Quatermass and the Pit

We've just reached the end of the Summer working week 2012 at Apedale. This week has been characterised in most years by torrential rain and a consequent lack of actual work. And, in one memorable year, the filming of a post-apocalyptic TV drama show (not too much set-dressing needed). However, 2012 saw an outbreak of sunshine quite uncharacteristic of either the rest of the year or working weeks in general. And the number of psychopathic zombies was no worse than we've come to expect. The major project during the working week has been the installation of the Inspection Pit steelwork. The Pit is a cunning conversion of a former colliery weighbridge base. This has been one of the largest and most ambitious civil engineering projects on site for some time, involving retaining walls and building land up by several feet to get the levels right. The end is very much in site now - the annoying fiddly bits of fishplating rails of different sections, and then ballasting the railway to get the levels somewhere near right. There's an air of urgency, since it appears that the Joffre steam loco can only have its boiler exam carried out with the use of a pit. Still - pressure makes diamonds. Meanwhile, the site was also honoured by a visit from a mongoose selling car insurance. Quite why the CME insisted on pointing at it is beyond me. As ever, get in touch here.

Contractor's Delight takes shape

The September gala at the Moseley Railway Trust’s Apedale Valley Light Railway will be held on Saturday and Sunday 8 & 9 September 2012.

This year’s theme is Contractor’s Delight. This will show how industrial narrow gauge railways have been used in civil engineering projects and major construction sites. These railways still exist today. Tunnels for the Olympic Games were built with the assistance of contractor’s railways, and a new railway is currently being built to support the construction of the Cross Rail tunnels in central London. This construction railway will be the third largest railway system in the UK at its maximum extent.

Central to this event will be this year’s guest steam locomotive. This is GP39, a Hudswell Clarke locomotive dating from 1930. It was used by Surrey County Council Highways Department on road projects in that county. Complimenting GP39 will be Apedale resident steam locomotives Stanhope and the newly-commissioned Joffre locomotive. Stanhope was first used on a contractor’s project associated with the Rosyth naval base in Scotland; it then when on to dam construction projects in Weardale (where it acquired its current name).

GP39 appears courtesy of Graham Lee of the Statfold Barn Farm railway. The Moseley Railway Trust wishes to express its thanks to Mr Lee and the Statfold team for their support. This locomotive is very similar to a locomotive imported by the MRT from Ghana in 2008.

Negotiations are continuing for further visiting locomotives. It is also hoped that a diesel locomotive will be visiting the railway which has never been displayed at a public railway before.

The Contractor’s Delight gala will be open from 1100 to 1700 on each day. Admission will be £6 adults, £3 for children aged 2 to 15.

In addition to steam and diesel trains on the 2’0” gauge Apedale Valley Light Railway there will be trade stands, model railways and lots of other exhibits to interest young and old.

This year, it has been decided to release a small number of “Access all Areas” tickets. Likely to be of interest to the serious enthusiast, they will allow access to the Apedale site out of normal hours and a wide range of other benefits. An application form can be obtained from the Trust website  .

The MRT’s event team is still keen to hear from vintage plant owners who may wish to exhibit and hopefully demonstrate their machines.

The film, courtesy of Ian Walmsley, gives a flavour of our previous galas.

Different things

One could be forgiven  for thinking that the only activity at Apedale is on Project Pluto and the new inspection pit. Nothing could be further from the truth. All sorts of projects are running at the same time. In anticipation of the September "Contractor's Delight" (September 8 & 9), there's a drive to get as many skip wagons as possible up and running. One of these is seen in the first photo - it's one of our small collection of "U" skips, sitting upside undergoing attention to its wheel bearing.
Track maintenance is a constant activity - the current project is to change out inadequate bolts and clips on one of the shed roads for rather more substantial items. It's necessary to get to the bottom of the sleepers - hence the whole panel needs to be lifted and propped safely. Rumours that it's the start of a spiral are utterly unfounded.

The recent  spate of inclement weather has caused some difficulties, prompting some unkind members to ask what the difference is between a fork lift truck and a hippopotamus? Answers here please.

The Day of the Triffids

Yesterday (Saturday 7th July) was the Charity Day on the Apedale Valley Light Railway. It was in aid of Douglas Macmillan Hospice  A jolly good time seems to have been had by all concerned. The DMH volunteers had a stand on the station platform, and they seem to have had some success at extracting what little money visitors had after visiting our shop and viewing the wide range of desirable goods contained therein. We also hosted a number of other attractions - a nice line of stationary engines, and model traction engines. Local classic car clubs also supported the event. Our treasurer also bought his new car - see if you can spot it amongst the line up. Curiously, the accounts have become a lot more opaque of late, and he keeps reminiscing about his time at Barclays and BCCI. Meanwhile, the DMH mascot (a sunflower) was also seen. Although one of our volunteers is now seriously wondering if he needs some new medication. The next Big Thing down at Apedale will be the September Gala - 8th & 9th of (err) September - watch this space for more information soon. Get in touch here.