1962/08/12, 1. Despite its ancient appearance, 0-4-0ST No. 47007 was built in 1953 as an updated version of the original Kitson design to Stanier's requirements built in 1932.. It is standing alongside the remains of the one loco engine shed at Sheep Pasture on the Cromford & High Peak line, at the top of Sheep Pasture Incline. It worked trains along the level section (more or less!) to the bottom of the Middleton Incline, where once again rope-haulage took over for the ascent. The remains of the winding engine house at Sheep Pasture are still extant and much of the former railway is now the "High Peak Trail" footpath. Sunday 12th August 1962. Wide-angle version.

1962/08/12, 2. Despite its ancient appearance, 0-4-0ST No. 47007 was built in 1953 as an updated version of the original Kitson design to Stanier's requirements built in 1932.. It is standing alongside the remains of the one loco engine shed at Sheep Pasture on the Cromford & High Peak line, at the top of Sheep Pasture Incline. It worked trains along the level section (more or less!) to the bottom of the Middleton Incline, where once again rope-haulage took over for the ascent. The remains of the winding engine house at Sheep Pasture are still extant and much of the former railway is now the "High Peak Trail" footpath. Sunday 12th August 1962. Cropped version.

1963/05/11. B1 4-6-0 No. 61004 "Oryx" is at the head of the "North Midlands Railtour", a joint venture by the LCGB & RCTS and is approaching Parsley Hay station (on the far right of the picture) on the LNWR line from Buxton to Ashbourne, part of which is now the Tissington Trail. Parsley Hay was the junction with the Cromford & High Peak line, and some of the old engine tenders to supply water along this line can be seen in the sidings in the centre of the picture. Saturday 11th May 1963.

1964/06/27, 01. Parsley Hay was the junction of the Cromford & High Peak line and the LNWR line from Buxton to Ashbourne. The RCTS "High Peak Railtour" now consists of several brakevans and open wagons for the trip to Middleton Top behind two filthy ex-LNER "Austerity" 0-6-0ST's of class J94, the train engine being 68012 and the pilot 68079. Saturday 27th June 1964. The C&HP line to the left is now the "High Peak Trail" footpath, and the line to Ashbourne is the "Tissington Trail".

1964/06/27, 02. I was lucky enough to ride in the cab of J94 0-6-0ST No. 68012, which together with 68079 were at the head of the RCTS "High Peak Railtour", here about to depart from Parsley Hay station and take the Cromford & High Peak line (hidden behind the engines in this view) to Middleton Top. The line curving off to the right was the LNWR line to Ashbourne. Saturday 27th June 1964.

1964/06/27, 03. Seen from the footplate of 68012, fellow J94 0-6-0ST No. 68079 is the pilot engine for the RCTS "High Peak Railtour" as it passes through Friden on the Cromford & High Peak line, en route from Parsley Hay to Middleton Top. Saturday 27th June 1964.

1964/06/27, 04. Seen from the footplate of 68012, the train negotiates the famous "Gotham Curve", at 55 chains radius the sharpest curve on a British "main" line. This curve was the main reason for the use of short wheelbase engines and wagons, even so there was much squealing of flanges against the check rail as we rounded the curve. Saturday 27th June 1964.

1964/06/27, 05. Seen from the footplate of 68012, the train negotiates the famous "Gotham Curve", at 55 chains radius the sharpest curve on a British "main" line. This curve was the main reason for the use of short wheelbase engines and wagons, even so there was much squealing of flanges against the check rail as we rounded the curve. Saturday 27th June 1964.

1964/06/27, 06. Seen from the footplate of 68012, fellow J94 Class 0-6-0ST No. 68079 is double-heading the RCTS "High Peak Railtour" towards Hopton Tunnel, having just descended the 1 in 14 Hopton Incline en route from Parsley Hay to Middleton Top. Saturday 27th June 1964.

