Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a very happy New Year. A few photos to remind of the progress at Apedale during 2015. The first couple of months saw a couple of major infrastructure projects - a flat crossing to complete the first phase of the Field Railway, and the Traverser Pit (aka 50 Shades of Clay) was hand-dug in scenes reminescent of the Somme. We welcomed three new locos to the fleet this year - a Keef ex Woodhead Tunnel, a Hudson Mini-Loco (to complete the 100% set of these) and a Lister Blackstone. May saw the successful Locos from Leeds, helped by a couple of Statfold visitors - a HC steamer and the mis-named Hudson GoGo tractor. The driver will be observed thumbing through a copy of War and Peace on a Kindle, and wondering if he will get it finished before the loco arrives back at Silverdale. The summer saw the entire steam fleet dispersed through the Uk - to Threlkeld and the Golden Valley Light Railway. We also re-built the pit to provide proper steam loco disposal facilities. September saw the completion of the HLF-funded insutrial railway trail, and the September steam-up. Sadly, the Saturday was extremely wet, but the visiting Jung loco from Toddington enjoyed the whole thing. November brought the Military Memories weekend, which provided a welcome year-end boost to visitor numbers - not forgetting the Halloween mayhem. Finally, Santa came early with probably the most significant event of the year - our first enclosed passenger coach, courtesy of the Ffestiniog. 2016 will see Tracks to the Trenches 2016 - May 13-15 - and doubtless lots of other exciting stuff. See you the other side of midnight.....

Quiz - part 1 answers and Round Two

Thank you to those who entered the Christmas Quiz Part One. I hope it gave some mild diversion whilst listening to elderly relatives rant on about Nice Mr Heath and how appalling young people are these days. The answers are:-

 1 Nene Valley Railway - Octopussy and Goldeneye.

2 D8188 on Severn Valley Railway, but currently at Washwood Heath.

3 A View to a Kill, filmed at Chalk Pits Museum Amberley - doing a very poor impersonation of Southern California.

4 The Deadly Assassin, Tom Baker

5 Silver Streak

6 Washington Union Terminal, the loco Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 4876 which ended up in the basement of the station.

7 Von Ryan's Express

8 Brief Encounter

9 The taking of Pelham 123 - so the answer is Pelham Bay Station. Three films have been made  - 1974,  a TV movie in 1998 and another film in 2009.

10 The Avengers. Strange how the clue "truly terrible filme" seems to have been a giveaway. What WERE the producers thinking?

11 Sliding Doors - filmed on the Waterloo & City line one weekend.

12The Odessa File

13 Great St Trinian's Train Robbery

14 The Inn of the Sixth Happiness  - scenes were filmed at Longmoor and the Buddha statue created for the film is now at Portmeirion. 

At this point, I must give full credit to Geoff Ingrham, who came up with an answer which was better than the official version! His answer was Richard Wattis - who starred in the St Trinians film and also in the Prisoner (in "The Chimes of Big Ben") - filmed at Portmeirion. 

15 The Phantom Light

16 Back to the Future III

17 Train of Events

18 The Cassandra Crossing

19 The Train

20 Melbourne Transit Authority tram system (now known as Yarra Trams), Malcolm

Nominating a winner is unfair, so we'll do it anyway. Steve Barber (NGRS Secretary) came up with the first set of correct, complete, answers - but Geoff Ingrham deserves credit for working The Prisoner into the whole thing. So we'll call that a draw.

Which leads nicely into Round Two. This is all about the fleet of locos at Apedale, or associated with Apedale in some way OR answers which can be found in the 2015 output of Moseley Matters.

1:- A visiting loco - Penrhyn via Newbold Vernon. Which loco, when did it visit?

2:- What is the only steam loco to have made TWO visits to two seperate Apedale Galas (it's NOT Paddy!!)?

3:- Which railway did "Stanhope" visit in September and October 2014?

4:- An unusual non-steam visitor, son of Uther Pendragon. Which loco, which gala, where is home railway?

5:- Built with a Mclaren engine, now a Dorman - which Apedale loco?

6:- Goldfish shoals, nibbling at my toes. Which loco, which galas, where is home?

7:- Resident steam loco, worked in England, Scotland and Wales?

8:- Ships - which loco is associated with "Free Enterprise VII"?

9:- What were the names of the ships which carried HC1238 to and from Ghana?

10:- What is F836 on BnM?

11:- Which Safety Management System document covers off-site working?

12:- In 1948, how many different track gauges did the NCB use underground?

