Welcome to Newark

A couple of weeks ago, we saw the new diamond crossing for the field railway under construction in the workshops at Apedale. We have not been idle in the meantime! Fortunately, the road system installed as part of the Tracks to the Trenches set-up allowed the crane to stand on a hard surface. Such places tend to be in short supply in the more remote  areas of the site, but thankfully we were able to use the crane with no risk of sudden attacks of gravity. Miraculously, the rather rough measurements of the "hole" into which the crossing was to go proved to be pretty close to the mark, and hence the "joining-up" process, although always fiddly, wasn't too traumatic. It was then necessary to build new railway to make the fourth side of the crossing. This is the third side of the triangle, and if you are struggling with the concept, then I recommend the Open University course on advanced geometry (are they still on at 4am in black and white?). This new bit of railway crosses a site road, with all the complications associated with level crossings. But it's all more-or-less finished now, as you can see in the photos. Meanwhile, the PW Engineer has been marking out the next project for the track gang. Mercy - he doesn't know the meaning of the word. If you do, get in touch here.

Locos from Leeds Gala - May 2015

The Moseley Railway Trust is pleased to announce that the theme of the 2015 Apedale Valley Light Railway Gala will be Locos from Leeds. In a departure from previous practice, the event will be held in May 2015 – May 16 and 17 to be exact.

Phil Robinson, Moseley Railway Trust Chairman said When we reviewed the success of the September 2014 Tracks to the Trenches Gala, we identified that September was becoming saturated with events aimed at the railway enthusiast. We have therefore taken the decision to move the date of the 2015 Locos from Leeds Gala to May 16 and 17. We are hoping that this will increase the number of visitors, as there will be fewer competing railway events at that time of year.

The Locos from Leeds theme has been chosen to showcase the Trust’s newly restored Hudswell Clarke steam locomotive, and also the other Leeds-built items in the collection. Leeds was famous for being home to several locomotive builders, including Hunslet, Hudswell and John Fowler – and various Leeds-built locos are held in the Trust collection. However, Leeds was also home to one of the most famous names in narrow gauge history – Robert Hudson Ltd. Hudson did not build (many) locomotives, but manufactured just about everything else – track, wagons etc. which would be need to establish a narrow gauge railway system. Their catalogues have become legendary collector’s items – a bit like an Argos catalogue covering railways! Hudson supplied locomotives which were built by others – for example, the Trust Hudswell steam locomotive was supplied to its original purchaser in Africa via Robert Hudson Ltd.

As is traditional now at Apedale Galas, there will be a full complement of model railways and trade stands for the entertainment of visitors. The replica World War One Trench system – built for the Tracks to the Trenches event – will be open for visitors, with military re-enactor groups working to bring to life the experiences of soldiers in that conflict.

The Trust would be delighted to hear from anyone with a Leeds-built item that they may wish to exhibit at the event.

The event will be open from 1100 to 1700 on Saturday and Sunday 16 and 17 May. Entry prices are Adults £6 and Children £3. The popular “Access All Areas” passes will once again be available, priced at £15. These passes are made available in limited numbers and allow access to otherwise off-limits part of the site for the serious enthusiast photographer.  All tickets will be available for purchase on the gate, or in advance. Details of advance ticket purchase release will be advised in due course.

As ever, get in touch here.

Diamonds are forever

With all that Christmas malarkey behind us, life gets back to normal down the Apedale Valley. This particular version of normal involves heavy fabrication work of railway crossing work. Over the last few weeks, a large metal creation has been steadily growing in the workshop. It got progressively larger and heavier as yet more bits were made and welded in until eventually the point was reached where it was decided it would need to be released into the wild. And so it was hauled out from the workshop. This was to the relief of the main builder, and to the slight disappointment of all the people who kept asking if it would fit through the door. Of Course, he said, confidently. Having allowed it to see daylight, the creation showed itself for what it is - a flat crossing for the Field Railway. The will complete the legendary Waterhouses Triangle, and allows the railway to the Trench to cross the original field railway. With the Triangle complete, we will also be easily able to turn vehicles end-for-end. This will assist, for example, with Stanhope which returned from Toddington with Smokebox North - locos on the AVLR normally run Smokebox South. The crossing is now sitting on a flat wagon for finishing off. The next couple of weeks will hopefully see  it moved to site for either a triumphal "Right First Time" installation into the railway, or a severe sucking-in of teeth and stomping off for a drink of tea and a rethink. Only time will tell. As ever, get in touch here

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Happy New Year - and the Quiz Answers

Firstly, Happy New Year from everyone associated with the Moseley Railway Trust. Cue Drum roll. The moment you have all been waiting for - the quiz answers....

