Toastin'

Briefly mentioned in the blog entry for 14/12/08 was the Trust's Toastrack coach. This vehicle has been quietly progressing off-site, but its completed underframe has now arrived at Apedale (top photo). The vehicle will be a rebuild of a vehicle used on the Welsh Highland/Ffestiniog Railways in North Wales. The chassis of the Trust's vehicle was highly corroded upon arrival & has since been reconstructed, using the original as a pattern along with a few small salvaged parts. The bodywork will be all new to the original design and the 4 wheel bogies are substantially original. These Hudson toastrack coaches were supplied new to the Welsh Highland Railway in 1923 under the direction of Col. Stephens - allegedly they were built in just six weeks. The MRT may need a little longer to complete its vehicle. The bottom photos are the Hudson works photo of this type of vehicle, and one of the surviving Ffestiniog vehicles in use recently. The Welsh Highland had six such vehicles, but by the late 1920s four had their bodies removed and were being used to shift coal. Some of these survived into the preservation era, and the vehicle which the MRT acquired had been used latterly as a weedkiller wagon. The MRT vehicle will, when completed, be able to carry 32 passengers with the facility to carry two wheelchairs upon demand. As ever, we need your help with this and many other projects - contact us here.

AGM day at Apedale

Yesterday was a big day in the Moseley Railway Trust's calender - the Annual General Meeting. This week's blog is image-heavy to give a flavour of the day. The format is basically that the membership come along, see what has been done by the workers over the last twelve months, and then grill the Trustees to within an inch of their lives. It's called democracy, and like most democracies, it kinda works. All things considered, the meeting went well, and the Trustees survived with only the expected minor injuries.

I've just re-read the blog entry from last year, and it really is remarkable just how much has been achieved in twelve months by a relatively small working team. Amongst many other things has been the completion of the Aurora North storage shed, and the top left photo shows an array of motive power outside the shed. The amount of track on site has at least doubled (maybe trebled) since last year, and we were able to run demonstration freight trains. The top right photo shows a loco which arrived on site last August, LBU Ruston 497542/63. This loco has spent a number of years in storage with a caving club near Alderley Edge, and arrived in a very poor state. Heroic efforts by the CME and his team have rendered it fit for at least limited service in a record time. On the rear of the train is yellow Hunslet 6007/63, another loco which has been resuscitated in the last few months.

Last year, I noted that Motor Rail 2197 was in use as a buffer stop, because the brakes were the only thing on it which worked properly. This year, the loco has been (almost) fully restored and was hauling trains - photo bottom left. It's owner just needs to sort out the bonnets and build a new cab (piece of cake!!).

Finally, one of the joys of the AGM is an opportunity to meet up with old friends. One of our members bought and restored 33/40HP Ruston 198297/39 and named it "Annie" after his grandmother. The member in question then became more interested in rubber-tyred vehicles, and kindly donated "Annie" (the loco, not the grandmother) to the Trust. We were delighted to be able to unite the member, his former loco, and his current Land Rover (bottom right). The AGM reported some good news about the footpath which has been delaying progress on the passenger railway, and the MRT is planning another open day in September, which MIGHT (only MIGHT) coincide with the opening of the passenger railway. Watch this space for details. In the meantime, get in touch here or come along the Apedale any Saturday - there's a lot more work to be done yet!!

A Civic Visit

On 31st March 2009, the Moseley Railway Trust hosted a Civic Visit by His Worshipful the Mayor of Newcastle-Under-Lyme Councillor John Cooper. Councillor Cooper’s civic guests included the mayors and civic heads from seven of the surrounding towns and boroughs. The party visited the Apedale Heritage Centre, and visited the underground coal mine, which is operated by the Heritage Centre. They then visited the adjacent Moseley Railway Trust site, including the Aurora Works.
Whilst at Aurora Works, Councillor Cooper unveiled a plaque which marked and acknowledged the valuable contribution which has been made to the Moseley Railway Trust’s Apedale development projects by Lafarge Aggregates. Councillor Cooper was assisted in this by David Wilson (in the suit in the photo), manager of Walley landfill site at Silverdale.
Phil Robinson (in the cap in the photos), the Moseley Railway Trust’s Chairman said "The Trust is very grateful to all who have supported us as we have regenerated and developed the Apedale site. Today we acknowledge two particular supporters – the Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council and Lafarge Aggregates. I am delighted to acknowledge the efforts that both organisations have made, and this support takes us closer to opening a passenger steam railway. This will become a significant attraction, bringing visitors into Newcastle which will boost the local economy".
David Wilson, the Manager of the Lafarge Aggregates landfill site in nearby Silverdale said "Walleys Landfill was originally a brick clay quarry. Lafarge Aggregates transports approximately three million tonnes of building materials by rail every year and also uses river and canal transport where appropriate. Our industrial heritage is something we should all be proud of and we are delighted to support this Moseley Railway Trust project with a donation through the Landfill Communities Fund".
The Moseley Railway Trust is continuing to develop the Apedale site. It is anticipated that Phase One of the passenger carrying railway will open during 2009 – watch for further announcements. Get in touch here.