Moseley Railway Trust has now installed the first part of a display at the Apedale Heritage Centre in Newcastle Under Lyme representing aspects of industrial Narrow Gauge Railways. The Heritage Centre, dedicated to the industrial history of the Apedale Valley near Chesterton, approached the Trust last year with a request to present a display on industrial narrow gauge railways since the Apedale site, a former colliery, had it's own 2-foot gauge system used during coal extraction from a drift mine up until closure by the NCB in November 1969. Subsequent mining operations continued until 1989 and also used short railway lines, and the Heritage Centre now contains displays on aspects of the mining heritage of the area including a Roman display, mining artifacts and the re-recreation of the interior of a miners cottage. Visitors are able to take a guided underground tour to see for themselves the conditions under which miners once worked with former miners as guides. Situated adjacent to the Apedale Country Park, the Centre is also used as a base for visitors wishing to spend time in peace away from the hubbub of the surrounding area. Refreshments and snacks are available, as well as a gift shop. The Heritage Centre is open to the public at weekends and bank holidays throughout the year.
The first phase of the MRT display at Apedale consists of a First World War 20HP petrol engined Simplex Locomotive builders no 1111 of 1918, and a former 28HP mines diesel locomotive built by The Hunslet Engine Co in 9056 from 1982. The 20HP Simplex was built to transport war material from dumps at main line railheads to the front line trenches, and was one of 746 of this type built by the Motor Rail & Tramcar Co of Bedford. The Hunslet mines locomotive displayed represents a type commonly found both underground and on the surface from the 1960's onwards and this example dates from 1982, having worked at RJB Mining at Calverton in Nottinghamshire. The locomotive is flame-proofed, allowing it to work safely underground, and is paired with an underground explosives store wagon which was used to store and transport blasting material to locations where it was needed underground. Both displays are on a short section of rail, with backdrops and photographs used to interpret the history and locations in which these loco's worked.
Two further locomotives will be installed in an extension to the display later in the year.
Apedale Heritage Centre, Loomer Road, Chesterton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs, ST5-7RR
