Ingenuity

It's been another busy weekend at Apedale, the home of the Moseley Railway Trust. The Great Shoft has continued, with another lorry load of locomotives arriving to take up residence in the Aurora North storage shed. The first was a modern Simplex Mechanical Handling loco, 40SD516 of 1979. This loco worked for Severn Trent Water at their Minworth works near Birmingham. The top photo shows the loco in industrial days at Minworth, crossing the road (probably at a speed somewhere near Warp factor five) which bisected the Minworth site. The second arrival was a large 48DL Ruston, 235730 of 1943 - this one worked for most of its life at the Royal Naval Armaments depot at Broughton Moor in Cumbria. The third arrival was a 2'6" gauge battery electric, also with an explosive past - it spent its industrial career at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Bishopton, Scotland. This is one of the rare Brook Victor locos, number 565 of 1970. This loco posed a slight problem on arrival. It is 2'6" gauge, and with great foresight, we built 2'6" gauge track for it to run on. Unfortunately, the loco was unloaded at the wrong end of the site for this part of the railway. Ingenuity was therefore employed to move the loco a few hundred yards on two 2'0" gauge flat wagons to the safety of the shed. One of our members was heard to comment that it looked like an electric version of a Shay logging loco. The final photo shows the Ruston and 40SD516 sitting outside their new home in the company of long standing stalwart MR8748. All of these delights and many more are yours for the taking (of photos, that is) at our open days on 13 & 14 September - details here. And, as usual, do get in touch if you want to help or just for a chat here.

War Department Light Railways

In these notes we have mentioned the WDLR organisation a few times. This was the War Department Light Railways organisation, formed during the First World War by the British. 2008 is, of course, the 90th anniversary of the end of the Great War, and thus many thoughts inevitably turn to this conflict. The early years of WW1 compelled a revolution in military logistics; the war had bogged down into a static slogging match. In such a war of attrition, the rate of consumption of material is huge, and this caused major problems. Most of the combatants had foreseen these issues - the Germans and the French being perhaps most advanced, although with different philosophies deriving from their intentions; the French saw their railways serving fixed defensive positions, whereas the Germans intended to use railways to serve an advancing front line. Narrow Gauge railways, with their inherent limited requirements for civil engineering and their flexibility, were the ideal tool for moving material from standard gauge railheads to the front lines. Furthermore, it was also rapidly discovered that steam locos with their all-too-visible smoke emissions, were far too visible on a battlefield with very active artillery spotters on both sides. This gave the impetus to the development of the very earliest internal combustion locomotives.

The British WDLR, although late in recognising the benefits of narrow gauge railways, adopted a number of new and existing locomotive designs, both steam and internal combustion. The full weight of the colossal British manufacturing industry started to churn out locomotives, wagons and other equipment. The unexpected collapse of the German military in late 1918 produced huge amounts of surplus railway equipment, both in France and in huge dumps in the UK (which truly must have been a sight - bring on the time machine!). Much of this equipment formed the machinery used in the industrial narrow gauge railways which sprung up and modernised after the war - many a quarry or factory used WDLR surplus locomotives. The equipment was astonishingly long-lived and robust considering the short expected life of military railways and their vehicles. This meant that a number of WDLR locomotives and wagons came to be preserved, and the Moseley Railway Trust is slowly gathering such equipment at its Apedale base, in North Staffordshire. The upper photo shows a "Protected" Motor Rail 40HP loco, maker number 1369, which is part of the MRT collection (on loan from Leeds Museums). This loco was restored as part of the Salvage Squad TV programmes a few years ago. These locos were fitted with bodywork to improve the protection for the crew when running in dangerous areas. The second photo shows Motor Rail 1320, which began life similar to no.1369, but was heavily rebuilt in civilian life at gravel quarries in Hertfordshire. All being well, both of these locos will be on show at the Moseley Railway Trust's open days in September, see here. As ever, we'd love to hear from you - here.

