Moseley Railway Trust’s new home
Apedale
13 September 2008
This one had been firmly noted in the "to-do"
list for much of the year. The Moseley Railway
Trust began life in 1969 at the eponymous
school near Stockport, and gradually amassed
its fine collection of narrow gauge railway
equipment over the years - until, in 1998, it
had to leave that site. My regret was that I'd
never paid a visit.
Another eight years elapsed before a new home was settled upon
- at the Apedale Heritage Centre near Newcastle-under-Lyme,
based around the former drift mine which is now open as a
mining museum, offering an interesting underground visit. With
space to expand and some clear common interest in the
industrial past, Apedale promises to be a substantial visitor
attraction in the coming years.
Clearly much effort has already gone into developing the new
railway, initially concentrated on providing accommodation for
the 70-odd locomotives. Mostly diesel (and petrol), there are
also several battery-electrics, and a growing collection of steam
locomotives, including the well-travelled "Stanhope" (Kerr Stuart
2395 of 1917). Motor-Rails and Rustons abound, and there are
representatives of most of the well-known (and not so well
known) makers' products.
MRT's plans are for a passenger-carrying line to be constructed
out into the park, and a trackbed has already been prepared to
carry the metals out beyond the depot - but at present that's all
there is. "All there is" is perhaps misleading - the rails run from a
loop in the future station, into and beyond the ancient "red
shed" to another much larger new storage building erected
earlier this year, "Aurora North". With associated sidings and
headshunts, the current layout provided plenty of scope for a
variety of demonstration freight trains, hauled by
a fair cross section of locomotives. Plenty of
action!
The established heritage centre contains an
interesting museum dedicated to the fascinating
history of this area - and includes further items
from the Moseley collection. It also houses a
cafeteria, offering, among other things, that
wonderful local delicacy the Staffordshire
oatcake. The bacon and cheese option proved to be substantial
and delicious (keeping the household authorities happy), but
inevitably coincided with the best period of sunshine...
There was still scope for further interest and activity when we
left the site. Our route to Newcastle had taken us through Mill
Meece, where a sign proclaimed that the pumping
engine would be in steam and operating. "We'd
better call in on our way back - could be
interesting, and I've a feeling they've got a
narrow gauge loco". It was - and they had - a
fine, clean and shiny little Lister.
MRT's next public open day will be on the 9th of
November, a special event to mark 90 years since
the end of the first world war, itself an event
which led fairly directly to the growth of narrow gauge industrial
railways. Should be a good day - could be worth a visit, and if
not, the plans are for the first stage of the passenger-carrying
line to be open in 2009. Get out the maps and the diary - pay a
visit to Apedale!
Links:
•
Moseley Railway Trust
•
Mill Meece Pumping Station
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
