It is early morning in the Vale of Edale and sprinter 158852 makes its station stop at the small station of Edale.
It is not just the darkness of Cowburn Tunnel that lies ahead of 158852 as it departs Edale with 2S09 0714 Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly.
The black hole of the 2 mile 182 yard long Cowburn Tunnel, that burrows through the High Peak Hills, is visible in the distance as 158807 approaches working 1B66 0644 Manchester Piccadilly to Cleethorpes.
Pacer unit 142089 passes the down starter signal as it slows for its Edale stop with 2S06 0701 Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield. In the background above the tunnel mouth can be seen the spoil brought to the surface from one of the few shafts sunk during the tunnel boring process. The shaft is now sealed.
The guard stands at the back of the unit watching for anyone who may have boarded. This is a very quiet station.
The set departs Edale station with Sheffield as the destination. Both up and down boards are off.
142056 pauses at Edale with an unknown working, possibly to Manchester Piccadilly, while 158856 passes by on the up road with 1L09 0647 Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich.
The pacer unit gets away and has the road with the controlling Edale signalbox to the right. The mass of the High Peak Hills lies ahead and this view gives an idea of the challenge the line builders had.
170507 is employed on 1M03 0634 Nottingham to Liverpool Lime Street service and is not booked to stop at Edale.
Moving to the east end of the Hope Valley and Grindleford station. Pacer 142033 makes its station stop with 2S10 0845 Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield.
Turning round and 142033 departs Grindleford station and is about to dive into the 3 mile, 950 yard long Totley Tunnel on its way to Sheffield, 0845 off Manchester Piccadilly, 2S10.
A pair of class 158 sprinter units lean into the curve beside Grindleford signalbox forming a class 1 Central Trains service, 1L11 0747 Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich service.
The pair pass the down starter which is on.
Brand new Siemens class 185 unit, 185109 comes by Grindleford 'box with Trans Pennine service 1B70 0841 Manchester Airport to Cleethorpes.
The down starter is now off as the Desiro unit passes by.
Transrail branded 60061 emerges from the blackness that is Totley Tunnel heading west light engine.
60061 runs light west probably heading for the stabling point at Peak Forest.
Grindleford station is on the edge of the Peak National Park and 158852 runs through with 1L13 0852 Liverpool Lime Street - Norwich that may have started from Manchester Piccadilly as this unit's previous working terminated there.
Moving to the west of Grindleford, to a small overbridge, and 142033 passes the 'box on a class 2 all stations stopper from Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly, 1014 off 2S15.
The line curves out of view and is lit perfectly by the hot August sun.
Trans Pennine 185117 heads east with 1B72 0957 Manchester Piccadilly to Cleethorpes. The down advanced starter is off for a west bound train.
170519 is the unit the signal is off for and it forms 1M08 0728 Cambridge to Liverpool Lime Street.
Turbostar 170507 runs east for Norwich with 1L15 0952 from Liverpool Lime Street.
Framed by the down advanced starter is Trans Pennine 158761 on a diagram that includes 1B73 0927 Cleethorpes to Manchester Piccadilly.
East bound trains are perfectly lit by the sun in the morning at this bridge. 142089 approaches bouncing its way between Manchester's Piccadilly station and Sheffield with 2S14 1045 off. The set is in Northern Rail's blue livery.
The first of the few freight trains comes by with EWS liveried 60094 hauling 26 empty JGA hoppers owned by RMC. The working is 6M11 ThFO 0830 Washwood Heath to Peak Forest RMC empties.
These stone trains are extremely heavy and the class 60 is almost required traction for them. 60094 has an easier job with the return empties though.
Three car turbostar 170630 forms a mid morning Liverpool Lime Street departure for the East Anglian city of Norwich, 1052 off 1L17.
Pacer 142089 bounces by with 2S19 1214 Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly class 2 local service and the driver gives me a wave. I decide to move on again.
