Tracks to the Trenches - the Driver Experience

The Moseley Railway Trust is delighted to announce the release of a new departure for the Apedale site. Building on the infrastructure and vehicle restorations completed for the award-winning 2014 “Tracks to the Trenches” event, the Trust can now offer a Driver Experience day – with a difference.

Phil Robinson, Trust Chairman, explains “Many heritage railways offer Driver Experience days; we offer an immersive Military Railway Day. Participants are transported back in time nearly 100 years to northern France during 1917, where they sign-up with the 6^th Light Railway Operating Company. After instruction, participants are given a series of challenges which the must meet by driving both steam and diesel locomotives around the railway network at Apedale. This network, of course, includes a replica First World War trench amongst the many possible destinations.”

During the First World War, these Light Railway Operating Companies provided vital logistic support to the front line troops. Using 2’0” gauge light railways and a wide variety of locomotives, these Companies moved everything an army needed to fight a war – from shells to food and water, not forgetting evacuating the wounded.

Perhaps fortunately, the outcome of a major European war does not hang in the balance this time – but participants in the Driver Experience should gain a real insight into military railways in the First World War – and have a lot of fun at the same time! The degree of authenticity can be tailored to suit participant’s wishes. For example, some may wish to have their midday meal as hard tack biscuits and a mess can full of tea in the Trench. Others may opt for the rather more comfortable option of a hot meal in the adjacent Café.

The Driver Experience can also tailored dependant on the previous experience and preferences of participants – within reason, most things can be arranged.

Further details, and a downloadable leaflet with full details, are available here or e-mail here or call 0845 094 1953.

Declanking Stanhope

The flagship of the Apedale Valley Light Railway is the 1917-built  Kerr, Stuart locomotive called Stanhope. Why the flagship? It's easy to drive, will steam with a candle in the firebox and runs like a well-oiled sewing machine. Except that the sewing machine has recently developed an annoying minor rattle in the valve gear. Steam locos do this due to the multiplicity of bearing surfaces running in a hostile environment. Stanhope has the Hackworth valve gear with marine-type bearings. The Hackworth valve gear has the advantage of being cheap and simple to make, and the disadvantage of just about everything else. A key issue is that the valve events depend on how the loco sits on its springs, which is a function of how much water is in the tank and how many pies the crew have eaten that day. That said, Stanhope always goes well, and has shown up many other locos on outing to places like the Ffestiniog.
After a game of Hunt the Clank, the usual suspect was found to the cause. This is the small end bearing, which is rather under-designed, and for which the lubrication arrangements are indifferent (at best). The bearing is now being rectified, and hopefully Stanhope will be back in full-on Singer condition in the near future.

Father's Day

Have you got the Best Dad in the world? Treat him to a Railway Experience with us on Father's Day!

For one special day - June 21st - we are offering a special Railway Experience. The whole family will travel on the steam train - but Dad will get to ride on the footplate. After that, everyone will get a guided tour of our workshops and display shed - and then Dad will be allowed to drive one of our vintage diesel locos (under, of course, supervision for safety). As a lasting memory of the Day, Dad will be enrolled as a Moseley Railway Trust member for the rest of 2015. All for £30 for the whole group - what's not to like? We expect the Experience will last between 45 minutes and an hour. A few time-slots are still available. How to book? First, form an orderly queue. We don't like scrums. Second, come to the Railway at Apedale this Saturday or Sunday between 1130 and 4pm or get in touch here.