Building the Midland Railway through Derbyshire

 In the early years of the 1860s, the Midland Railway commissioned a series of photographs recording the construction of its new line between Rowsley and New Mills in Derbyshire. Later in the decade, building of the extension to London was photographed including St.Pancras Station.

The Science Museum has now released around 100 photographs under a creative commons licence and these may be viewed or downloaded from its website: https://bit.ly/3RrXqBN

Below is a selection of pictures from locations in Derbyshire.

                                                New Mills Viaduct, about 1864

Building Bugsworth Viaduct in about 1862

Building the tunnel at Chapel en le Frith, about 1862

 

Dove Holes Tunnel, Pit Bank, Shaft No 5, about 1862 

 

Peep O' Day Bridge, Peak Forest Station, about 1862 

Monsal Dale Viaduct, about 1864 

Construction of a railway bridge, about 1862. Location unknown.

The River Wye, Derbyshire, about 1862