O&K steam at the MRT
Max power at Apedale*
12 September 2009
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
Link:
•
Moseley Railway Trust
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
