Peak Rail

18/06/2026

🚂Not long to go now!

🚌Are you joining us on Sunday?

Sunday is fast approaching and preparations are just about complete for the event.

However as always changes occur in the last few days. Littles find themselves unable to attend owing to vehicle availability. This means a change to our printed bus timetable but a ‘changes’ board will be positioned by the main departure bus bay, onsite at Rowsley. Sadly it also means no Ilkeston/Derby feeder service - although our new Matlock flyer free service, will link with Nottingham / Derby trains at Matlock interchange throughout the day.

So, here’s the updated list of expected attendees. As always this Is subject to change - but hopefully not by much.

B736GCN - ECW Leyland Olympian - Stagecoach East Midland
B738GCN - ECW Leyland Olympian - Ex Redfern Travel
G755UYT - NC Leyland Olympian - Ex Redfern Travel
TCH274L - ECW Bristol RELH - NBC Dual Purpose Trent
YCH890M - ECW Bristol RELH6L - NBC Dual Purpose Trent
808TYR - ELC Myllenium Nordic B9TL - Tyrers Coaches
JVL928H - Bristol LH - Tilling Green & Cream Lincolnshire
PX07HBG - Optare Solo - Cheshire Connect
GSO90V - Leyland Leopard Y Type - Northern Scottish
WU02KVV - Volvo B7TL ALX400 - Sheffield Mainline
MOF9 - Guy Arab IV - Birmingham City Transport
NAT766A - Daimler CVG6 - Grimsby Cleethorpes
UHA225H - Daimler Fleetline - Midland Red
SOA674S - Leyland Leopard Supreme - Midland Red
CHA460K - Leyland Leopard Elite - Midland Red
RHA919G - BMMO S23 - Midland Red
TFA987 - Daimler CCG5 - Burton Corporation
MFA703G - Daimler Fleetline - Burton Corporation
DTL489D - Leyland Atlantean PDR1/2 - Delaine
RNA236J - Daimler Fleetline - GMPTE
YN15EJA - Scania E400 - NCT South Notts Heritage Livery
BN75NWR - Wrightbus Ultraliner - NCT Pathfinder
MX03YCN - Optare Solo M850 - Preserved Travel
WKH526X - ECW Bristol VR - East Yorkshire
C537DAT - ECW Leyland Olympian - East Yorkshire
UHG736R - Leyland National Greenway - London & Country
VWM83L - Leyland Atlantean - Merseyside PTE
C253FRJ - Leyland Olympian - GM Buses Express
JKH194V - Leyland Leopard Supreme - East Yorkshire
XRB415L - Leyland National Mk1 - Midland General
C120VBF - Mercedes 608D - PMT Mini Link
YXI6327 - Volvo B10M Vanhool Alizee - Happisburgh Touring Society
KIW8606 or SUI8162 - Volvo B10M PS - DW Coaches
H801GRE - Optare Delta - PMT Red & Yellow
FJ09BXA - Wright Eclipse B7 - Trentbarton Swift
BD65*** - Wright Eclipse B8 - Trentbarton Sixes
KWE374D - AEC Reliance Panorama - Sheffield United Tours
EKA220Y - Leyland Tiger Duple Dominant - Merseyside PTE
YJ55KZR - DAF Commander - Fishwicks
YN56SGZ - Dennis Dart - Peak Bus
S819BWC - Dennis Trident ALX400 - Johnson Bros
YT61FFJ - Scania Omnidekka - Redfern Travel
ENU93H - Leyland Panther - Chesterfield Transport

Plus three, yes THREE vehicles from Metroline Manchester in various liveries.
Other vehicle enquiries have been received but we’re awaiting entry forms before publishing.

We also have a couple of extra vehicles that are booked in but are currently undergoing mechanical work. If this is finished in time, they’ll also be in attendance.

We are still accepting bookings, please get in touch if you would like to bring a bus.

If we have any operators wishing to attend and prepared to operate a feeder service to/from please let us know, as we would love to offer this - Thankyou, Adam

17/06/2026

🚂🚂Steam Trains are running today, and Kids go Free!

750 ‘Waleswood’ is hauling trains today, so why not step back in time and enjoy travel as it used to be?

🕥First departure is 11:00 from Rowsley South, following our Steam Timetable.

🅿️ Free parking is available at Rowsley South & Darley Dale Stations!

🛝 Why not take the kids into Matlock and let them blow off some steam in Hall Leys Park?

🎟️ Tickets are available from the Booking Office or the Ticket inspector on the train. Fares are: Adults/Seniors £15 & Kids go free! (when accompanied by a fare paying adult/senior)

🍽️ Rowsley South Tea Rooms will also be open serving a wide range of hot and cold food and drinks.

