Thorpe Cloud railway station was opened in 1899 between the villages of Thorpe and Fenny Bentley in Derbyshire, south east of Buxton.

History

The station opened on 4 August 1899 when the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) opened the Parsley Hay to Ashbourne section of the Ashbourne Line, a branch from the Cromford and High Peak Railway (which ran from Whaley Bridge to Cromford) at Parsley Hay.^[1][2]

In common with the other stations on this line, the platforms and buildings were of timber construction. From Parsley Hay to Ashbourne the line was single with passing loops at the stations, though provision was made for doubling which never occurred. Like the previous station at Tissington it was built on a gradient of 1 in 60, downwards towards Ashbourne, and the modular buildings were stepped to accommodate this.^{[3][page needed]} The station took its name from a nearby hill, Thorpe Cloud which is at the entrance to Dovedale, and was therefore a popular venue for ramblers. The station was host to a LMS caravan from 1934 to 1939, a camping coach was also positioned here by the London Midland Region from 1954 to 1955.^[4]

Regular passenger services ended on 1 November 1954, though excursions continued until 1963.^[1] Freight continued until 7 October 1963.^[5] The track to Ashbourne finally being lifted in 1964.

The track bed from Ashbourne to Parsley Hay was acquired by Derbyshire County Council and the Peak National Park in 1968 for a cycle and walking route. This, the Tissington Trail, was one of the first of such ventures in the country. Later, Ashbourne Tunnel was acquired by Sustrans.

Route