Strictly Kango

A busy day at Apedale has seen a lot of track maintenance carried out. A key part of the track maintenance programme has been tamping the ballast to ensure firm support for the railway. The length of the railway now mandates the use of generators to provide power for the Kango hammers. It's hard going, and the team can perhaps skip tonights trip to the gym. See, we're all heart. Meanwhile, back at the workshops, an uber-shunt took place to allow Stanhope to be converted to a temporary 040 for a boiler inspection. Who knows, we might decide we like it and it can stay like that. Our neighboring shotblasters had dealt with a WDLR bogie frame for a wagon project. Unfortunately, the forklift is hors-de-combat currently, so more innovative means had to be used to get the bogie back onto the railway for work to continue. All part of the rich tapestry which is a day at Apedale. You don't have to be good at tapestry to come along and help - just get in touch here. Finally, a blatant advert for a publication which we advertise in - follow this link.

The changing of the seasons

When I was at school....Before we go on, let me clarify two points. 1:- It wasn't THAT long ago (really), and 2:- It was NOT a famous/infamous Grammar school in the Cheadle area of Manchester. Anyway, when I was at school every so often an enormous Bell & Howell film projector would be hauled into the in the main hall. It was a big thing, and I always imagined the scene was a bit like dragging the stones used to build Stonehenge. The teacher would throw a switch and the bulb would start to warm up. All over the area street lights would dim due to the current draw. Drax power station would light extra boilers - you get the idea. Eventually, a Disney wildlife documentary would be screened. This would create the lasting impression that Lemmings commit mass suicide.Of course, we now know that to be rubbish - it is (of course) Meerkats which commit mass suicide. Simples. At some stage in the film, a gravelly voice would say "...and the eternal cycle of the seasons, spring follows winter....". We finally saw some signs at Apedale that Spring may be seriously considering following Winter this year. Firstly, we've got the snowplough out, thereby guaranteeing no snow for the next ten years. Secondly, it was actually sunny yesterday. This allowed us to finish brake testing on the Baguley Drewry and therefore permit its entry into passenger service this season. These days, there's no reassuring man from HMRI to sign everything off; in the ROGS era, one has to verify for oneself that the thing is safe. Hence we tend to be pretty thorough. The final test was with the loco, all the passenger coaches and a five-ton Motor Rail on the back simulating the weight of the passengers - the whole ensemble making a pretty impressive site with the mighty Perkins diesel fighting to the upper reaches on the power curve as it fights to reach 10mph downhill. So, with seven weeks to go to start of passenger service, we now have two passenger diesels. Thankfully, we also now have a crest for the railway. Thanks to an international design competition, we have produced what you see below. Nice isn't it? If you think it's nice, get in touch here. If you don't like it, then please remember what happened to the Lemmings.

Up periscope

As you can see from the above film, the Motor Rail dumper (no.8389 of 1947) has managed to move under its own power. It lacks a few minor refinements currently, such as any forward visibility for the driver. However, we're planning an outing to Barrow in Furness where apparently there's something which may provide the answer. In the case of the dumper, the operational time is limited by how long the tyres stay inflated rather than such mundane matters as fuel and driver's hours. Meanwhile, some work has actually been done on the railway, including another Motor Rail, number 5038. The photos show it in the early 1970s at Ashchurch and as it is currently. The bonnets hide a multitude of ills - not least a mechanical conundrum with the clutch, which is hopefully now solved. Offers of redundant submarine equipment should be sent here, please.