Wednesday 24 August 2016

Classic Cars

Just a reminder that this coming Bank Holiday weekend will see steam trains at Apedale on all three days from 1130 to 4pm. And the weather forecast, by August bank holiday standards, isn't too bad. As if that wasn't good enough, Sunday sees the Classic Cars and Steam Trains Day. Break out the chrome polish and the fluffy dice cleaning kit as the site fills up with cars of yesteryear. And we've even got a real ale bar courtesy of our friends at the Titanic Brewery. What's not to like?

Saturday 6 August 2016

Olympic Games

It's been a training day at Apedale. Three of our brightest and best members have been coming to terms with the most common loco types in the collection - a Small Motor Rail, a Small Ruston and a Battery Electric. All have their own unique challenges (the locos, not the trainees) but the team did well. It's a bit like the Olympic Games; we have 100 yard sprint, the Hill Climb and the Weightlifting. In this case, the Weight was the rather massive (carved from a block of cast steel) 48DL Ruston - used to give the trainees experience of actually hauling a worthwhile load. We also held the "Who Will Be the First to Stall the Engine" contest. Discretion prevents us from disclosing the winner. Sadly, one of the contestants was disqualified after failing a test for banned substances. It was either the Blue Smarties on his Cornetto or the oatcakes. Also worthy of record - and taking place on a previous weekend - was the visit of the Hayfield Coach to hitherto unexplored (by passenger stock) parts of the Apedale railway system. This has been done as part of testing prior to a visit planned by the Branch Line Society later this year. All will be revealed in due course. As ever, get in touch here.