ERNEST RAYMOND MORTEN


TRIBUTE TO A GREAT RAILWAY PHOTOGRAPHER

PEAK FOREST ROUTE - BUXTON TO MATLOCK

In order to do justice to Mr Morten's excellent photos, several shots have been re-sized to fit the page. If the text is illegible - simply click on photo (as you would a thumbnail) to see the correct (readable) size.  

In the days before cameras had auto-focus, through the lens light metering, zoom lenses and every other thingamajigs - the odds of taking the perfect steam railway photographs were incalculable. The vagaries of the British weather didn't help! Unlike landscape photography, you can't wait for the right light - a speeding train is gone in the blink of an eye and 'snap'! - it's too late, you've pressed the shutter and the moment has gone! Above all else, the photographer has to pick the right location. This is why a large number of cameramen are creatures of habit. One has only to visit Ribblehead viaduct on the occasion of a steam special to prove the point - the place is teeming with photographers hoping to 'bag' that all illusive 'master' shot. Trouble is, perfection is unattainable, so even our best shots came with failure built it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But there are always exceptions to the rule, and ER Morten's photos are a case in point...talk about pictures with the ‘wow’-factor! When I first saw Mr Morten’s photos in Bill Hudson’s excellent book, ‘Through Limestone Hills’ - featuring the MR main line over the Peak between Chinley and Ambergate - I became one of his biggest fans. This shot (below) captures perfectly the character of the Derbyshire Peak District in all its glory. It was taken from above Chee Tor No 1 Tunnel on 4th July 1951 and shows the Millers Dale-Buxton motor train dwarfed by the limestone outcrops of the remote Chee Dale. Beyond Rusher Cutting Tunnel in the distance, the Buxton train will diverge from the main line to Manchester at Miller's Dale Junction, which was situated inside the giant limestone ampitheatre of Blackwell Mill...a superb spot to photograph trains! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Needless to say, there will always be the cynic who'll argue that as ER Morten had the benefit of the spectacular limestone scenery as a bacdrop, then how could he fail? Wrong! Whilst many photographers concentrated on taking the traditional three-quarter view of trains to the almost total exclusion of the scenery, it reveals an inability to recognise a good thing, even when it was right under their noses and, if truth be told, I'm as guilty as the next man. With the benefit of hindsight, however, now that much of our railway heritage has been wiped off the map, I wonder how many have come to regret it ever since? 

 

(Left) Another evocative shot from ER Morten, this time taken on the single arch bridge spanning the River Wye between the Chee Tor tunnels, as 'Jubilee' class No 45622 Nyasaland heads the SO 9am Manchester Central-St Pancras on 25th May 1952. The narrow, tree lined gorge of Chee Dale is one the most spectacular (and secluded) spots in the Peak District, accessible only by foot.  For lovers of the great outdoors, I do recommend google-searching 'Chee Tor tunnel' and you'll find everything you need to know about this beautiful spot - 'Peak Rail' is a good a place to start...  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Link to High Peak Council's design framework for the former MR station at Buxton    Site includes maps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 


Monsal Trail (Above Left - Above Right) Following closure of the MR main line in 1968, the Peak Park authority became owners of the abandoned trackbed from Blackwell Mill near Buxton to Coombes Viaduct near Bakewell - a distance of some 20 kiliometres - and opened it as the Monsal Trail in 1980. Today the trackbed is used as a cycle and walking trail, though a diversionary path is provided at Monsal Head and Cressbrook where both railway tunnels have been closed for safety reasons. A link is provided here to the  Wikipedia, free encyclopedia website, which offers by far the best overall view of the spectacular scenery and the line's railway heritage. (Above Left) This shot by Alan Fairweather from the Wikipedia site shows the view from Bakewell Road looking down on the railway cottages in the valley floor at Blackwell Mill. Clearly seen is the railway curving down from the now-closed Manchester-Derby main line. To tell the truth, 'before and after' photos of our fast-disappearing railway heritage leave me stone cold, but it is interesting to compare this shot with ER Morten's photo of the Metro-Vick Co-Bo above it. The same can be said for other views along the line, including this shot (above right) of Great Longstone station by John M from the Wikipedia site and the one taken by Mr Morten in steam days, which appears in the gallery below. (Left) Sorry - I couldn't resist it! I've included this painting based on an ER Morten photo provided by Bill Hudson for the jacket cover of his book - 'Through Limestone Hills'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


In 1975 a group of enthusiasts formed the Peak Railway Society, with the praiseworthy aim of reopening the line between Buxton and Matlock through the Peak National Park - an ambitious project by anyone’s standards, particularly as the route includes nine tunnels and ten viaducts. Indeed, unlike other preserved lines where much of the track and railway infrastructure was still in place, the Society had to start from scratch, and without support from the Peak Planning Board, which was opposed to the project on account of the huge number of visitors it would attract to an already overcrowded National Park, members of the Society had to fight tooth and nail every inch of the way to achieve what they have today.  

 

The Society began by opening a steam centre at Buxton on the site of the former MR station, but after BR’s verbal assurance for weekend running powers over the Ashwood Dale line was withdrawn, the Society turned its attention to the southern end of the line at Matlock and Darley Dale. From here, Peak Rail has gone from strength to strength - passenger services commenced between Matlock and Darley Dale in 1991, and six years later the northern extension to the site of the former Rowsley Locomotive depot (17D) saw its first passenger trains. Today, Peak Rail operate a regular steam and diesel-hauled passenger trains between Matlock Riverside and Rowsley, with dining service on selected trains, footplate experience courses and special events throughout the year. As for the future? With a double-track formation running 20 miles through the most breathtaking scenery to be found anywhere in England, the potential of operating a heritage railway in the heart of the Peak National Park is enormous. A visit to Peak Rail is a must...click on ER Morten's photo (right) to visit the website.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 to be continued....

 

 

                     THE ER MORTEN PICTURE GALLERY

                        'AROUND THE REGIONS' 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polite Reminder: All photos copyrighted ER Morten - Reproduction is prohibited without the prior consent of the current copyright holders.