We've hosted a private charter day for the Branch Line Society today; two trains were run, each full to capacity, and they set off to explore the more exotic parts of the railway system at Apedale. Before anyone thinks we do this sort of thing on a whim, several days planning and a nine-page method statement and risk assessment supported the whole operation. But good planning always pays off, and both trips passed off without a hitch. Participants got to ride on all the mainline trackage, most of the yard sidings (excepting a couple where the long-wheelbase coach is banned) and the Field Railway. Nobody in their right mind would take the coach down the Trench Tramway, so the passengers transferred to a small manrider to allow rides on that bit. This is very much NOT the sort of thing we do regularly, and it's unlikely we'll repeat this operation in the foreseeable future.
BUT next weekend will see trains on most of this network because it's the Steam Centenary weekend, with three locos in steam and demonstration trains running all over the place. It's looking like being a good do, so we'll be seeing you?
