endless chain hauled by two beam engines (steam powered) at the Middleton top engine house. 17 miles of the railway is now the High Peak Trail
Cromford Incline
Incorporated into the Sheep pasture incline
Sheep pasture incline
Gradient 1 in 8.5, 3/4 mile long sheep pasture incline which is 1:9 for the first ½ a mile then 1:8 for the final section. A section of track is preserved. Info boards are present.
Wirksworth Incline
A connection to the Midland railway at Winksworth by way of a cable worked incline. This incline railway in a cutting into a siding next to the Midland line from Duffield to Winkworth.
A section of track and several wagons are preserved along with the bridge, Info boards are present.
Middleton Incline
The winding house and its engines are preserved at the visitors centre along with some track and a wagon. Gradient 1 in 8.5, 708 yds long
Hopton Incline
Now part of a path, some Info boards are present.
Gradient 1 in 14, 1/8 mile long converted to adhesion in 1877
Hurdlow Incline
1 in 16, 850 yds long, stopped running in 1869. A bridge over it is still present.
Bunsall Incline
Gradient 1 in 7.5, 5/8 mile long. It originall ran as two inclines the upper one 660yds long with a gradient of 1 in 7.5. The lower one was 455 long with a 1 in 7 gradient. They were combined in 1857. It is now a road.
Shallcross Incline
Gradient 1 in 10.5, 817 yds long, now on the edge of a field.
Whaley Bridge Incline
Horse Powered, Gradient 1 in 18.5, 180 yds long, closed in 1952. It can easily be traced from the canal basin, a section of track is preserved. Info boards are present.
OldPhoto's
Many Thanks to
the Wirksworth website for the photo's