Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway
| Locale | England |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1904–1934 |
| Successor | Abandoned |
| Track gauge | 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
| Length | 8 1⁄4 miles (13.3 km) |
| Headquarters | Leek |
The Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway (L&MVLR) was a narrow gauge railway in Staffordshire, England that operated between 1904 and 1934. The line mainly carried milk from dairies in the region, acting as a feeder to the 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge system. It also provided passenger services to the small villages and beauty spots along its route. The line was built to a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge and to the light rail standards provided by the Light Railways Act 1896 to reduce construction costs.
The route of the line is now a foot- and cycle- path.
The North Staffordshire Railway's branch from Leek ended at Waterhouses (53°02′54″N 1°51′53″W / 53.0484°N 1.8647°WCoordinates: 53°02′54″N 1°51′53″W / 53.0484°N 1.8647°W). The L&MVLR continued from an end-on junction with this line. It ran for 8 1⁄4 miles (13.28 km) down the valley of the River Hamps as far as Beeston Tor, before turning up the limestone gorge that the River Manifold had formed, through to Hulme End (53°07′52″N 1°50′49″W / 53.1310°N 1.8470°W). The line had a large number of stations in a relatively short distance, and there were refreshment rooms at Thor's Cave and Beeston Tor. In all the line crossed the river Manifold dozens of times - including nine times in the short section between Sparowlee and Beeston Tor.
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