We're all getting out the penguin suits and polishing the best shoes. Why? The opening of the Apedale Valley Light Railway has been voted "Best Narrow Gauge Moment 2010" by the users of the National-preservation.com website. The runner up was some operation in North Wales - the opening of the Welsh Highland Railway or some such. We've got Gwyneth Paltrow to write an acceptance speech; strangely, the invitation to the glittering ceremony has yet to arrive, but it can only be a matter of time. Of course, such awards are always down to teamwork, and the team has been hard at work again down at Apedale. The team of happy carriage cleaners have been making the passenger train fit for the hoards of paying passengers who will be descending on us from the start of the season - which is April 2nd, by the way. The Road Motor division achieved a first start on the Motor Rail dumper engine after installation into the vehicle. As you may see, some minor adjustments are still needed to achieve Euro III emissions compliance. And the Baguley Drewry loco has started on the test programme needed to allow operation on the passenger trains. The photo shows the brake van being set up with just some of the huge range of sophisticated instrumentation used for this process. Not many people appreciate that NASA is largely funded through e-bay sales. I wonder who will give the award? I hope it's not Sam Fox and Mick Fleetwood. Get in touch here (unless you represent Sam Fox or Mick Fleetwood).
