Notes: Matlock Riverside station opened as a temporary terminus on Peak Rail’s Darley Dale to Matlock line in the summer of 1992. The station is located on the former Midland Railway Ambergate to Buxton and Manchester line.

Peak Rail was set up in 1975 with the objective of restoring the line between Buxton and Matlock as a heritage railway. The organisation originally set up a base on part of the site of Buxton’s Midland Railway station with the objective of rebuilding the line from the north to the south. By 1980, Peak Rail had a steam centre operating at Buxton. However they were

Starting from a base at Darley Dale station, Peak rail rebuilt the line south into Matlock in the early 1990s. It was hoped that the heritage line could be connected into Matlock station which had become the terminus of the British Rail line from Derby. Once again British Rail proved to be hostile to Peak Rail and they blocked the plan. Peak Rail were determined to run trains to Matlock so they looked at an alternative temporary solution. The 1987 halt at Cheedale had consisted of a timber built single platform. It was decided to move it to Matlock and erect it as a temporary station. A site was chosen a short distance to the north of Matlock station and it was decided to call the station Matlock Riverside.

Matlock Riverside was built in 1991 and opened for passenger carrying services in the summer of 1992. The station is located on the east side of the line. The facilities are very basic consisting of a single platform. A single track with a run around loop continues for a short distance to the south of the station and ends at a set of buffers. Access to the station is via a public footpath from Matlock station a quarter of a mile away.

Initially Matlock Riverside had a small hut that functioned as a ticket office. It was frequently damaged by local vandals so the station became permanently unstaffed and tickets had to be purchased aboard the train.

Matlock Riverside was only ever supposed to be temporary the aim being to get Peak Rail trains into Matlock station as soon as possible. It took until 2009 for agreement to be reached with Matlock stations new owners Network Rail. Peak Rail extended into Matlock from 1st July 2011 Matlock Riverside closed the same day. The station remained in situ mothballed so that it could be used for future events.

Other web sites: Peak Rail now providing a regular steam service between Matlock and Rowsley. David Hey's Collection - Transition from BR steam. Includes railway photographer ER Morten's photographic tour from Buxton - Derby.

Eight and a half miles of the Matlock - Buxton line now forms the Monsal Trail starting at Coombs Road Viaduct, one mile southeast of Bakewell and finishing at the head of Chee Dale, about three miles east of Buxton. There is a diversion round the tunnels.

Further reading: Railway from Buxton to Bakewell, Matlock and Ambergate (Scenes from the Past) by JM Bentley, 1992. Railways around Buxton by JM Bentley, 1987.

Tickets from Michael Stewart, route map drawn by Alan Young

To see other stations between Manchester Central & Matlock click on the station name: Manchester Central, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Withington & West Didsbury, Didsbury, Heaton Mersey, Cheadle Heath, Hazel Grove (Midland), Buxworth, Chinley (2nd site) STILLOPEN, Chinley (1st site), Chapel-en-le-Frith Central, Peak Forest, Cheedale Halt, Buxton (Midland), Blackwell Mill Halt, Millers Dale, Monsal Dale, Great Longstone, Hassop, Bakewell, Rowsley (2nd site), Rowsley (1st site), Rowsley South PEAK RAIL, Darley Dale& Matlock STILL OPEN. See also Stockport Tiviot Dale & Stockport Portwood