Rudyard Lake Steam Railway Gala

Today's was our second trip with the little bikes to this railway, and we went today because it's the weekend of their steam gala. Our last visit was in March and is reported Here  .

Malc and me were on our usual mounts (T80 and C90), but Ivan's SS50 is still being mended. His Honda Vision has yet to be repaired from its failure last week, so he was on the third little bike in his stable, the Puch. This meant progress was a tad slow, but hey, at least the C90 will have returned well over 100mpg at those speeds!

All the pictures taken at Rudyard today are by Ivan.

This 'Atlantic' (4-4-2) lacks the adhesion to pull a passenger train, but is an attractive engine that is brought out for special occasions such as this steam gala 

'Victoria' is a 2-6-2. This view shows the 'sheds' end of the station at Rudyard. The locomotive's cylinder drain cocks are open (hence the plumes of steam in front of the engine) to clear any water from the cylinders. Water is incompressible so would cause mechanical damage otherwise. 

The sheds at Rudyard comprise painted and fitted-out shipping containers 

A ground frame controls the points in the area of the sheds. At the other end of the station is a signal box which controls the layout there and the running line and passing loops. The line runs alongside Rudyard Lake, on the trackbed of the former Churnet Valley Railway which closed in the 1960s. Of course I volunteer on the Churnet Valley Railway as signalman, but that's several miles south of Rudyard also on the route of the original railway. 

 Like 'Victoria', 'Merlin' is a product of the Exmoor Steam Railway in Devon. This organisation no longer runs a public railway, but concentrates instead on the production of small steam locomotives like these ten inch gauge ones at Rudyard.

'Merlin' as yet unpainted in 1998 at the Exmoor factory 

A picture from 2007 showing a passenger train on the Rudyard line headed by two Exmoor engines, 'King Arthur' and 'Pendragon', piloted by a model of a Leek & Manifold Light Railway locomotive. The Leek & Manifold was a narrow gauge line from Waterhouses near Leek, up the Hamps and Manifold valleys to Hulme End, in the Derbyshire Peak District. That trackbed is now a footpath and cycleway.

Not much room for the crew in these little engines! 

There were some diesels at the event even though it was a steam gala. I have to admit I don't find them very interesting or charismatic compared to live steam, but some people seem to like them!

The weather was dry, warm, and sunny and we had a great afternoon sitting overlooking the shed area watching the locomotives come and go while chatting to the drivers and other railway folk. I even met a chap there I've not seen for decades, a former Barton pilot and fellow Chipmunk Group member, Jeff.

We had routed to Rudyard though Chelford, the A34, Marton, Bosely, and Rushton Spencer. The return was via the delightful lanes over Biddulph Edge and Biddulph Common with stupendous views across Cheshire and Peak District, down into Congleton, and home from there through Hulme Walfield and past Jodrell Bank.

We called in at the Stag for a pint, and Ivan discovered that his Puch had a puncture in its rear tyre. With the help of his bicycle pump he was able to limp home, but now all three bikes in his fleet are poorly! I think he'll be spending tomorrow in the garage.

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Apedale Railway Steam Gala

This industrial heritage centre with its two-foot gauge railway near Newcastle Under Lyme in Staffordshire is one I have been looking forward to visiting for a while. Their Steam Gala provided the perfect excuse to fire up the little bikes again and head south.

Malcolm was on his T80 Townmate, me on my C90, but Ivan's usual mount, his SS50, is hors de combat, in pieces in his garage having its gearbox rebuilt so he rode his Honda Vision two-stroke scooter. The route was past Jodrell Bank, along the lanes to pass west of Congleton onto the A34 near Little Moreton Hall, then down the A34 to Chesterton and Apedale Valley.

Unfortunately the Vision lacked vision and expired around Clonterbrook, in the lovely lanes between Jodrell bank and Congleton. It was probably a failing vacuum fuel tap restricting fuel flow as it was still rideable if taken slowly. So he and Malc returned home to get Ivan alternative transport, while I carried on alone. When I arrived I was waved past the 'park and ride' car park, right down to the Apedale heritage centre. There I saw a row of classic motorbikes so parked the C90 on the end of the row. I was approached by a chap with a clip board who asked me "are you booked in?".

"No"

"That's OK. Just write some details about you and your bike here".

I did, and he gave me an exhibitor's pass!

A little later, Malc arrived back on his Townmate with Ivan trailing in his Merlin car. Although the car is considerably faster than the little bikes, the little bikes don't get held up by traffic so usually reach their destination before a car can.

