History Of The Line
In November 1918, General G. M. Jackson of the Clay Cross Company made an application to the Ministry of Transport for the construction of a standard gauge railway from the small hamlet of Stretton, just south of Clay Cross, to a junction with Hollow Lane in the village of Ashover. The proposed railway had been engineered by the well-known light railway champion, Colonel H. F. Stephens, with the main purpose of route being to open up some fluorspar workings at Milltown, en route to Ashover. The Light Railway Order was granted in February the following year. By 1921, the Clay Cross Company had again applied for a Light Railway Order - this time for an extension to the previously proposed railway from Stretton directly into the Clay Cross Works. At this time, a decision was made to convert both railways to the narrow gauge of 2ft as this would mean lighter earth works and ultimately lower costs. The Order was passed a year later on condition that the railway provided a passenger service. This was agreed and construction of the Ashover Light Railway began.
BRIDGET, built by Baldwin in the USA in 1917. (click to enlarge)
PEGGY, also dating from 1917, was scrapped in June 1951. (click to enlarge)
Almost all of the equipment provided for the building and running of the railway was acquired second-hand from the War Stores Disposals Board. Four American-built, Baldwin 4-6-0 tank locomotives arrived and were named PEGGY, HUMMY, JOAN, and GUY; the names given to General Jackson’s children. Shortly afterwards, a fifth similar locomotive was purchased and was given the name BRIDGET. As the construction of the line progressed, it was realised that a passenger station at Hollow Lane would be a little tight for space, and therefore in May 1924, another Light Railway Order was applied for. This was for yet another extension, this time going from Hollow Lane to Ashover Butts where there was more room to build a station. The Order went through in August that year.
The station at Clay Cross & Egstow. (click to enlarge)
At the other end of the railway, the main Derby to Chesterfield road had to be crossed. The proposed route started in the Clay Cross Works, swung northwards out of the town, then curved westwards through 180 degree to avoid going through Clay Cross town centre. The problem with this route was the Chesterfield Road, and crossing it required a steel girder bridge spanning 45 feet. The height had to be 16 feet above road level, which required a half-mile long approach embankment to be built. The bridge and embankment were the only major pieces of engineering on the entire route between Clay Cross and Ashover. Shortly after the opening of the railway, the Pirelli Tyre Company at Burton-upon-Trent paid to have a large advertisement painted on the bridge. This arrangement lasted until closure and the bridge became known as ‘The Pirelli Bridge’.