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Written by Mark Bearton - 31 Jan 2005
last update by John Terry - 15 Jan 2006
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Location notes
Earles Sidings is in the Hope Valley, near the village of Hope. It is a picturesque area in the Peak District and is located on the line from Manchester to Sheffield. The sidings are the interchange point for an industrial line up to the Cement Works.
Railway type and traffic
There is an hourly service both from Manchester to Cleethorpes, usually Trans Pennines class 158 units, and from Liverpool to Norwich, usually Central's 158 and 170 units. In addition, there is a two hourly local service of 142s from Newton Heath's allocation, and a variety of freight trains, in particular Stone Trains heading east from Peak Forest and Infrastructure trains to Castleton. In addition, the Privately-owned class 20 can sometimes be seen shunting in the sidings.
Environment
The area is rural, the bridge here being on a small farm track.
Road directions
From the Manchester direction: Take the A6 to Chapel-en-le-Rith. Take the unclassified road through Slackhall, which climbs along the side of the valley. Near the end of this, there is a left hand turning signposted to Edale. This climbs slightly before dropping spectacularly into the Hope Valley. At the bottom of the hill, the road crosses a bridge over a small stream. You then pass through Edale village, with the station on the left. The road eventually passes under the railway before running for a mile or two on the north side of the line. It then passes back underneath the railway. The road turns sharp right and over a bridge. At this point there is a track on the right leading to the bridge.

From the Sheffield direction, take the A6187 > to Hope. Turn right in the village towards Edale. The road passes under the viaduct carrying the line to the Cement Works, before crossing a bridge over a small stream. As the road turns sharp left after the bridge, the lane to the bridge is straight on.

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Earles Sidings map co-ordinates
Parking
There is space for two cars on the bridge.
Public transport
It would be a considerable walk (40-45 minutes) from Hope station. Turn right onto the main road and head towards Hope Village, then follow directions above.

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Amenities
There are public toilets are available in Hope in a car park on the South side of the main road. There are also at least 2 shops selling sandwiches, cold drinks and snacks in the village.
[JT]
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Earles Sidings

Googly map
Streetmap links
Earles Sidings general view map
Earles Sidings close up map

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Earles Sidings



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Photographic notes
The light is good here mid-morning to early afternoon looking west, of trains heading east. Late afternoon the sun will favour the other direction towards the sidings. Photographs are possible from the bridge. There are also two gaps in the hedge, one on either side of the road. One leads into the field on the left, giving views west, the other next to the line side looking at the sidings. There is a semaphore signal visible for trains heading west which gives warning of approaching trains. Sometimes photographs of the class 20 are possible with a tele-photo lens if shunting brings it to the end of the sidings.


General views - All photographs © Mark Bearton unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking west


Fig 1 - Looking west


Fig 2 - Looking west


Fig 2 - Looking west


Fig 3 - Looking east


Fig 3 - Looking east


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