As ever, please click on any picture for a larger image.

The C90 becomes an exhibit at Apedale, and is photographed by an admirer 

My pass entitled me to free train rides, so I decided to partake. Here passing the loco sheds.

The resident steam locomotive 'Stanhope' runs around its train on the loop at the end of the quite short Apedale running line, ready to haul its train back

Visiting locomotive 'Jack Lane' from the Statfold Barn Railway positions ready for its next train. 

Loco crew attach the air hoses for the brakes before Jack Lane departs on the next train 

Stanhope has a cab; I wonder how the crew of Jack Lane will cope with tomorrow's forecast downpours and high winds? 

Black Dog Molly of Stoke on Trent provided appropriate music and Morris Dancing 

Jack Lane has arrived at Apedale station with its train 

Malc chats to a diesel driver in the 'back field', where shunting of industrial hoppers was taking place 

 Another view of the industrial shunting operation

Two hoppers are propelled by one of the many industrial diesel locos at Apedale 

Jack Lane is a lovely little Hunslet locomotive built just eight years ago in 2005 

Black Dog Molly perform a traditional old dance

Three Black Dog Molly videos I took today:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVfw8IqBnX0&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_kJoKc0Gv4&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ft2t5BgtDP8&feature=youtu.be


Resident steam loco 'Stanhope' brings its train past the loco sheds to the station at Apedale:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAagSUZMk_A&feature=youtu.be

I led on the way home, followed by Malc, with Ivan in the Merlin bringing up the rear. I soon forged ahead past queuing traffic (Malc stayed with Ivan in case he didn't know the way) and despite the C90's mediocre top speed I had to wait some minutes at Brownlow on the A34 (where we turned off for Withington and home) before the other two caught me up.

A pint or two at the Stag's Head at Great Warford brought a super day out to an enjoyable end.

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Settle & Carlisle Express

For many years the Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association (MCRUA) have run an annual train trip in May originating on, and picking up at stations along, the Mid Cheshire Line. There was no trip last May as MCRUA was finding it increasingly difficult to organise such an event in these days of an ever more crowded railway (which is why we need HS2! NOW, not in 20 years time!). Getting Network Rail to authorise slots and then not to cancel them at the last moment was adding to the already heavy workload of the part time organisers at MCRUA. It was decided, in view of this, to employ a professional railtour company to organise this year's outing, and Compass Tours were chosen. Today Chris and I travelled on their 'Settle & Carlisle Express', joining the train at Mobberley, the nearest Mid Cheshire rail station to us.

As ever, please click on any picture for a larger image.

A DRS (Direct Rail Service) class 47 diesel locomotive 47805 brings the Settle & Carlisle Express into Mobberley station this morning. The train comprised twelve Mk2 coaches with a class 47 locomotive on the front and rear.

The train was a mix of standard and first class coaches, and we had booked a first class table for two which provides the level of comfort that makes a long day on the train a pleasure. Our route today was along the Mid Cheshire line from Hooton (where the train originated - we joined at Mobberley at 09:14) to Stockport (the last pick up), then through Denton and past Ashton Moss and Audenshawe, continuing through Manchester Victoria station. From Manchester the train headed north to Bolton, Darwin, Blackburn, Gisburn, Hellifield, and onto the famous Settle & Carlisle line at Long Preston. The S&C would take us up the infamous 'long drag', over Ribblehead Viaduct to Blea Moor summit, Dent, Horton, Appleby, arriving in Carlisle for lunch about 13:30.

After lunch the return journey was along a stretch of railway I have long wanted to see - the Cumbrian Coast Line. This leaves the West Coast Main Line immediately south of Carlisle station, turning west as the old Maryport & Carlisle Railway. It passes Aspatria and Maryport, and continues though Workington and Sellafield down the west coast of Cumbria, on to Millom, by-passes Barrow on the avoiding line, passes Ulverston and Grange, and after crossing the River Kent re-joins the West Coast Main Line at Carnforth, of 'Close Encounter' fame.

From Carnforth we ran down the WCML through Lancaster and Preston to Leyland, where we turned off for Chorley and Adlington to Bolton, to re-trace the route back to Cheshire that we'd taken this morning.

The coaches are comfortable, quiet, smooth-riding and air conditioned ex-Virgin BR Mk2. Seating in standard class is around tables for 4 on both sides of the centre aisle. First class is more spacious with wide, reclining armchair seats arranged around tables for 4 on one side of the coach, and tables for 2 on the other side. We were seated in the latter (Chris can be seen above, on the right).