13:- 2015 saw two AVLR locos visit Threlkeld. How many other locos currently on site at Apedale have been at Threlkeld at some stage? Which locos?

14:- Where is the Baltic Juice Terminal?

15:- Which railway did "Stanhope" visit in September and October 2014?

16:- Listermania 2015 - how many locos on a passenger train?

17:- The only ex-Standard Gauge vehicle in the collection?

18:- This Apedale loco has been regauged twice - which loco?

19:- How many Baguley Drewry locos of the same type as AVLR No.90 have there been?

20:- Where did Ruston 193974 and Hibberd 2306 meet prior to both being at Apedale?

So, good luck with that. Answers to the usual, please. To provide a modicum of inspiration, a favourite 2015 Apedale photo. 

Floored

With all that Santa stuff behind us, and the winter PW Works maintenance programme complete, attention has returned to a few long-open projects. The ex-Ffestiniog Railway van, you will recall, is being refurbished to act as a support vehicle for the PW department at Apedale, and in particular to provides facilities such as tools, workshop, stores and messing for the construction of the next phase of the railway. Work had ended with the old, very rotten, floor, being cut out. The new floor has now been fitted, and we have started welding it into place. Getting the floor sheets into place was interesting, to say the least; at one point, we were grateful for the hole in the roof which allowed the crane access. However, a little perserverance saw the sheets in place and the Electric Glue to be deployed in full fury. It's beginning to feel like we've broken the back of this project by now. For the benefit of anyone on-site at Apedale today, we can confirm that no Robins were harmed during the work on this van.

Santa - running early this year

Santa has come early at Apedale. Actually, we;re not completely convinced it was the Real Santa, because it seems he has swapped the sleigh for a hi-ab lorry. But no matter, we tore off the wrapping paper, and it's just what we asked for in our Santa Letter - a batch of ex-South Africa wagon bogies. I bet Santa's sleigh goes a bit quicker now he's unloaded that lot. They won't all be staying at Apedale; a pair are for the Golden Valley Light Railway, and two are headed back to the Ffestiniog Railway. The main use for us (and our our friends at GVLR) will be to fit under the ex-Ffestiniog coaches to replace the "temporary" set currently in place. All this goes to prove is that it's worth being Nice, not Naughty.

Christmas Quiz 2015

And so, with the train safely tucked up in the shed until Easter, thoughts at Apedale turn to more intellectual matters. Yes, it's the 2015 Christmas Quiz. Literally two people said how much they enjoyed it last year, but despite that we'll give it another go.

This year, there will be two parts. Firstly, that perennial favourite - Railways on TV and in Films.

1:- Which UK preserved railway provided a location for two Bonds films? Which were the films?

2:- In one of the two Bond films, an English Electric diesel came off best in a confrontation with a Soviet Tank; an outcome which would have surprised the builders of both machines. Which was the loco, and where is it now?

3:- Sticking with the Bond film theme - which one saw Grace Jones blowing a large crater in Sussex? Where exactly in Sussex?

4:- In which Doctor Who story did he meet a Ransomes loco? Name the actor playing the Doctor.

5:- Which 1976 film ended badly at a terminus station?

6:- The film in "5" was inspired by a real life incident in 1953. At which station did the incident take place, and which loco was involved?

7:- Which train did Ole' Blue Eyes steal?

8:- I only need to say Carnforth Clock. Which film?

9:- Where is train 123 departing from? In how many films has it done this?

10:- In what, truly terrible, film does the Kingsway Tram Subway in London double as the entrance to a secret base?

11:- A 1998 film in which the platform-train interface features of an underground train  provides the key plot point?

12:- Which file almost led to the hero coming to a sticky end on the Hamburg Subway?

13:- Frankie Howerd meets the Longmoor Military Railway. Which film?

14:- What film links the above location and an Italianate village near the Ffestiniog? Explain the link...

15:- Sticking with the Ffestiniog - 1935 film featuring Tan-Y-Bwlch?

16:- A Delorean needs help from a steam loco. Name the film?

17:- 1949 film centering around a level crossing collision. Name the film?

18:- 1976 saw Burt Lancaster fail to complete which Crossing?

19:- The same actor trashed most of the French railway system in which black and white epic?

20:- 1986 film in which an antipodean tramway network plays a key part. Which network, which film?

There is, as ever, no prize other than the ability to behave in a slightly smug manner. In the unlikely event of a tie, and the even less likely event of anyone being terribly bothered, the winner will be selected by the usual manner - who made me the most cups of tea at Apedale this year. Part Two to follow shortly. Answers to here, please.

