Snowploughs

The Buxton branch had been blocked for two days after the recent snowfall and Network Rail finally got around to sending out the ploughs from Crewe with 56105 & 56087. The worked from Stockport to Buxton via Chinley and then came down the branch to Hazel Grove before returning to Buxton and ploughing the Hindlow line. I assume that they then returned via Chinley. I caught them at Norbury Crossing on the way down to Hazel Grove as the light was fading.

In years gone by there were two large ploughs at Buxton and the branch was kept open by running them all night if necessary. These days there seems to be no appetite for keeping the line open when it snows. This is probably due to the beancounters telling them it is not cost effective. That's not much of a consolation to those trapped and unable to get to or from home/work. Whatever happened to the concept of public service?