Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line
Encyclopedia
The Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line is a partially disused, partially restored, and partially developed for other uses railway line in Derbyshire
, England
. It was a short east-west line linking the Midland Main Line
with the Erewash Valley Line
.
The line, which was double track
, started from the Midland Main Line
north of Ambergate railway station
at Crich Junction (53°3′50.00"N 1°23′2.00"W) and proceeded through Sawmills, Butterley (where there was a station), Swanwick (where the Swanwick Colliery Branch diverged)
At its eastern end, it connected to the Erewash Valley Line
via a triangular junction known as Riddings Junction (with the three points being Riddings North Junction, Riddings West Junction and Riddings South Junction). Pye Bridge railway station on the Erewash Valley Line
was just to the north of this triangle. At this point, the two sides of the triangle cross the River Erewash
, meaning that a very small section of the line is actually in Nottinghamshire
.
The line was opened by the Midland Railway
to freight on 1 February 1875, and to passenger trains on 1 May 1875. The Midland was grouped into the LMS in 1923. Passenger services were withdrawn on 16 June 1947, just prior to the line passing into British Railways ownership. BR withdrew freight from the line on 23 December 1968, as a result of the Beeching Axe
.
Today, the line is preserved and used partially by the Midland Steam Railway - Butterley
between Hammersmith and Ironville, while on the western section a road has been built on the same alignment.
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was a short east-west line linking the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
with the Erewash Valley Line
Erewash Valley Line
The Erewash Valley Line is a railway line in Britain running from south of Chesterfield along the Erewash Valley to Trent Junction at Long Eaton, joining the Midland Main Line at each end.- History :...
.
The line, which was double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
, started from the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
north of Ambergate railway station
Ambergate railway station
Ambergate railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It serves the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire...
at Crich Junction (53°3′50.00"N 1°23′2.00"W) and proceeded through Sawmills, Butterley (where there was a station), Swanwick (where the Swanwick Colliery Branch diverged)
At its eastern end, it connected to the Erewash Valley Line
Erewash Valley Line
The Erewash Valley Line is a railway line in Britain running from south of Chesterfield along the Erewash Valley to Trent Junction at Long Eaton, joining the Midland Main Line at each end.- History :...
via a triangular junction known as Riddings Junction (with the three points being Riddings North Junction, Riddings West Junction and Riddings South Junction). Pye Bridge railway station on the Erewash Valley Line
Erewash Valley Line
The Erewash Valley Line is a railway line in Britain running from south of Chesterfield along the Erewash Valley to Trent Junction at Long Eaton, joining the Midland Main Line at each end.- History :...
was just to the north of this triangle. At this point, the two sides of the triangle cross the River Erewash
River Erewash
The River Erewash is a river in England that flows roughly southwards through Derbyshire, close to its eastern border with Nottinghamshire.-Etymology:...
, meaning that a very small section of the line is actually in Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
.
The line was opened by the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
to freight on 1 February 1875, and to passenger trains on 1 May 1875. The Midland was grouped into the LMS in 1923. Passenger services were withdrawn on 16 June 1947, just prior to the line passing into British Railways ownership. BR withdrew freight from the line on 23 December 1968, as a result of the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
.
Today, the line is preserved and used partially by the Midland Steam Railway - Butterley
Midland Railway - Butterley
The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:...
between Hammersmith and Ironville, while on the western section a road has been built on the same alignment.
List of Stations & Junctions along the line
- AmbergateAmbergate railway stationAmbergate railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Trains Train operating company . It serves the village of Ambergate in Derbyshire...
- HammersmithHammersmith railway stationHammersmith railway station is a heritage railway station on the Midland Railway - Butterley in Derbyshire.There was no station at this point originally, being situated on the Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line. However, when the line was reopened, the A38 road prevented any further westward...
Latter addition by Midland Railway – Butterley - ButterleyButterley railway stationButterley railway station is a heritage railway station within the Midland Railway - Butterley in Derbyshire. Originally located on the Midland Railway's Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line, the station opened on 1 May 1875 as Butterley, being renamed Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick on 29 July 1935...
- SwanwickSwanwick Junction railway stationSwanwick Junction railway station is a heritage railway station situated on the former Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line which closed in 1968, but has been partially reopened by the Midland Railway - Butterley. Despite the station's name it is some distance from Swanwick.There was originally no station...
Latter addition by Midland Railway – Butterley - Pye BridgeErewash Valley LineThe Erewash Valley Line is a railway line in Britain running from south of Chesterfield along the Erewash Valley to Trent Junction at Long Eaton, joining the Midland Main Line at each end.- History :...