Despite an LNWR petition against the bill and opposition from the SD&WBR, the Midland Railway (Rowsley and Buxton) Act 1860 (23 & 24 Vict.

[7] It was the first time the Midland Railway had built in such difficult terrain, with steep hills and deep valleys, Buxton itself being some 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level.

[8] All this time passengers were having to change at Ambergate, but in the same year, the Midland added a south-facing junction and moved the station to allow through travel from Derby and the south.

The Midland was initially unenthusiastic, but then realised that the branch could be extended to Rowsley, avoiding the section to Ambergate, being unsure about what might occur when joint lease expired in 1871.

It seemed the Midland's only chance was a circuitous route with the help of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, except that it transpired that latter had an agreement with the LNWR not to handle other companies' trains.

[4] On 7 November 1861[5] it was formally agreed therefore that the Midland would join the MS&LR partner's Marple, New Mills and Hayfield Junction line at New Mills,[5] an agreement which was put into statutes, later including the Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee in the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway (Additional Powers) Act 1872 (35 & 36 Vict.

It then plunged under the LNWR through Dove Holes Tunnel with stations at Chapel-en-le-Frith, Buxworth and Chinley joining the MS&LR at New Mills to run into Manchester London Road, opening in 1867.

This section of route is still open for stone freight trains serving the Buxton lime industry as the Great Rocks Line.

[12] The line from Matlock to Buxton was closed in June 1968 by the Labour Minister for Transport, Barbara Castle, not, as is often thought, by the Beeching reforms.

[13] Part of the line has been re-opened by the heritage railway organisation Peak Rail who run services from Matlock to Rowsley, at a current distance of 4 miles (6.4 km) in length.

There are plans to extend to Bakewell via the site of Rowsley railway station and a Proposed Haddon halt as part of the Buxton extension project.

Four tunnels (Headstone, Cressbrook, Litton and Chee Tor) between Great Longstone and Peak Forest and Blackwell Mill were re-opened to walkers and cyclists in May 2011.

[14] In March 2018, it was announced that a consortium of quarry companies and the heritage railway Peak Rail is investigating reopening the line between Matlock and Buxton.

[19] The proposal to reinstate the railway, a campaign led by Manchester and East Midlands Rail Action Partnership (MEMRAP), continues to grow support.