Testing, testing, 1 , 2, 3

The new Field Railway at Apedale is approaching completion; given that's there's only three weeks to the Big Event, that is probably a Good Thing. We have therefore now started testing all the new track work with a couple of vehicles which have shown as certain affinity for earth faults in the past - specifically, The Water Tank wagon and the Joffre. Cue shudders of fear all round. To some surprise, both vehicles performed impeccably on the Field Railway - but then the Joffre declined to enter the new Museum sidings. Some subtle alterations were taking place, and doubtless the problems will be solved before too long. It better had be, because there aren't many working days left now! The suspense is killing us all. You'll all be able to find out if we succeed (or not) on September 12, 13 & 14. The management have taking to using phrases like "Failure is not an option" and suggesting the PW gang walk alarmingly close to ponds filled with Piranha fish. You can find more about the event here and don't delay if you want to book advance tickets - the deadline for this is now VERY close. Get in touch here.

Making tracks - to the Trenches

There's only a couple of weekend left now until Tracks to the Trenches - and inevitably the pressure is now done to get as much infrastructure in place as possible. The Big Railway uses High Output Ballast Cleaners and Kirow cranes. We use a skip wagon, Mick and James. The second option is somewhat more affordable than the first. The plan is beginning to come together - but we are keeping a few little surprises up the proverbial sleeve which you won't read about here - you'll need to pay your (very reasonable) entry fee and come along and look for yourself. The Trench Tramway is shaping up - this is a lightweight spur from the main "field" running line and features a gradient which the Snowdon Mountain Railway would be proud of. Still, test trains have run up and down it with no real problems (once the rack gear was fitted). You can still buy advance tickets for the event here - but note that the closing date is 1st September - so don't delay. All details on the event can be found here. As ever, get  in touch here.

Delusions of Grandeur

Well, Teddy Bears' weekend has come and gone. Star of today's photo from the event is Phil the Guard. Here Phil can be seen proudly signalling the train to depart from Apedale Rd Station on the first day back into service of our World War One Kerr Stuart Joffre loco. We have a feeling that both are starting to get delusions of grandeur.

It all started last week with the transmission of the third of the series of "Railways of the Great War", presented by Michael Portillo on BBC2. You can still see it on i-Player here.

This programme included a section on the role that 600mm gauge tactical light railways played in the logistics of the war effort. Michael visited Apedale earlier this year and we helped him to illustrate various aspects of light railway construction and operation using our extensive collection. He was shown laying a section of pre-fabricated track and driving one of the then high-tech Simplex petrol locomotives, comparing it to the more traditional Joffre steamer. Phil explained the advantages of railways compared with road vehicles for transporting the vast quantities of supplies over waterlogged terrain. It all seemed to come across quite well in the programme. Ever since his appearance, though, Phil has been asking people what they thought of the programme, whether they would like his autograph and offering his services to open local fetes etc. We think that fame has gone to his head.

The last thing we heard was that he was writing a book. Fortunately, it isn't his autobiography; it's a history of another survivor from the same era as the Joffre which will soon be back running on Apedale rails in time for our Tracks to the Trenches event. More about that soon, but in the meantime if you come across Phil at Apedale, don't forget to remark on his recent appearance and ask him how Michael is doing. You can also compliment Phil via our website here, in addition to any more serious enquiries.

A Narrow Gauge Survivor

One of the Kerr Stuarts in service during the conflict 

On the centenary of the outbreak of the war to end all wars, we take a look at one veteran of the conflict that is once again in fine fettle. The last time we mentioned our Kerr Stuart Joffre locomotive was back in February, when the casting for its new cylinder had just left the foundry.

If you recall, this engine was one of seventy delivered to the French Commission for their Artillery Railways to a specification similar to their existing Decauville design. These were sent out in 1915 and 1916 to take up their duties supplying ammunition and supplies to the front lines using a network of light railways.

To find out more about the role railways played in the conflict, tune in to Michael Portillo's mini-series currently screening on BBC 2 "Railways of the Great War", which is on at 18:30 each evening until Thursday this week. We are hoping to appear in the Wednesday episode, but we've not seen it yet so don't know whether the Joffre's "good side" will feature, but we certainly expect our Simplex locos to make an appearance, together with guest driver.

On test with new cylinder

As to the Kerr Stuart (No 3014 of 1916), several months of work have seen the cylinder firstly stress-relieved and then machined to the original drawings, a task involving many weeks of painstaking work, any error in which would see the new casting written-off. It was eventually delivered to Apedale on Tuesday last week, during our annual volunteer working week. Several more days of work followed and the locomotive was ready to test on Sunday. We are delighted to report that everything worked perfectly, which will allow the loco to return to the roster shortly.

