Jack drifts down towards Leadhills station © Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2011 A day with with a pair of diesel-oriented friends... We started at Peak Forest, where we could usually rely on some action. A train of ICI hoppers arrived behind a pair of 37s; a Sentinel diesel stood in the sidings. We moved on to Edale, taking a few shots at the station, then at an overbridge a little to the east. It would be an ideal location for a long stone train - which meant none appeared. We moved on again... Our next spot would be an overbridge just to the west of Earles Siding. As well as the main line traffic, we were able to see the cement works locomotive "Blue John", a substantial B-B diesel-hydraulic built by Hunslet - Andrew Barclay in 1990. Blue John shunted for a while, before heading back to the cement works with a lengthy train Time for another move - this time away from the Peak District and down to the Midland main line at Clay Cross junction - a much busier spot than our previous locations. We didn't need to stay long to be rewarded with three freights and countless HSTs. A productive day. Link: Dave Homer Video  Dave specialises in fairground video, but also offers some DVDs of railway action in the Buxton area - and a cab ride video from an ICI stone train recorded in Feb 1990
37s 415 and 520 arrive at Peak Forest 37s 415 and 520 at Peak Forest The Sentinel, Peak Forest Edale signal box Westbound 158 782 passes Edale box 60 066 passes Edale box with eastbound stone Pacer 142 049 westbound near Edale 158 761 eastbound near Edale 101 678 eastbound near Earles Siding The dust flies from 60 045 heading east near Earles Siding 47 188 on westbound RFD freight, Earles Siding 101 678 again! Westbound, near Earles Siding 59 204 heads westbound stone empties, Earles Siding "Blue John" shunts at Earles Siding "Blue John" heads back to the cement works, Earles Siding Southbound HST, Clay Cross 56 110 on northbound steel, Clay Cross Northbound HST, Clay Cross 58 022 on northbound coal, Clay Cross (another) Northbound HST, Clay Cross 58 021 on the Castleton - Toton rail train, Clay Cross Peak freight Stone and cement - and a couple of passenger workings - on the Hope Valley line. Classes 60 and 59 - and "Blue John".