The Goyt valley in which Whaley Bridge and New Mills lie was recognised as a route from the quarries in the Dove Holes area to the industrial North West in the days of canal building, the Peak Forest canal opened in 1800. In the south of Derbyshire the Cromford canal had opened in 1792, to link these two canals the Cromford and High Peak railway was opened in 1831 it had nine inclined planes to get it up and over the limestone uplands which lie in between. A short section of the CHPR from Whaley Bridge station to Shallcross yard remained open until 1965, Shallcross to Ladmanlow near Buxton had closed in 1892, this early closure was brought about by the opening of the present Stockport to Buxton line in 1863. The transhipment shed where goods were transferred from CHRP wagons to barges at Whaley Bridge can still be seen and you can walk up the Whaley incline.
An arm of the canal went to Bugsworth where an interchange was built with the Peak Forest tramway,twenty barges could be moored here and there were lime kilns for burning the limestone to make quicklime, closure came in 1927.The present day line through Buxworth and Chinley was opened in 1866 and widened to four tracks in 1902.The canal and tramway interchange at Buxworth is worth a visit it was reopened to barges again last year after many years of restoration by volunteers.
..................................PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Buxton and Whaley Bridge are served by Blackpool to Buxton trains.
Chinley is served by Manchester to Sheffield trains.
Engines are not stabled at Buxton but can be seen at Peak Forest yard which can be reached by the following bus services
BOWERS, Service 189&190. Whaley Bridge-Buxworth-Chinley-Peak Dale-Buxton
TRENT, Service 199. Stockport-Peak Dale-Buxton
For timetables see public transport section of Peak District Tourism website on LINKS page ...................................................
Peak Dale is the nearest stop to Peak Forest ask the driver to stop near the Midland Hotel