TO THE START OF THE PENNINE WAY

New Mills Central was once the junction with the short branch to Hayfield. The only intermediate station on that line was Birch Vale (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License). 

Back to a line that's still open - at New Mills South Junction. The map here will explain all.

Furness Vale is a station on the Buxton Line.

The Peak Forest Canal is alongside.

Moving on, we come to Whaley Bridge village (Creative Commons License).

The terminus of the Peak Forest Canal is in Whaley Bridge. Goods were once transhipped to and from the Cromford & High Peak Railway.

The trackbed of the Cromford & High Peak Railway is still walkable in Whaley Bridge.

Buses of Trent Motor Traction and Bower's Coaches operated in Whaley Bridge in 1999.

The Goyt Inn is a welcoming pub in Whaley Bridge.

High above Whaley Bridge is Fernilee Reservoir. This tiny loco aided in its construction.

To the north of Whaley Bridge (there's logic to this route, see the map) is the junction of the Peak Forest Canal "main line" and the Buxworth branch.

The Buxworth branch was derelict in 1985.

At Buxworth Basin, the remains of the Peak Forest Tramway can be seen.

The basin has since been rewatered (Creative Commons License).

The Midland Railway ran through a deep cutting at Buxworth.

Buxworth once had a railway station, seen in 1965 (Ben Brooksbank - Creative Commons License).

Here's a view of the village (Creative Commons License).

Sadly, the Navigation Inn has now closed.

Not far to the east is Chinley station, once an important stop on the Midland Railway.

Two class 40s pass at Chinley.

Next stop, but on the former LNWR line, is Chapel-en-le-Frith station, still open today.

In contrast, the Midland station at Chapel-en-le-Frith is closed to passengers, but sees regular freight.

Bower's Coaches had their depot in Chapel-en-le-Frith. A Bristol LH bus resided there in 1980.

We now take the ex Midland Railway route eastwards through Cowburn Tunnel, emerging into the Hope Valley.

Soon we come to Edale station, where D7590 and 48073 are seen in action.

The signal box was still in use in 2011...... and receiving a new coat of paint.

Modern traffic in 2011.

Beside the station is the Rambler Inn.

Let's go into the village, passing the Church of Holy Trinity (Creative Commons License).

At the other end of the village is the Nag's Head. It hasn't changed a lot.

This is the southern end of the Pennine Way. Are we going to follow it? Find out when the next post appears.