🎁 Our gift shop at Rowsley South ‘The Goods Shed’ will be open from 10:00 until 16:30, why not pop in a browse our wide range of gifts, books and much more!

📸 H Bradbury

16/06/2026

🚂 Not sure what to do tomorrow?

We are running Steam trains and kids go free*

Steam hauled service with the first departure from Rowsley South at 11:00. Hop onboard and enjoy a Steam train trip to the past! Services will be hauled by 750 ‘Waleswood’

Don’t forget, you can travel by train directly from Lincoln, Newark, Nottingham and Derby, where it is then a short walk over the footbridge to our platform at Matlock!

🎟️ Tickets for our standard services are only available on the day from the Booking Office or Ticket inspector on the train. Fares are: Adults/Senior £15 & Kids go free! (*when accompanied by a fare paying adult/senior)

🍽️ Rowsley South Tea Rooms will also be open serving a wide range of hot and cold food and drinks.

🎁 Our gift shop at Rowsley South ‘The Goods Shed’ will be open from 10:00 until 16:30, why not pop in a browse our wide range of gifts, books and much more!

📸 O Griffiths

16/06/2026

❗️It's Archive Tuesday❗️
First last and unusual locomotive workings over the route

An article on the Rowsley Control Office is at the final draft stage so your compiler can return to another slow burner on the first, last and unusual locomotive workings over the route. I’ve worked my way through several magazines and other sources and there are quite a few further sources to look through. By definition this is always going to be a bit of an open-ended article to which your contributions, with date, location and hopefully a photo will be very welcome! It also includes DMUs by the way so if a Hastings unit was used on a long-distance rambler’s excursion from Tunbridge Wells to Bakewell in 1966, we would be pleased to know all about it! [No reason to think one actually took place by the way.]

However, we do have this photo taken by ‘Photo Joe Elliott ’ from the Rowsley Association collection of North Eastern Railway 2-4-0, 1099 at the original Rowsley shed which definitely meets this criteria. The loco is believed to be one of the ‘901’ class designed by Fletcher and built about 1882. The last was withdrawn by the LNER in 1925. They were designed to work express passenger trains from Newcastle to York and Edinburgh. By the time the photo was taken they were probably downgraded to secondary duties and in their later years most were based in the Darlington area. One (910) in an un-rebuilt form has been preserved.

So, what was this loco doing at Rowsley shed? Well Pete and Derek spotted a few clues

It has a reporting number ‘1’ below the chimney suggesting it was one of a number of special trains. The nearest points on the NER were in the Leeds, Normanton and Doncaster areas so it has come a significant distance from its home railway.
The trees behind the loco are in full leaf and the shadows are small indicating mid-summer
The loco is facing south suggesting a working from north of Rowsley.
We have contacted another Association to see if they can ‘shed’ any light on the issue, any response from them will be published.
So, a special for Bakewell show or a summer excursion seem the most likely answers, unless anyone can think of a better explanation?

All suggestions would be gratefully received! Also, if anyone has their own loco or DMU observations… We’d love to hear from you!

15/06/2026

❗️Royal Pioneer [overdue] Update❗️

This project is continuing forward steadily and we cannot thank all the supporters and volunteers enough who are making this happen.

A new firebox is now under construction and our friends at Western Steam Engineering, who are the specialists who can do boiler work, are working on drilling the backhead of the boiler. The photos below have been sent to us by them. Alot of precision drilling required. Also shown are some life expired parts to be replaced.

An update on the appeal:
As most of you will be aware, we're continuing to raise the funds required to complete the restoration and thanks to multiple generous donations from a lot of supporters we have so far raised £34,810.61
This is approaching half of the estimated costs required to complete the boiler work.

If anyone feels able to help us with our fund raising and donate, either by standing order or one off donation, the bank details are

Peak Railway Association Ltd.
Sort Code: 16 25 21
Account Number: 10896769

Please use 'WD150' as a reference when making the donation

13/06/2026

Trains are running today, and Kids go Free!

Our Class 108 DMU is running today, so why not step back in time and experience a drivers eye view of the line?

🕥First departure is 11:00 from Rowsley South, following our Diesel Timetable.

🅿️ Free parking is available at Rowsley South & Darley Dale Stations!

🛝 Why not take the kids into Matlock and let them blow off some steam in Hall Leys Park?

🎟️ Tickets are available from the Booking Office or the Ticket inspector on the train. Fares are: Adults/Seniors £15 & Kids go free! (when accompanied by a fare paying adult/senior)

🍽️ Rowsley South Tea Rooms will also be open serving a wide range of hot and cold food and drinks.

🎁 Our gift shop at Rowsley South ‘The Goods Shed’ will be open from 10:00 until 16:30, why not pop in a browse our wide range of gifts, books and much more!

📸 H Bradbury

12/06/2026

🚂 Not sure what to do this weekend?