The Great Shoft begins

Those of you who have been following these postings on a regular basis will be up-to-date with all the latest happenings at Apedale. The new storage shed is now all but complete, and is now known as the Aurora North Shed (I'll explain why another time). In the same way that nature abhorrs a vacuum, preservationists abhorr an empty shed. The MRT has a collection of more than sixty locomotives, mainly 2'0" but a few other gauges also, and these are scattered around the UK - with many in a storage unit in the Peak District. The Great Shoft, which will bring the collection under one roof at Apedale, has now commenced. Yesterday, Saturday 7/6/08, saw a trial load arrive from store, which conveyed two locomotives - a Class M Orenstein & Koppel petrol loco - OK4470 of 1930, and a 60S type Motor Rail, number 11142 of 1960. The Motor Rail is a good runner, and will be the prime passenger loco for non-steam trains - and also the mobile air compressor for non compressor fitted locos - especially steamers. It's a bit of a beast to drive!

Also arriving on 7/6/08 was a Hibberd, FH2586 of 1941, which had been in store at a member's house in Yorkshire. This one is perhaps best described as a long-term project. Anyway, it's all jolly exciting.

The influx of locos now looks set to accelerate over the next few weeks. The best opportunity to see all that's happening at Apedale is our September Open day, check out details here. As ever, we'd be glad to see new members - especially workers - get in touch here.

And why a Shoft? Well, let's just say we're not employed for our typing skills.

A Working Museum

The history of the Simplex locomotive is strongly tied to the evolution of the Dorman engines with which they were fitted. Early locomotives had petrol engines but the development of small oil engines in the late 1920s revolutionized their performance and economy and these soon became the norm.

Locomotives still fitted with their original Dorman engines can often be recognised by a characteristic "hunting" of the engine on tickover. No. 42 (opposite) spent its working life hauling trains of sand at Leighton Buzzard and is fitted with a 2DL engine delivering 42 Horsepower at 1800 rpm. It is seen here outside the workshop of the Moseley Railway Trust's Apedale base in Staffordshire. Click on the picture below to hear how it sounds when idling.

The video illustrates how the character of these little engines cannot be fully appreciated from a photograph or static display. That's why the MRT aspires to be a working museum dedicated to demonstrating how this equipment served the needs of all kinds of industries. No. 42 (Motor Rail 7710) will be in action on our open days on 13th and 14th September, when we aim to show this and other preserved engines working in the former industrial setting of the Apedale Valley.

In the meantime we continue to use our engines in construction of the passenger railway that, from next year, will allow visitors to experience first hand the charm of the narrow gauge railway on a trip through the attractive surroundings of the Apedale Country Park. Do you want to help us build or run it? If so, contact us here.

Men and Sheds

Following from our recent news about importing a Hudswell Clarke steam loco from Ghana, the current rate of change for the Moseley Railway Trust at its Apedale site continues.

The current big project is the erection of a large storage shed. This is now nearing completion. Large means 42 metres long, and containing three tracks, one of which is dual 2'0" and 2'6" gauge. The concrete base was poured by contractors after the track, assembled by the Moseley team, was en placed. The building has now been constructed, and very fine it looks too. There's quite a bit of fitting out work to be done, which MRT members will undertake. We are always in need of more help, so come and have a look - we're on site every Saturday and some Sundays and Bank Holidays also. This week's work on the shed has concentrated on tidying up the site after the contractors departed - including extensive working at the Apedale Washer Quarry. Sand was used to protect the railway flangeways when the concrete was poured, and clearing this out has taken up a fair bit of time. This week's photos show an internal view of the shed before all the flangeways were cleared, and an exterior view showing the ex-Leighton Buzzard Motor Rails No.20 and 42 (8748 and 7710 respectively) contemplating their new home on what was a very pleasant spring evening.

We're all looking forward to showing off the Apedale site and our achievements at the Open Days on September 13 & 14 this year - make sure this is in YOUR diary. By then, we hope to have moved the MRT's main collection of locos and other rolling stock from its current storage site to Apedale - and some of these locos haven't been seen in public for ten years. As ever, we'd love to hear from you - contact us here.

