Peak Rail Mixed Traffic Gala | 19th September 2026

A rainy. cloudy and sunny Saturday in Derbyshire as we visit Peak Rail for their Mixed Traffic Gala. Peak Rail is a heritage railway located in the Peak Disctrict that runs between Matlock and Rowsley South, the tracks originally continued towards Buxton and Manchester, today the line continues from Matlock along the Derwent Valley Line to Matlock Bath, Cromford, Whatstandwell, Ambergate, Belper, Duffield for the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and Derby where trains go beyond the Midland Mainline towards Nottingham and Lincoln Central. The Mixed Traffic Gala at Peak Rail had some alterations due to the failure of Class 09 diesel shunter 09001, but the gala seemed to go well however trains were running an hour late due to crew availability. We start off at Matlock Bath Town along the River Derwent where we begin to see the trains at Rowsley South Station, we then take a goods train hauled by 'Peckett 2000' and 'Uskmouth 1' from Rowsley South to Matlock Riverside and back to Rowsley South. We see lots of action at Rowsley South Station before we take a train hauled by 'Uskmouth 1' from Rowsley South to Darley Dale, at Darley Dale Station we see lots of passenger, freight, steam and diesel trains stop and pass by. We then take a train hauled by 'Earl David' from Darley Dale to Matlock where we see a Class 170 Turbostar mainline train next to 'Earl David's train at Matlock Station, and then lastly we leave Matlock for Ashbourne Town Centre at Henmore Brook for a sunset sky view, Ashbourne is famous for it's Shrovetide Football game and it is part of the Tissington Trail where trains ran though the now closed Ashbourne Station. LOCOMOTIVES AND TRAINS INCLUDED: Peckett & Sons 'Uskmouth 1' (visitor from the Dean Forest Railway) Peckett & Sons 2000 'Peckett 2000' Hudswell Clarke S102 'Cathryn' Hudswell Clarke 750 'Waleswood' WPR Austerity 2183 'Earl David' RMS Class 08 08762 British Railways Class 44 Peak D8 'Penyghent' British Railways Class 108 DMU East Midlands Railway Class 170 Turbostar Enjoy.