We are running Steam & Diesel trains, and kids go free!*

📆 Saturday 13th: Diesel service with the first departure from Rowsley South at 11:00. Hop onboard and enjoy a DMU ride to the past! Services will be run with our Class 108 DMU

📆 Sunday 14th: Steam hauled Service with the first departure from Rowsley South at 11:00. Hop onboard and enjoy travel as it used to be. Services will be hauled by 750 ‘Waleswood’

Don’t forget, you can travel by train directly from Lincoln, Newark, Nottingham and Derby, where it is then a short walk over the footbridge to our platform at Matlock!

🎟️ Tickets for our standard services are only available on the day from the Booking Office or Ticket inspector on the train. Fares are: Adults/Senior £15 & Kids go free! (*when accompanied by a fare paying adult/senior)

🍽️ Rowsley South Tea Rooms will also be open over the weekend serving a wide range of hot and cold food and drinks.

🎁 Our gift shop at Rowsley South ‘The Goods Shed’ will be open from 10:00 until 16:30, why not pop in a browse our wide range of gifts, books and much more!

📸 O Griffiths & H Bradbury

12/06/2026

by Adrian Watson for us, one of the best thing about heritage railways is the sense of community amongst our volunteers. They're a part of a family and we love each and everyone of our people

11/06/2026

An excellent lineup once again for the Derbyshire Dales Bus and Train Festival!

We can’t wait for what promises to be another excellent event 

We’re just over a week away from the Derbyshire Dales Bus & Train Festival and preparations by both ourselves and Peak Rail are well underway.

We’re now able to share a full list of vehicles due to attend. As always this Is subject to change.

B736GCN - ECW Leyland Olympian - Stagecoach East Midland
B738GCN - ECW Leyland Olympian - Ex Redfern Travel
G755UYT - NC Leyland Olympian - Ex Redfern Travel
TCH274L - ECW Bristol RELH - NBC Dual Purpose Trent
YCH890M - ECW Bristol RELH6L - NBC Dual Purpose Trent
808TYR - ELC Myllenium Nordic B9TL - Tyrers Coaches
JVL928H - Bristol LH - Tilling Green & Cream Lincolnshire
PX07HBG - Optare Solo - Cheshire Connect
GSO90V - Leyland Leopard Y Type - Northern Scottish
WU02KVV - Volvo B7TL ALX400 - Sheffield Mainline
MOF9 - Guy Arab IV - Birmingham City Transport
NAT766A - Daimler CVG6 - Grimsby Cleethorpes
UHA225H - Daimler Fleetline - Midland Red
SOA674S - Leyland Leopard Supreme - Midland Red
CHA460K - Leyland Leopard Elite - Midland Red
RHA919G - BMMO S23 - Midland Red
TFA987 - Daimler CCG5 - Burton Corporation
MFA703G - Daimler Fleetline - Burton Corporation
DTL489D - Leyland Atlantean PDR1/2 - Delaine
RNA236J - Daimler Fleetline - GMPTE
YN15EJA - Scania E400 - NCT South Notts Heritage Livery
MX03YCN - Optare Solo M850 - Preserved Travel
WKH526X - ECW Bristol VR - East Yorkshire
C537DAT - ECW Leyland Olympian - East Yorkshire
UHG736R - Leyland National Greenway - London & Country
VWM83L - Leyland Atlantean - Merseyside PTE
C253FRJ - Leyland Olympian - GM Buses Express
JKH194V - Leyland Leopard Supreme - East Yorkshire
XRB415L - Leyland National Mk1 - Midland General
C120VBF - Mercedes 608D - PMT Mini Link
YXI6327 - Volvo B10M Vanhool Alizee - Happisburgh Touring Society
KIW8606 or SUI8162 - Volvo B10M PS - DW Coaches
H801GRE - Optare Delta - PMT Red & Yellow
FJ09BXA - Wright Eclipse B7 - Trentbarton Swift
BD65*** - Wright Eclipse B8 - Trentbarton Sixes
KWE374D - AEC Reliance Panorama - Sheffield United Tours
E24LTL - Caetano Levante - Littles Travel
SK16GXV - Wright Streetlite - Littles Travel
EKA220Y - Leyland Tiger Duple Dominant - Merseyside PTE
YJ55KZR - DAF Commander - Fishwicks
YN56SGZ - Dennis Dart - Peak Bus
S819BWC - Dennis Trident ALX400 - Johnson Bros
YT61FFJ - Scania Omnidekka - Redfern Travel
ENU93H - Leyland Panther - Chesterfield Transport

Plus three, yes THREE vehicles from Metroline Manchester in various liveries.

We have a couple of extra vehicles that are booked in but are currently undergoing mechanical work. If this is finished in time, they’ll also be in attendance.

We are still accepting bookings, please get in touch if you would like to bring a bus.