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Whatstandwell railway station is a railway station owned by Network Rail and managed by East Midlands Railway. It serves the villages of Whatstandwell and Crich Carr in Derbyshire, England. The station is located on the Derwent Valley Line from Derby to Matlock.

Whatstandwell
Station nameboard
General information
Location	Whatstandwell, Derbyshire Dales England
Grid reference	SK333541
Managed by	East Midlands Railway
Platforms	1
Other information
Station code	WTS
Classification	DfT category F2
Key dates
4 June 1849[1]	opened
11 November 1894[2]	resited
Passengers
2016/17	27,844
2017/18	26,794
2018/19	23,084
2019/20	27,052
2020/21	6,350
Notes
Passenger statistics from the Office of Rail and Road

There is a ticketing machine on the single platform; a full range of tickets for travel for any destination in the country can be also purchased from the guard on the train at no extra cost.

History

It was opened by the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway as 'Whatstandwell Bridge' on 4 June 1849, though it was not listed in the timetable until 1853. It was north of the 149-yard (136 m) Whatstandwell Tunnel, behind the Derwent Hotel.

On 4 October 1853[3] a luggage train was on its way from Rowsley to Ambergate and at Whatstandwell was put into a siding to collect some empty wagons. It derailed and a breakdown crew was sent for from Derby. With this assistance, the train was re-railed and set off for Ambergate. The break down train which had come from Derby was standing on the wrong line for returning to Derby. Instead of continuing for 1/2 a mile to cross onto the correct line they determined to return to Derby on the wrong line, calculating that they would get back before anything started out from Derby. They ignored the rules of the company which required a fireman walking 800 yards in advance of the train and proceeding at a walking pace. Instead they travelled at full speed. They collided with another engine and Michael Barker, a fireman, was killed. Samuel Kent, George Cawood and John Smeeton were indicted for his manslaughter. They were found guilty at the Midland Assizes on 18 March 1854. Kent was sentenced by Lord Chief Justice Jervis to 18 months’ imprisonment and hard labour and the others got 12 months each.[4]

The station was moved to its present location in 1894 when the name became 'Whatstandwell'. The platform at the original station still exists. The area was used as a goods yard after the present station was built. The contractor for the new station was W.C. Hardy of Derby.[5] The new station opened on 11 November 1894.[2]

A little way north was High Peak Junction at the base of the former rope-worked incline of the Cromford and High Peak Railway.

Stationmasters

Today

The station is served by East Midlands Railway, who operate the service from Nottingham to Matlock (via Derby). For journeys beginning at Whatstandwell, tickets may be bought from the machine on the platform or on the train for any destination in the country; beyond Derby, tickets must be bought at the ticket office. The journey time to Derby is approximately 24 minutes. Services are approximately hourly, but two-hourly on Sundays. Trains on the Derwent Valley line were replaced by a bus service for several weeks in late summer of 2018; this was due to essential works being carried out on the approach to Derby station.

The footbridge at the station leads to the Cromford Canal towpath and to a bridge over the canal to Main Road and the village.

A team of volunteers from the village helps to maintain the station and car park.

Services

All services at Whatstandwell are operated by East Midlands Railway.

On weekdays and Saturdays, the station is served by one train per hour in each direction between Matlock and Derby. The final late evening service from Matlock is extended to Nottingham.[12]

On Sundays, there is a two-hourly service between Matlock and Nottingham in the morning, with services increasing to hourly from mid-afternoon onwards.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Ambergate		East Midlands Railway Derwent Valley Line		Cromford

References

External links

• Train times and station information for Whatstandwell railway station from National Rail

• Map sources for Whatstandwell railway station
• "Picture the Past" Whatstandwell station 1900-10
• Pictures from the Wirksworth archives
• Friends of the Derwent Valley Line
• Peak Rail
• Derwent Valley Line East Midlands Trains Community Rail Partnership

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