LIMESTONE is once again being carried by rail from Hillhead Quarry in Derbyshire, over 20 years after aggregates were last extracted there.
With the quarry having been reopened byTarmac, a new siding including a locomotive run-round loop and connection to the freight line from Buxton have been constructed to serve it.The line, which today continues southwards only as far as the quarries at Hindlow and Dowlow, once provided links to Cromford and Ashbourne.
Although the old ground frame at Hillhead was still in place, the connection to the branch had long since been removed. Due to there being no power available at the location, work on the new siding involved installation of a new (but still mechanical) ground frame, along with a token machine to control train movements.
The first service from the quarry ran on June 14. Operated by GB Railfreight to Hams Hall in theWest Midlands, it transported aggregates for use by HS2 construction contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI.