'Share your memories' plea on Peak railway

Peak District interpretation officer Catherine Bowmer is looking for people willing to talk about the line, which ran through the Peak District National Park from Rowsley, north of Matlock, through to Millers Dale with a branch line to Buxton.

She said: "I'm hoping to capture people's experiences of living beside, working on and travelling by the old railway line.

"I'm particularly looking for people who are happy to have their memories recorded to tell the story of this historic trail and recreate the atmosphere of the working railway line."

Those taking part in the project may have lived next to the railway and remember it being used to transport milk from Peak District farms to London; worked at the Chee Dale lime kilns which closed in 1944; travelled to work or school on the old Midland Railway Line or worked at one of the stations at Rowsley, Bakewell, Great Longstone, Hassop or Millers Dale.

Ms Bowmer added: "The line closed in 1968 so people have worked on it, travelled on it and lived by it within living memory.

"We want to record these memories to create an audio history that will be available at three listening posts on the Monsal Trail as well as through podcasts and the internet."

People interested in taking part in the project, which is being organised by the Peak District National Park Authority, should contact Ms Bowmer by telephone on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays on 01629 816203 or email [email protected]

The audio history project is part of the Pedal Peak District scheme, which is reopening four tunnels along the Monsal Trail.

Once the tunnels are open this will create a new route for cyclists between Bakewell and Buxton.