Peak Rail Set For Big Steam And Vintage Vehicle Weekend

Peak Rail’s Rowsley South site will return to the sights, sounds and atmosphere of a working steam-era showground this weekend as the railway stages its fourth joint Steam and Vintage Vehicle Weekend with Cromford Steam Rally Society.

The event will be based at Rowsley South, once the original location of Rowsley Steam Depot, and will bring together a wide mix of heritage machinery and vintage transport. Large and miniature steam-powered vehicles are set to appear alongside vintage plant, cars, motorbikes, tractors, stationary engines, commercial lorries, emergency services vehicles and military vehicles.

Across the two-day event, visitors will also be able to see steam and plant working demonstrations, with children’s fairground rides, trade stalls and refreshments adding to the wider family day out. The weekend is being pitched as a chance to step back into a bygone era, with steam, vintage vehicles and railway heritage all brought together at one site.

Peak Rail will also be running both freight and passenger steam trains during the weekend. Trains will operate over the railway’s 4.5-mile line from Rowsley South to Matlock Platform 2, giving visitors the chance to combine the rally atmosphere at Rowsley with a steam-hauled journey through the Derbyshire countryside.

Additional attractions planned by Peak Rail include:

• Turntable Demonstrations.
• Rowsley South Jct Signal Box will be open.
• WW1 Trench Display.
• Shed Tours at 10:00 & 14:00.
• “Driver for a Fiver” where you will be able to drive one of the diesel shunters on a dedicated track (age restrictions apply). Tickets available from the booking office.
• Rowsley South Tea Rooms will be open over serving Hot and Cold food and beverages
• ‘The Goods Shed’ Peak Rail Gift Shop will be open selling souvenirs and second hand books at Rowsley South.
• Bar open from 10:00 behind the Tea Rooms
• Live Entertainment on Saturday night from ‘The Lumps’. Bar Open from 19:00-01:00, with the music starting at 19:30

With locomotives, road vehicles, demonstrations, displays, food, drink and evening entertainment all forming part of the programme, the Steam and Vintage Vehicle Weekend is set to offer one of Peak Rail’s most varied events of the year. The railway says there should be something for all the family as Rowsley South once again becomes a hub for steam, nostalgia and historic machinery.

Image: Peak Rail