Santa Campaign 2015

Well, that's about it for another year. Passenger train safely tucked up in the shed, and all the volunteers recovering at home. It's been an epic Santa season; we await confirmation from the Chief Accounting Elf, but early indications were that we were on track to break the previous record number of customers. So, for everyone who came to see us - either for the Santas or at other times in the year - a big thank you. And to all our volunteers, an even bigger thank you. You know who you are, and well done. We'll try to produce the Highlights show between Xmas and New Year. In the meantime, a couple of images of the Santas.

Before they were Famous - Deutz

Last week's Before They Were Famous shot of Motor Rail 8748 hanging perilously from a digger at Leighton Buzzard seems to have been well received. So, into the De Lorean and back to 1972. Specifically, the glamorous location of Long Reach Sewage Works near Dartford. This seems to have escaped the final cut of Back to the Future - can't think why. Four locos are seen, all semi-derelict. The Ruston with the keyhole cab is 166346, now preserved at Leighton Buzzard. Behind it are Rustons 166028 and 175116, neither of which survive. The Deutz - now recognised as works number 10050 - sits with them. This charismatic loco was preserved by Rich Morris and friends, and ended up at Gloddfa Ganol. From there, it moved onto Cadeby and full restoration, and now lives at Apedale - where the final photo is showing how it looks today.

Didn't anyone bring a camera??

Busy this weekend training members to carry out various duties on the railway. So busy that no-one seems to have actually taken any photos! But well done to Steve, Jonathan and Chris who passed out as Yard Drivers, and Bob, Andrew, Ed, Mike and Matt who have made it as Basic Shunters. Meanwhile, the final touches have been made to the Grotto and Train for the Great Arrival next weekend - when the annual sorting of the Naughty from the Nice takes place. As a consolation for no new photos, the pictures are December last year, and one from the archives - MotorRail 8748 being loaded for transport to Cadeby at Leighton Buzzard in 1979; this loco now lives at Apedale. The lifting method is unlikely to find favour these days.

Tampermatic

A wet and wild day down the Apedale Valley has seen a stoic team of Trust members attending to the last job on the P-Way Winter Maintenance Programme. This was rectifying a number of joints which had become dipped. This produces a rather uncomfortable ride, and - if allowed to deteriorate badly - could become a derailment hazard. So un-dip the dipped joints must be. This is done by slacking off the fishplates bolts, jacking the joint to slightly higher than needed - to allow for settlement - and then tamping two sleepers either side uisng the ever faithful Kango hammers and the less faithful (but tolerated) generator. The generator is at the ragged edge of its performance envelope running two Kangos - but despite that, and the weather, the job got done. So, now we're ready to run trains to greet the Man in the Red Coat - which you can book here.

Early Christmas Present

Exactly one month early, Santa has been to the Apedale Valley Light Railway and delivered us a large new toy. To be honest, we were rather disappointed that it wasn't gift wrapped with a nice ribbon bow, but that's life. FR117 is our first fully enclosed coach, and should be very useful once overhauled and converted to meet our needs. As it will be by far our best coach, it will have to be allocated a Pullman name. Pullman Car Cathartidae was popular amongst those who unloaded it. In all seriousness (for once), we should record a big thanks to Paul Lewin and the FR; they didn't have to make these coaches available, and by doing so, they offering a big help to the minnows of the narrow gauge world.

Filming and Freezing

The weekend has seen some unusual goings-on for this time of year. The replica WW1 trench has hosted a film crew from the University for the Creative Arts. Some of the people working on the railway thought they were pretty hardened to the weather - but this lot camped overnight through the first snow of the Winter. Now, that is quite impressive (or mad, delete as you see fit). They also brought some quite impressive pyros and a real Armourer, another first for the site.

In closely related news, the dates for the Driver Experience for 2016 have been released - have a wander over to here for the list. Just the ticket as a Christmas present with a difference. No discounts for Black Friday, but we won't mandate camping on site the night before.

Impermanent Way

With the running season behind us, attention has switched to the winter maintenance programme. An intensive burst of activity took place today. It's a good job it was active, otherwise we'd either drown or freeze. Or both. Various sleepers past their sell-by date were changed - quite a quick job with the right kit and team. During this task, an eagle-eyed member of the team spotted what seemed to be a flaw in a rail; on closer examination this was a crack in the foot and web, probably emanating from a historic flaw. Although this was not going to pose an immediate threat to safety, it was a case of "We can't leave that". So, the rail had to be changed. Just to add to the jollity, it was a curved rail of non-standard length, meaning the rail had to be curved, cut and drilled on site. None of which is terribly good fun in the rain. It was at this point that our PWay engineer complained that the rain was only vertical; he trained on the Ffestiniog Railway, where the rain has a significant horizontal component. Get in touch here (unless you are from the Met Office).

