Why Peak Rail are now offering far more than just cracking rides on an historic steam train

Perhaps that trend can be seen no better than in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire’s thriving leisure and tourism industry where attractions now have to offer far more for the pound if they want to draw in the visitors and keep them coming back.

It’s a key philosophy that Mark Sealey is all too aware of as part of his role as general manager at the popular Peak Rail heritage railway.

The much-loved attraction takes excited passengers on a scenic journey between its Rowsley South base and Matlock over four miles of track on what was once the London, Midland and Scottish Railway route heading South.

But Mark, a self-confessed railway lover who has been in the job for five years, knows only too well that their customers want far more than just a ride in an historic carriage when they hit the platform.

“It is all about doing something different. We do our Santa specials which are always extremely popular and we also do themed events throughout the year - such as our 1940s weekend in July - which is extremely popular and growing year on year,” he reveals.

“There are lots of events that we do that bring in the big money, but you have got to keep people’s interests, you need to keep them on-site and to be able to offer them good quality.

“The vast majority of our visitors are mum/dad, or grandma and grandad, and two kids who come to see a pretty steam engine, get on a train and eat good food - and that is what we provide.”

Amongst the popular experience packages on offer is the chance for those who lives all things railway to take charge of their own steam engine during one of two sessions that run on Saturday’s throughout the season.

“It is all about running special things, people want special things,” adds Mark. “On a Saturday we do the two driver experience courses.

“It is a real hands-on experience and the people who come get a lot out of it. We run driver experiences on the diesel as well and that is equally as good.

“We also run an afternoon tea train which is full from March to the end of October in a 1925 carriage and it is just lovely.”

As well as providing lasting memories, the extra add-ons have now become a critical part of ensuring the nostalgic business stays on the right track.

“I am a railway enthusiast, but I have to reign that in a little bit and run the business with a proper business head on, you can't do it just for the love of the job,” says Mark.

“We have to make money because the bills are very expensive, such as the coal, insurance and electric bills. It goes up year on year and it’s just crazy

“You have to keep your eye on the business because the bottom line is that we have to make money, but we are ok at the moment.”

The initial station in Rowsley was opened in 1849 and formed a terminus for the Manchester, Buxton, Matlock and Midlands Junction Railway line from Ambergate.

But the station we have all come to know and love in the modern era was opened as recently as 1997 thanks to the hard work of a group of Peak Rail volunteers.

“Everyone of the volunteers are passionate about what we do,” adds Mark ““We are not doing too bad at all and have had a good season this year.

“We run through one of the most beautiful parts of Derbyshire and we are just trying to preserve a bit of history that was removed in 1968.

For further information on Peak Rail’s events timetable, and how you can volunteer, visit https://www.peakrail.co.uk