Historic Steam Loco travels from Africa to Apedale

The Moseley Railway Trust (MRT) announces a major steam locomotive import project. After some years of careful negotiation, the MRT reached agreement with AngloGold Ashanti of Ghana to repatriate a unique Hudswell Clarke "Class G" steam locomotive. No other locomotives of this type exist in the UK. The locomotive arrived at the MRT’s Apedale site on 14 May 2008. It will be on display to the public at the MRT’s Open Days on 13/14 September 2008.

The locomotive was built by Hudswell Clarke at the Railway Foundry works in Leeds during 1916. It is to 2’0" gauge, weighs approximately 6 tons, and is an 060 well tank. This design was, at the time, being built in large numbers for the War Department Light Railways, which played a key part in providing the logistical support to the Allied armies during the First World War. Two additional locomotives, numbers 1238 and 1239 were despatched in September 1916 to the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation at their mining complex in the town of Obuasi, Ghana.

The locomotive worked until 1952, when it is said to have derailed in a storm, falling into a river and killing its driver. In 1995, it was recovered and placed on display outside a small museum at the Obuasi mine complex. It is believed that the preserved locomotive is Hudswell Clarke number 1238.

In more recent years, the museum at the mine closed and AngloGold Ashanti agreed to release the locomotive for repatriation to the UK. A key factor in AngloGold Ashanti releasing the locomotive to the care of the MRT was a recognition that the MRT is an organisation dedicated to celebrating Industrial Narrow Gauge railways and therefore was ideally qualified to preserve and interpret the unique locomotive.

A small team of MRT volunteers made the journey to the AngloGold Ashanti mine, and formally accepted the locomotive from Mr Kwesi Enyan, acting Managing Director of the Obuasi mine. The MRT team presented Mr Enyan with gifts from the children at Churchfields Primary School, located near Apedale, for the children who attend the mine’s schools in Obuasi.

The locomotive will be housed at the MRT’s Apedale site, near Newcastle-under-Lyme in North Staffordshire. It will be assessed for eventual restoration to full operational condition.

Phil Robinson, the MRT Chairman said "The locomotive is a significant addition to our already large and varied locomotive fleet, and, when restored, will be a valuable locomotive for use on our steeply graded passenger railway into the Apedale Country Park. This important project illustrates the credibility that the MRT has established throughout the UK railway preservation movement and, it seems, the world."

The MRT wishes to acknowledge the assistance of AngloGold Ashanti of Ghana, and Porterbrook Leasing Company in the UK, who sponsored the repatriation of the locomotive.

The MRT can be contacted at 11, Ashwood Road, Disley, Stockport, Cheshire SK12 2EL or contact us here.

Apedale Update

It's been a little while since we had an Apedale Update, so here goes. The main activities currently are related to the great Storage Shed project. The completion of this building is a key strategic objective for the Moseley Railway Trust, as it will allow the Trust's large collection of narrow gauge locomotives and other artifacts to be concentrated on the Apedale site. Currently, the collection is stored in a number of locations - scattered the length and breadth of the UK, and, believe it or not, France! The Trust's volunteers have laid three tracks into the shed site; one of these is dual, 2'0" and 2'6", gauges. These have now been enrobed in concrete, creating a nice smooth floor for us all to walk on. Hopefully, erection of the steelwork will commence this week. This will be done by contractors, as all the working at height involved is a bit scary for the MRT health & safety department. The first picture shows one of the Apedale workhorses, MR8748 (Leighton Buzzard No.20) contemplating the site of its new home.

Meanwhile, we have been building track panels to link the fan of points to the shed, and these will be installed once a ballast drop has taken place to achieve the correct levels needed. The second photo shows one of our loyal team of volunteers, David, contemplating his handiwork.

Work has also taken place rebuilding a bogie wagon, and the North Staffs heats of the UK's Worst Bricklayer championship have produced a winner.

Perhaps best of all, we've seen an increasing number of new faces recently at Apedale - more are always welcome. We're at work every Saturday, and some Sundays, so (to coin a phrase), Come on Down. Get in touch here. You might (just might) want to have a look into the website a little later this week. You never know what might happen.