Military Memories

After the general insanity which is the Halloween weekend, we all put our sensible heads back on for the end-of-season Military Memories weekend. Open from 1130-1600 on Saturday and Sunday, we will have two locos in steam (Joffre and HC1238), the Trench open for tours (with the Gordon Highlander re-enactment group), shed visits and various diesel locos performing with suitable military-themed freight trains. What's not to like?

Progress on many fronts

It's been a weekend of distinctly mixed weather down at Apedale. Saturday was extremely wet, with visitor numbers to match. Sunday was much better, albeit cold. However, the antidote to cold is to work hard. Progress has been made on a number of different projects. The cosmetic restoration of the modern Hunslet "Cat C" has been progressing apace, and the loco is beginning to loook quite good. This loco, from the Bishopton munitions works, is mechanically pretty good - apart from annoyingly squealy brakes - and will hopefully soon look the part as well. Work on the ex-Ffestiniog Railway van has continued, with the roof patches being made and welded in. We're awaiting delivery of the steel floor; when that's fitted, the worst of this project will be over. Just need to clad the vehicle and then fit-out. Finally, the unique Howard petrol loco is coming close to its moment of glory. The overhaul of the gearbox and transmission has been a big job, but that's done now. The remaining key areas are the drive chains and - particularly - the radiator. Hopefully, though, the end of this project is now in sight.

Driver Experience

Last Friday saw us entertain our first paying guest for the Tracks to the Trenches driver experience. The customer, who is apparently undertaking scholarly research into the use of light railways during the First World War, seems to have thoroughly enjoyed the day. This driver experience is unlike anything else in the heritage railway world. When you come to Apedale, you sign-up as a member of a Light Railway Operating Company in Northern France in 1917. As an operational member of the 6th LROC, you have just arrived in Bapaume and have reported for the days duties at the Company’s HQ. The Traffic Orders are communicated to you throughout the day, in the form of telegraphs. It is your responsibility to shunt and operate the trains to complete the assigned tasks, using both steam and diesel locomotives, to keep the lads at the front line supplied. If you really like, you can even have lunch in the Trench - but most seem to prefer the cafe, for some reason. Unfortunately, and despite the imminence of Back to the Future Day, we have neither a De Lorean nor an actual Time Machine - but this driver experience comes pretty close. In case you are wondering, we do not actually shoot at participants - and the day is a lot of fun for everyone. Visit here for more details and booking information - this really is the ideal Christmas present. Dress code - Khaki, complimented by Khaki. It really is this season's colour.

By Van to Apedale Road

The FR van has made a Giant Leap Forward by being re-united with its bogies this weekend. The bogies were dismantled for overhaul and to have the wheelsets machined, since FR wheelset dimensions are different to our own. Consequently, the van - when first delivered - had never seen much of the railway at Apedale. There was a teeny, weeny, nagging doubt that the steps may have been out of gauge. A quick trip up and down the line showed that there was nothing to worry about. A passenger, seeing the vehicle arriving in the station platform, asked how much extra he needed to pay to get a floor, sides, roof and seats. We had to explain that, to fall in line with the fares policy on other UK railways, the ticket is only for the journey and that such things as seats cannot be guaranteed. He seemed happy with that state of affairs. So, the van duly trundled back to the workshop where a start was made on the roof - the only major poorly bit left. The roof has always been something of a conundrum, since parts of it looks like a lace curtain, yet one cannot see the sky. A few minutes with Mr Angle Grinder indicated that the vehicle actually has a double-skinned roof. It looks like the original roof was welded on, and then a new skin rivetted on top of that at some stage. Double-skinned roofs were popular on locos to be supplied to tropical climates, so one can only assume that the FR adopted this roof construction in anticipation of post Global Warming climate change.Their foresight is awesome.

Meanwhile, two of the fleet have been on yet another awayday; Motor Rail No.21 and Ruston Pluto were loaned to the team at the Amerton Railway for their diesel gala - and all concerned seem to be agree they they ran very well. It seems that returning No.21 in particular is going to be a tough moment for at least one of the Amerton team, but return it must, because it's in our stockbook.
Finally, a quick reminder - steam trains next weekend at Apeale, probably using Stanhope, so reliable operation is assured. Ashere.

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