Narrow Gauge North

2024

By Dr G Alan Gee & Halifax Model Railway Club
Scale 4mm/ft
Gauge 9mm
Size 11' x 2'3"

The Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway was a 2ft 6inch narrow gauge railway completed in 1904 to run from the North Staffordshire Railway at Waterhouses up the beautiful River Manifold Valley to the small village of Hulme End. Hulme End was never intended to be the final terminus of the line which would be extended from there to the town of Buxton. Financial constraints however meant that the Buxton extension although surveyed was never built and Hulme End became the permanent terminus of the line.

We have modelled Hulme End exactly as it was prior to the closure of the railway in 1934 except that we have added the proposed Buxton extension to our model converting Hulme End into a through station instead of a terminus. The track plan is correct, and the buildings have been made from actual measurements of the station building and rebuilt loco shed which still remain at Hulme End.

On the model we have also tried to feature the standard gauge wagon transporter trucks which were a unique feature of the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway, one of the many screw bridges over the Manifold River , and the entrance to Swainley tunnel.

The original station buildings are still standing at Hulme End and today are used as a toilet block and a small museum. The rebuilt engine shed is now a cafe and the old track bed to Waterhouses is now a walking and cycle track. Perhaps after seeing our model of Hulme End you may be tempted to visit the station site and the Manifold Valley.