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We visited Apedale last September, for the Moseley Railway Trust's first public open day at their new home near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire (which must surely be England's no. 1 county for narrow gauge railways). This year's only open day was billed as possibly the last before passenger services begin, with some interesting and unrepeatable photo opportunities on the new track extension. And, of course, there would be the oatcakes...
One of the county's other narrow gauge railways is of course the Statfold Barn Railway, and it was from Statfold that visiting steam loco "Max" came, complete with Graham Lee in the cockpit. We will long remember the white knuckle ride that Graham gave us with "Jack Lane" on the Golden Valley Railway a couple of years ago. Judging by the exhaust noise from Max, I suspect that's what the Ruston driver, at the other end of the demo freight, was experiencing (he seemed to enjoy it, as of course we all did). Max is one of the locomotives brought from Indonesia a few years ago, Orenstein and Koppel 10750 of 1923, an 0-6-0 well tank with a tender... We first met him at Statfold back in March 2006, in "as received" condition - quite a contrast from the smart red-liveried locomotive in action today.
There are of course lots of locomotives at Apedale, mostly ex-industrial diesels. Several were in action today, including the interesting 1930-built Hudswell Clarke (D558), formerly resident at Cadeby. I didn't think it was in working order - it certainly hasn't been restored, but it was working today on a demonstration freight. With its steam-style chimney, it was an unusual contrast to another visitor, "King Arthur" - steam-outline Baguley 2043 of 1931 on its first visit away from the Wicksteed Park Railway at Kettering.
I should mention the photo opportunities. A rather fine preserved ERF wagon (1950s? 1960s?) would pose beside the line and a rail - road trans-shipment would be enacted. The light was all wrong, but the scene was worth a snap - ERF and Ruston. What I hadn't realised was that the ERF would drive away, then return, facing the opposite way, and pose beside Max, in full direct sunshine. So of course I was in the wrong place entirely. Can't win them all. But at least the oatcakes were every bit as good as last year... Let's hope the MRT's plans for passenger operation come to fruition quickly - this railway has the makings of greatness. There will be return visits...
* Sorry! Dreadful title - but I couldn't resist it Video Clip: No video? Get the Adobe Flash Player plugin here
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; "Max power")
; "As received - at Statfold, March 2006")
; "Max poses on the new extension")
; "The unrestored Hudswell Clarke - in action!")
; "King Arthur of Kettering")
; "62 - Ruston 497542 of 1963")
; "Red Dwarf WR 5655 of 1956 exhibited by the Shropshire Mines Trust")
; "Ruston no. 27 \"Annie\" (RH198297 of 1939)")
; "Loco line-up")
; "Petrol-engined MR 9104 of 1941 - and WW1 tank (water variety)")
; "O&K and battery-electric")
; "Lister and the new station-to-be")
; "Trans-shipment (from the wrong direction)")
; "Commercial road vehicles")
; "A last look at Max")