1964/06/27, 07. J94 Class 0-6-0ST's Nos. 68079 & 68012 have now reached Middleton Top in charge of the RCTS "High Peak Railtour" consisting of several brakevans and assorted wagons in which the tour participants had travelled from Parsley Hay. This was as far as the train could go, the passengers then walking down the Middleton Incline, which by that time had finished operating, though the winding engine still worked (as it does to this day, having been preserved). Presumably, trains on this line did not often carry "Class 1" headcode lamps! Saturday 27th June 1964.

1964/06/27, 08. The participants in the "High Peak Railtour" had walked down Middleton Incline where LMS 0-4-0ST No. 47006 was waiting at the bottom with another set of wagons for the trip to Sheep Pasture, where it is seen after the passengers have de-trained. On the left of the picture, my father Derek is waiting to remove the RCTS headboard from the engine, before walking down Sheep Pasture Incline to Cromford Wharf, where another train of wagons was waiting. Note the old loco tenders in the background, these were the main means of water supply along the line. Saturday 27th June 1964.

1964/06/27, 09. Looking up Sheep Pasture Incline to the winding-house and bothy at the summit. The old steam winding-engine had been replaced by an electrically driven system and the incline was still in use at this time, though the participants of the RCTS "High Peak Railtour" had to walk down the incline. The engine-house is still there today, though it is an empty shell and the trackbed is now well wooded as part of the"High Peak Trail" footpath. Saturday 27th June 1964.

1964/06/27, 10. Ex-LNER J94 Class 0-6-0ST No. 68006 waits at Cromford Wharf at the bottom of Sheep Pasture Incline before departing with its wagonloads of tour participants to meet the main train at High Peak Junction. The steepness of the incline is apparent as the line disappears under the A6 roadbridge, the two tracks dividing as they skirt round the catchpit that was built after a spectacular runaway. That this precaution was necessary was witnessed by the fact that a wagon was still in the catchpit! Saturday 27th June 1964.

1967/04/30, 1. Sunday 30th April 1967 was the last day of operation over the Cromford & High Peak line, and it certainly brought out the crowds! An SLS special comprising four brakevans is returning from Middleton Top behind double-headed J94 class 0-6-0STs Nos. 68006 & 68012. Here they are on the assault of the 1 in 14 Hopton Incline, moments before the train stalled! The train was divided and the two engines took the first two brakevans to the summit, before returning for the other two!

1967/04/30, 2. The two J94s had stalled on their first attempt to climb Hopton Incline with four brakevans in tow, so the train was divided and the engines now go all out for the summit with just two brakevans! Once at the top, these were shunted into a siding, then the engines returned for the second pair of brakevans. Sunday 30th April 1967.

1967/04/30, 3. Ex-LNER J94 class 0-6-0STs Nos. 68006 & 68012 now make their third run up Hopton Incline with the two remaining brakevans. Having reached the top, the other two brakevans were coupled up again and the train continued to its next stop at Longcliffe for water. Sunday 30th April 1967.

1967/04/30, 4. J94s 68006 and 68012 stop for water at Longcliffe, below the special ramp that was built to accommodate the old engine tenders that were the principal means of water supply along the line. This was a last day special brakevan tour, returning from Middleton Top to Parsley Hay on Sunday 30th April 1967. This view is almost the same today, as part of the "High Peak Trail" footpath, the only things missing are the trains and the track! Whether any of the old tenders survivied, I don't know.

1967/04/30, 5. For my final shot of active steam on the Cromford & High Peak line the sun did at least try to grace the scene. J94s 68006 and 68012 start away from Longcliffe having stopped for water with their four brakevan special to Parsley Hay on the last day of operation, Sunday 30th April 1967.

2003/12/04. Sheep Pasture as it is today, now part of the "High Peak Trail" footpath, looking towards Middleton. Apart from the removal of the track, very little has changed, even the base of the telegraph pole survives at the end of the wall on the left. The quarry on the far hillside is still in operation, though all its products now leave by road. Thursday 4th December 2003.