So, after having been enthused by the telly programme to learn more, don't forget to visit us see this engine and others in action at the Tracks to the Trenches event on September 12th - 14th. Have we mentioned that before? You can book tickets here.

Sharing Heritage: Moseley Railway Trust celebrates £9200 Heritage Lottery Fund grant

The Moseley Railway Trust has received a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Sharing Heritage grant, it was announced today. The Trust has been awarded a grant of £9200. This money will be used to develop an Industrial Railway Trail around the Trust’s site at Apedale, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. This exciting project will allow the Moseley Railway Trust to demonstrate and display its collection of industrial narrow gauge railway locomotives and wagons for the benefit of visitors to Apedale. A key part of the Railway Trail is a new stretch of narrow gauge railway, and construction work has now started on this – the work is being carried out by the Trust’s volunteers. All being well, the new railway will be operational for the “Tracks to the Trenches” gala on September 12, 13 and 14. This event will commemorate the role which small railways played in the First World War – and the new railway, funded by the HLF Sharing Heritage grant will play a key part in this!

Sharing Heritage is a new funding programme to help people across the UK explore, conserve and share all aspects of the history and character of their local area.

The Moseley Railway Trust is a registered charity. It exists to preserve, conserve and interpret narrow gauge railway locomotives and other artefacts. This work is carried out at the Apedale site by a team of volunteers. The volunteers are a very diverse group of all ages and backgrounds – the Trust prides itself on having an active group of younger members, who are able to learn genuine skills as they carry out work on the site. The Trust arrived on the Apedale site in 2006, and opened a passenger carrying railways, known as the Apedale Valley Light Railway, in 2010. The key current development on site is the construction of a large museum to fully display the Trust’s collections.

Commenting on the award, Phil Robinson, Moseley Railway Trust Chairman said “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this grant from HLF. It will allow us to improve the Apedale site and also increase the skills and knowledge of all our members. We very much look forward to working with HLF on this project, and hopefully others in the future”.

Reyahn King, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund West Midlands, said: “Sharing Heritage is a wonderful opportunity for communities to delve into their local heritage and we are delighted to be able to offer this grant so that the Moseley Railway Trust can embark on a real journey of discovery. Heritage means such different things to different people, and HLF’s funding offers a wealth of opportunities for groups to explore and celebrate what’s important to them in their area.”

Waterhouses Junction is ours

Regular readers (both of you) will have seen the steady advance of the New Field Railway to the site of the Triangle known as Waterhouses Junction  (for reasons too complex to relate right now). Give the weather on Saturday, the Waterhouses bit is well deserved. Still, at least we weren't sat in a field in Folkestone.
Track laying has now passed WH North, and this weekend passed WH South and then kept going until we ran out of trackbed. At that point, the Groundworks man turned up and built some more trackbed. You just can't win. Work has now started on the curve towards WH East, which will connect to the Trench Tramway via a passable impersonation of the Snowdon Mountain Railway. It will also connect the previous, infamous, field Railway. This connection will finally allow the Apedale equivalent of the Lost Legion - a couple of Rustons marooned in the Field Railway Container - access to the complete railway system again. Meanwhile, the search has now started for Abt Rack fitted Motor Rails. All leads to here, please.

Sniff the Barrel

Saturday was Steam and Industry Trains day down at Apedale - an opportunity for some of the lesser-spotted diesels to stretch their legs on the mainline with a freight train. The inevitable star of this event was the newly-restored Hudswell Clarke diesel, in its gleaming paintwork. Unfortunately, this particular star was rather shortlived due to a fractured coolant elbow leading to a loss of coolant from the engine and a loss of happiness for the driver. No serious harm done, and hopefully a simple repair. The loco was stabled in the yard with the doors open in a rather ungainly fashion. Comparisons toVTOL F35s were made but it can be confirmed that the Hudswell cannot take off vertically, no matter how hard it flaps the doors. Something to do with thrust/weight ratio, apparently.  Meanwhile, elsewhere in the yard, frenetic preparations were being made for a loco and wagon (two wagons, actually) to attend the War & Peace Revival mega-event at Folkestone next weekend. Perhaps inevitably, this is a bit of a curtain raiser to our own Tracks to the Trenches event in September. The lorry will, hopefully, return with the first of the visiting locos for the September event. The second wagon is just visible insider the large "D" class; it's a water carrying wagon, mounted with a rather splendid barrel. The barrel has an "interesting" aroma, variously described as Vimto or Vintage Port. The descriptions clearly indicate the various social strata from which the Trust draws its membership. As ever, get in touch here, and if you ask nicely, we'll let you Sniff the Barrel.