The Churnet Valley Railway is a preserved standard gauge heritage railway in the Staffordshire Moorlands of Staffordshire, England. It operates on part of the former Churnet Valley Line which was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway.
The railway is roughly 10.5 miles (16.9 km) long from Kingsley and Froghall to Ipstones. The land from Leek Brook Junction to Ipstones was opened by Moorland & City Railways (MCR) in 2010 after they took a lease out from Network Rail. This has subsequently been purchased by the Churnet Valley Railway. The main stations along the line are Kingsley and Froghall, Consall, Cheddleton and Leek Brook. Work has begun to extend the line to the town of Leek which will act as the northern terminus of the line. The line between Leek and Waterhouses has also been reopened as part of the heritage railway as far as Ipstones.
A steam-hauled train at Consall station
Cheddleton station: the Churnet Valley Railway's first acquisition in 1976.
The main station building at Kingsley & Froghall was rebuilt in 2003. The other platform and shelter were re-built in 2007–2009.
The signal box at Leekbrook Junction in 2011
Staffordshire Moorlands is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. Its council is based in Leek, the district's largest town. The district also contains the towns of Biddulph and Cheadle, along with a large rural area containing many villages. North-eastern parts of the district lie within the Peak District National Park.
Tittesworth reservoir in the Staffordshire Moorlands
Leek, the district's largest town and administrative headquarters.
Moors located within the district
Looking southeast over the Roaches and Hen Cloud