Edale Station Friends hosted their Railway 200 celebration event over the weekend. The event showcased two films as well as photography and a railway history display.

Polyhymns created a film celebrating the Hope Valley line, taking you on a journey from Sheffield to Chinley in a real-time soundscape lasting approximately 41 minutes. Each of the station stops along the line (Sheffield, Dore & Totley, Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope, Edale and Chinley) was represented by a combination of improvised music, field recordings and oral history clips from people who have lived and worked along the line.

The second film showcases the work done by the children of Edale school for their Railway 200 celebrations programme. The Railway 200 celebrations programme they took part in included a foraging walk to Edale Orchard where the children created artwork, a visit to Peak Rail to travel on a steam train, a session by Edale Station Friends on the history of public railways, soundscape sessions, a railway safety session from Network Rail and poetry writing sessions. This film was created with local artists Hanna Varga, Bella Hardy and Sam Smith, filmed by Nuala Fowler. Alongside this film there were displays of the children’s prose and poetry and visual art created as part of the programme.

Railway photographs by Derek Phillips and a selection of other photographers were on display as well as displays on railway history.

The event was a wonderful way to celebrate the Hope Valley line and the amazing work done by the children of Edale school during their Railway 200 celebration programme over the summer months.

Congratulations to Edale Station Friends for an incredible event!