1:- An Post delivers this (Hunslet). An Post is the Irish equivalent of the Royal Mail. So, it's the Irish Mail (geddit?), which lives at the West Lancs Light Railway.
2:- Initially named for the railway promoter's daughter; had a famously short and precipitous operating life (?). I must apologise for a slight error here. The answer is LADAS, Snowdon Mountain Railway No.1. LADAS stood for Laura Alice Duff Assheton-Smith, who was the WIFE - not Daughter - of the key landowner. This loco famously plunged off the side of Snowdon on the opening day of the railway, which caused the railway's Press Agent to comment "Thank God Facebook and Twitter haven't been invented yet...".
3:- Author who owned a narrow boat called Crecy (Barclay, sort-of). Tom Rolt of the Tallylyn Railway. Not much Barclay left in this one.
4:- Robin Hood’s girlfriend (Hunslet). Dead easy, Maid Marion of the Bala Lake Railway.
5:- A nymph of Greek mythology and a character from The Faerie Queene (Hunslet). This seems to have been surprisingly tricky - the answer is Britomart of the Ffestiniog.
6:- French General, most known for regrouping the retreating allied armies to defeat the Germans at the strategically decisive First Battle of the Marne in 1914 (Kerr Stuart). The answer is Joffre, based at the West Lancs. KS3014 at Apedale is known as the Joffre, but doesn't actually carry the name.
7:- Name shared by a Kerr Stuart Wren and a Bagnall saddle tank. This is Pixie - carried by Leighton Buzzard's Wren and Bagnall 2090, late of Cadeby.
8:- Basil’s wife (Hunslet). Sybil, now at the West Lancs.
9:- Part of an Abbey or Cathedral (Hunslet). Cloister, now living at the Purbeck Mining Museum near Swanage.
10:- Prime Minister twice over, died in 1865 (?). Palmerston, of the Ffestiniog Railway. When he died in 1865, he was succeeded by John Russell - but not the same man for whom the Welsh Highland 262 is named.
11:- Only Manchester-born Welshman to have been Prime Minister (?). David Lloyd George, Ffestiniog Railway.
12:- Yet another Prime Minister twice-over (Yorkshire Engine). Winston Churchill, of the RH and DR.
13:- Creation of J.M.Barrie (Kerr, Stuart). Peter Pan, Graham Morris' much-travelled Wren which lives at Leighton Buzzard.
14:- Friend of the above (Bagnall). Wendy - lives at Burlesden Brickworks. Tinkerbell was an iconic miniature loco, and also part of the Peter Pan universe.
15:- Pussy Cat in the Archers (Hunslet). Lilian (as called by Matt), based at Launceston.
16:- First Letter of the Greek alphabet (Bagnall). Alpha, based at Sittingbourne.
17:- Appropriately named Bagnall Fireless which worked with the above ....why is it appropriate? Easy one - Unique, the only Fireless on the Bowaters narrow gauge system.
18:- Built at BAE Warton (amongst other places) (Paxman). Typhoon, RH and DR.
19:- A street in south Leeds (Hunslet). Jack Lane, Statfold. The address of the old Hunslet Engine Company.
20:- Titular character of an 1869 book set in Devon (Kerr Stuart). Lorna Doone, under restoration at Amerton.
21:- Not a Scottish Horse – it’s a? (?) Surprisingly tricky this one. Welsh Pony, Ffestiniog.
22:- 1938 film starring the 40th President (Kerr Stuart). Sergeant Murphy, Teife Valley.
23:- Happened on August 11, 1999 especially in Cornwall (Not Steam – now!). The Eclipse - Bagnall/Llechwedd.
24:- One of the six in the North (Peckett). Again, many seemed to find this tough. The answer is Tyrone - one of the six counties of Northern Ireland. The loco lives at Giant's Causeway.
25:- Song by Barry Ryan, covered by The Damned (O and K). Elouise, based at Old Kiln.

Tie Breaker:- My but we had some laughs with this one. The question was -  What connects a small town near Huddersfield with the Tannhäuser Gate (where c-beams glitter in the dark)?

The answer has nothing to do with railways! The Tannhauser Gate is a reference to the famous Tears in the Rain speech in the film Blade Runner by Ridley Scott. The speech is delivered by a psychotic android named Roy Batty.
Nora Batty was a psychotic housewife in Last of the Summer Wine, filmed in Holmfirth - near Huddersfield.

Some of you went a little far with the answers, but the idea of Blade Runner set in Yorkshire caused some mirth (the Tyrell Corporation, relocated in a former woollen mill near Cleckheaton....).

Anyway, now the big moment. The first person to submit a 100% accurate set of answers was - Tim!!! Your prize is to see a photo of yourself in a tin hat on the InterWeb.