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The Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midland Junction Railway ran from a junction with the Midland Railway at Ambergate to Rowsley north of Matlock and thence to Buxton.
In time it would become part of the Midland Railway's main line between London and Manchester, but it was initially planned as a route from Manchester to the East of England, via the proposed Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston and Eastern Junction Railway which would meet it a little further north along the North Midland line at Ambergate. The Act for a line from just south of Stockport to Ambergate was passed in 1846."
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Monsal Trail
"The Monsal Trail is a traffic free route for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users through some of the Peak District's most spectacular limestone dales.
The trail runs along the former Midland Railway line for 8.5 miles between Blackwell Mill, in Chee Dale and Coombs Road, at Bakewell.
Most of the route was opened to the public in 1981 but four former railway tunnels had to remain closed due to safety reasons, with public footpaths taking people around them. From 25 May 2011 the four railway tunnels - Headstone Tunnel, Cressbrook Tunnel, Litton Tunnel, Chee Tor Tunnel – also opened for trail users. Each tunnel is about 400 metres long and is lit during normal daylight hours."
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The Headstone Tunnel
As well as the four tunnels that opened in 2011 there were two shorter ones that had been open when the Monsal Trail opened in 1981 and so this tunnel is one six along the route.
"This tunnel is the easternmost tunnel on the Monsall trail and the longest at at 533 yards. Its outstanding eastern approach cutting has near-vertical sides and the special designation of a geological SSSI thanks to its distinctive rock strata. Some outcrops have been supported with masonry or brick pillars. Loose material and much of the vegetation have been removed as part of the conversion for pedestrians and cyclists. They are afforded protection from falling rocks by a steel-framed canopy inserted into the tunnel entrance.
The eastern half of the tunnel is straight, falling on a gradient of 1:107 to the west, whilst the other incorporates a curve to the north of 39 chains in radius. The predominant lining material is engineering brick although patch repairs - some of them extensive - have been carried out in both red brick and masonry. The tunnel's segmental roof arch is supported on side walls which curve inwards slightly.
Refuges of inconsistent sizes are provided in both walls and three changes of section occur - one close to each entrance and a third around 100 yards from the western end. A concrete-encased water main is located at the foot of the south-side wall. The lining features numerous holes - each around 10x15cm - either to aid drainage or support maintenance platforms. Whilst generally dry, small deposits of calcite are found in places.
The route's 156 milepost was located within the tunnel but the plate which marked it was removed as part of the Trail conversion. The bore is now lit and a cycle-friendly surface has been laid.
The western approach cutting is much shorter as the side of the Wye Valley rises steeply. Just beyond the portal is the five-arch Monsal Dale Viaduct which was immortalised in a Midland Railway poster."
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This waymark is at the western portal of the tunnel near to the viaduct. This interesting website tells the story behind the work to open the tunnels to the public and has pictures of the work undertaken.
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