Midland Railway Ripley Branch
| Midland Railway Ripley Branch | |
|---|---|
The Midland Railway Ripley Branch connected Derby to Ripley in Derbyshire, England running from Little Eaton Junction on the Midland Railway line to Leeds.
In the late eighteenth century the valley running from the Derwent Valley to Ripley, had been the site of a number of collieries and ironstone workings. They were situated around Denby particularly, and there were also busy potteries. Improved transport links widened their market. Those workings to the north of Ripley were catered for, from 1794, by the Cromford Canal. When the Derby Canal was built, it extended northwards to Little Eaton from where was built the Little Eaton Gangway in 1795, to cater for the area to the south, particularly its trade with Derby.
In 1830 the committee overseeing the gangway met to discuss the possibility of upgrading the line to utilise steam engines from Smithy Houses along the track of the gangway and the northern arm of the canal to Chester Green in Derby.George Stephenson reported on the idea but recommended that a completely new line should be built with the original continuing to operate.
Neither plan was adopted, but in 1847 the Midland Railway deposited plans for a branch at Little Eaton from its main line, with feeder lines from collieries at Marehay and White Lee (or Whiteley) to the south of Waingroves.
The Midland Railway (Ripley Branches) Act was passed on 22 July 1848 and, by August, a spur from the main line reached the quarries at Little Eaton.
There then followed a hiatus while work continued, but extended time was needed to complete purchasing land and completing the work, for which Parliamentary permission was granted in 1851. The line was finally opened for freight as far as Ripley in September 1855.
However Board of Trade approval was still needed for passenger traffic, and a report was submitted by its inspector, Captain Tyler, in December. Opening to the public was postponed and, on 9th. January, another inspector, Colonel Wynn provided a report. Captain Tyler reported again on 7 February and a third time on 4th. March. Presumably, all this time, the line was recovering its investment by carrying coal and other minerals. The Midland was clearly aiming to provide the minimum of infrastructure, and the Colonel reported in April, twice in May, in June and July. Finally, on 20th. of August, the Captain was satisfied, having been told that the line would be worked "one engine in steam." The first passenger train to Ripley ran on 1st. September, 1856. The gangway continued to operate until July 1908.
...
Wikipedia