Crossing the River Calder on the Whalley Viaduct, Longridge and Parlick Hill in the distance

After a steady climb up through Clitheroe and Gisburn we joined the Leeds to Carlisle line at Hellifield Junction. Here we passed a log train (visible out of the window, above) on its way down to Chirk near Wrexham. These trains bring logs from Carlisle yard and from Ribblehead to the chipboard factory at Chirk.

At Long Preston the 'Long Drag' of 15 miles at 1 in a hundred to Blea Moor summit begins; the Settle & Carlisle proper!

Approaching the famous viaduct at Ribblehead. It was a murky day of low cloud and rain, so a click on the above picture will enlarge it to show the viaduct more clearly.

Nice and comfy in the train, though. MCRUA trips always featured draught real ale in the buffet car; Compass didn't run to that, but did have this excellent bottled ale.

Grotty weather over the Pennines; this is Dentdale

Cottages by Dent station

The highest main line station in England - Dent, 1,150 feet above sea level and 5 miles from the village it serves

Approaching Garsdale - formerly Hawes Junction, when the long-closed line from Northallerton on the East Coast Main Line via Hawes joined the S&C from the east. This was a rare level section of the railway, where water troughs were located. Garsdale once had a turntable, protected from the high Pennine winds by a 'stockade' of railway sleepers. These were erected following an incident where an engine was being turned and the wind started to rotate the turntable. It was only stopped by shoveling sand into the turntable pit. The Rev, Awdry used this true story in one of his 'Thomas the Tank Engine' books.

Dantry Mire Viaduct

Despite the low cloud we remained below it throughout our trip along the S&C

We had a couple of hours lunch stop in Carlisle where the local Wetherspoons pub provided sustenance. Carlisle Citadel station above.

Carlisle town centre is pleasantly traffic free, being pedestrianised

This scenic backwater would have been even more so without the proliferation of tables and chairs for the cafe

47501, which had been at the back of the train on our northward journey, heads the train back into Carlisle station for the second part of our grand day out - home via the Cumbrian Coast

Our coach, former BR then Virgin Mk2 first class

The railway hugs the bleak north west coast of Cumbria. The low cloud and drizzle were at their worst on this section of our journey.

Much of this bleak coastal section is single track, and the train stops from time to time to exchange tokens for authority to enter the section

The nuclear fuel reprocessing plant at Sellafield is pretty bleak at the best of times. Today was as uninviting as I've ever seen it.

The pinkish-red building is 'Pond Five', storage ponds for fuel to be reprocessed in the adjacent THORPE plant. I spent many weeks here in the early 1980s when working for SPL commissioning the process control computer systems my project had built for Pond Five.

South of Sellafield the line becomes more scenic. We couldn't see the hills because of the low cloud, but the coastal scenery was on our side of the train so easily enjoyed.

After passing through Millom, the line turns inland before crossing the River Duddon, then heading back towards the coast. In so doing it skirts the Duddon estuary.

Near Foxfield

The Leven Viaduct, near Ulverston and Cark in Cartmel

The final viaduct on the Cumbrian Coast line, over the River Kent, between Grange-Over-Sands and Arnside

Arnside and the Kent Viaduct

This viaduct has recently been refurbished, as this view shows

Looking back towards Cumbria

We re-joined the West Coast Main Line at Carnforth, of 'Close Encounter' fame and home to West Coast Railways who occupy the former 'Steamtown' site, and headed down through Lancaster to a scheduled stop at Preston to allow service trains to pass us

A Virgin Pendolino at Preston

This Trans Pennine Express was bound for Manchester Airport and we had to wait for it to pass us before we followed it as far as Bolton

There is little in the way of catering on these trains (just a small buffet selling drinks and sandwiches, and a tea trolley) so passengers bring their own often substantial meals (with wine of course!)

The Rainy City; Manchester lives up to its reputation was we approach Victoria station in the dark and my camera flash catches the rain drops

Manchester Cathedral and the Arndale Centre

.....A closer view, in the Manchester murk

Victoria station where we stopped for some of the train staff to leave us

Another place where it always seems to rain; Stockport at about 9:00pm

The train stopped at Reddish South, our first set-down point for passengers, then Stockport. Passengers had to move to either of the three centre coaches to leave the train as the platforms at everywhere but Stockport are far to short to accommodate its entire 12-coach length.

From Stockport we turned onto the Mid Cheshire Line for stops at Altrincham, Hale, and Mobberley where we left the train after a superb day out despite indifferent weather.

I wonder where the 'MCRUA Special' will head off to next year?