by Colonel J.A. Rich of the Royal Engineers on 26 September 1867, who approved the line for opening. The line was opened to Wirksworth on 1 October 1867 and was initially worked by the Staff System. Under the original scheme, it would have descended from Wirksworth to Cromford using a tunnel and a long viaduct, and proceed parallel to the existing line, but on the west side of the river through Matlock to Rowsley. However, when the lease expired on the original Ambergate line, the LNWR withdrew, and the Midland acquired complete control. Thus the section beyond Wirksworth was never built. The Midland was left with one of its few branch lines, and one which, it felt, was of questionable viability. Operation The presence of the line allowed Wirksworth's limestone business to develop, the carriage of which was its mainstay until the middle of the 20th century. There was also farm produce, particularly milk, in 1906, and a number of textile mills (Wirksworth had the dubious distinction of being the main supplier of red tape for the London Government Departments). It saw a regular passenger service, with stations at Hazlewood (about from the village down a steep hill and originally called Windley), Shottle (originally Cowers Lane) and Idridgehay. There were three, rising to six, passenger trains from Derby each way, with one on Sunday, and two goods trains. By 1939, however milk was carried instead by road, and during World War II passenger travel was severely curtailed. There was also the hourly "number 37" bus, which led to a decline in passenger numbers. Passenger trains were temporarily suspended in 1947 and were officially ceased in 1949. An hourly (five on Sundays) direct bus (Trentbarton service 6.1) still operates (2014) between Wirksworth and Derby (Bus Station) with a journey time of 50minutes. However this runs via Belper rather than directly along the main road. Rolling stock at various times included steam motor carriages from the Morecambe and Heysham Railway at the beginning of the century, and steam railmotors from the Yarmouth and North Norfolk Railway. In the early 1950s, people near the line were treated to the eerie sight of a railway carriage ghosting along, apparently by itselfthe test vehicle for the new diesel railcars being designed in Derbynothing more than a standard coach with the mechanism fitted and a windscreen cut in each end for the driver – that presaged