| CVR, Apesford Crossing
Written by Frank Junior Richards - 07 Sep 2011 |
A new mobile site has been ceated. Whilst this page will remain you may find
Trainspots mobile better suited to a smart phone.
From the A523 between Leek and Calton Moor. Follow the signs for 'Coombes Valley Reserve (RSPB). Turn off the A523 when indicated to the reserve. On the left is a small amount of roadside vere where you could park a car.
Parking is possible along the roads next to the Cauldon Lowe Line, with Lay bys is some areas but mostly grassy areas. A good place to park is Leekbrook and Cheddleton (
Churnet Valley Railway).
There is good public transport with bus services from cities and towns, the major ones are:
Number 16 Leek to Hanley (Stoke-On-Trent) via Leekbrook & Cheddleton.
Number 18 Leek to Hanley (Stoke-On-Trent) via Endon & Stockton Brook.
Number 118 Hanley to Buxton via Leek.
Number 218 Buxton to Shefield (Which conects to the 118 at Buxton) via Bakewell.
There are also other links to the Moorlands. The nearest railway stations are Macclesfield and Stoke-On-Trent which have bus links to the Moorlands.
The nearest amenities are Leek, Cheddleton and Waterhouses.
Leek is a major town with shops, cafe's, chip shops, pubs etc. Cheddleton has a chip shop, pubs & shops. Waterhouses has a shop & pub. (Cheddleton Station (
Churnet Valley Railway) has a small buffet car on the station) and Kingsley and Froghall Station has a
Tea Room.
There are many
places to stay in the moorlands, in Cheddleton, Leek and some places along the Cauldon Lowe Line.
The crossing is on a straight section of track on the climb to Cauldon Lowe. There is a stop board on both sides of the crossing so trains will usually stop to allow staff to open the crossing, proceed, stop again, close the crossing and then continue. On busy days, such as galas the crossing is manned and trains can run straight through. A conversation with the crossing keeper will confirm if this is the case.
Since trains will start and stop either side of the crossing they will only be travelling slowly 2 or 3 mph in the crossing area. But if they are continuing towards Cauldon Lowe then they will power away after the gates are closed as they continue the climb. Trains heading for Leekbrook will only apply slight power as it is very much downhill all the way.
