This feature length compilation covers in edited form all of my visits to the very photogenic railway location of peak Forest Sidings and area in "The Peak District" of Derbyshire just outside the spa town of Buxton . Between July 1991 and October 1994 I made no less than 8 separate jaunts to the area and captured classes 31, 37, 47, 56, 59, 60 and the local shunter for Dove Holes Quarry. 37's were the predominant traction choice in the early 90's but the introduction of the class 60's rapidly became the better option as they had better traction and more power than a pair of 37's. National Power utilised the 59/2 class option for a while and soon the class 31's disappeared for good. I only saw one member of the class 56 during my visits so I guess they were not a frequent visitor to the area. Dove Holes Quarry produces Limestone and aggregates for the road building industry and others and is one of, if not the largest, such quarries in Europe. Great Rocks is just north of Tunstead Quarry which produces again limestone.These being the main flows of rail traffic through the area, with occasional light engine movements from Buxton Station Sidings and "Banking" locomotives to assist in the climb up to Peak Forest from Great Rocks. Dove Holes is run by a company called CEMEX and Tunstead was ICI and used until quite recently their own rail wagons of a rather vintage type. Haulage wise over the years from the early days of Steam mainly 8F's then, the Diesels have varied terrifically, class 20's 25's, 31's, 40's, 45's, 47's, even the 58's, briefly etc, to name a few, nowadays the mainstay is the class 66.probably the most interesting period would have been between the late 70's to the late 80's traction wise. The railway traffic is there to stay for a while as the quarries produce several million tonnes of aggregates per year so the future is still interesting as far as traction haulage is concerned for the area. I still occasionally visit the area mainly for "specials" but over the years it is still a favourite place for me and holds fond memories of years gone.
Excuses for the occasional wind interference and shake as this location is quite exposed and not too tripod friendly due to uneven ground and limited clearance...