News from November 2002

Amerton Tasty Triple Wren Feast

The Amerton Railway staged a very successful Wren Gala over the weekend of 22th and 23rd June where three Kerr Stuart Wrens 3114/1918, Peter Pan 4256/1922 and Pixie 4260/1922 operating a variety of passenger and goods trains on the newly extended one mile line. Pearl 2 and Isabel were also in steam, but it was the Wren’s that completely stole the show! This is probably the first time that three Wrens have been in steam together for upwards of 50 years. The three engines were lined up every evening for photographers. The railway carried around 2000 passengers over the two days and there were dozens of photograghers in the fields.

Peter Pan and Pixie departed on the Sunday evening, with Pixie continuing on back to Belgium, but 3114 will stay with stay aty Amerton until around October and will be steamed on selected Sundays hauling demonstration goods trains

Posted by David Lloyd-Jones on 9 November 2002

22 not out! - Double Collision on Manx Electric Railway Raises Safety Questions.

Two collisions with cars on road crossing within three days has raised safety questions about Isle of Man’s 3ft gauge Manx Electric Railway. Many of the road crossings on the 17.1/4 mile double track route between Douglas and Ramsey are totally unprotected. Although, the island’s Director of Public Transport David Howard said: ‘There are no plans to review safety at tram line crossings, following two accidents, one at Fairy Hill in Laxey, and the other at the Liverpool Arms on the Onchan, Baldrine Road’. He added: ‘the tramway has been there since 1893 without safety barriers, and there are no new plans to put any up’. The first accident occurred on Friday, 2nd August 2002 when MER tram No.22 was derailed after it was in collision with a car in Laxey at the Old School Hill crossing. Both the Police and fire crews attended the scene shortly after 7.10pm. The BMW car driven by a Laxey man was pinned against the hedge by the tram, which was leaning at 45 degree angle. Neither car driver, tram crew or the two passengers on board suffered serious injuries following the collision. Director of public transport David Howard said: ‘it would appear a car failed to give way at a tram crossing like they are supposed to.’ The tram was not badly damaged and was back in service the following. The second collision took place three days later on Monday 5th August 2002 at the Liverpool Arms on the Onchan, Baldrine Road. Again nobody was injured and again the collision involved MER tram No.22 hitting a Subaru Impreza.

Posted by David Lloyd-Jones on 9 November 2002

Stapleford Miniature Railway running dates for 2003

The historic 44 year old 10 1/4” Stapleford Miniature railway, at Stapleford park near Melton Mowbray, Leics, UK will again be open to the public during summer 2003. The first public opportunity announced will be the “Stapleford Steam 2003” charity event.
The date is the 14th 15th June 2003
As usual, the railway will operate alongside a steam rally with vintage vehicles, traction engines, beer tent and refreshments etc and you can even spend the weekend camping up here on the rally field if you want!!

All 5 1/5th scale steam locos based at the SMR will be running across the 2 days. The big 2 American locos will feature from late lunch time on both days
Running through nearly 2 miles of heavily engineered line including a substantial tunnel and “long drag”, at scale line speeds, it is a rare chance to witness the sight of a GWR Saint class exiting Box tunnel!!!! or New York Central Niagara alongside a NKP Berks, all but the latter saddly long departed in full size.
More info and poster of event on

www.fsmr.org.uk

Posted by Nigel Spencer on 13 November 2002

Kirklees Loco Improvements

Fox the oldest steam lcomotive on the railway, built by Brian Taylor in 1987, has recently re entered service after having her main driving wheel tyres turned. Whilst the wheelsets where removed from the locomotive the opportunity was taken to fettle up the locomotives valve gear and improve lubrication to the axlebox horns in an effort to reduce wear and tear in these areas.

Since returning to service the locomotive, whcih generally runs the highest mileage for the year, has been afar sweeter and smoother machine to drive.

The railway is not neglecting its diesel locomotive either and plans are afoot to retire the 1947 Dorman 2DL Engine, which had previously been used in the Hudswell Clarke locomotives at Blackpool Pleasure beach, with an newer Ford unit. Whilst the Dorman still proves servicable it is becoming less than ideal as it is no longer capable of been able to pull a summer passenger train, which is now often 6 coaches or more at busy times, should circumstances call for it.

Other loco news from the KLR is that Owl the Avonside style Heisler has now been winterised and is unlikly to be used again before the 2003. This is largely due to the fact she is not as yet fitted with steam heat apparatus, a requirement for service trains once the Pennine winter takes hold.

As a result of this the Santa Special services are likely to be in the very capable hands of Hawk the Meyer assisted by Fox. the latter locomotive is primarily there to ensure full heating of the coaches however it will more than likely add its own considerbale power to the proceedings!!!

Stuart Ross
KLR Newsletter Co Editor

Posted by Stuart Ross on 21 November 2002

1918 World War1 Motor Rail in 1-hour prime-time television programme.

The Channel 4 television program, Salvage Squad, in association with the Moseley Railway Trust have fully restored former World War 1 Motor Rail loco – LR3090 in just 3 months.

In what is thought to be a first for television, the Moseley Railway Trust & Salvage Squad, have undertaken the full restoration of former WW1 & Knostrop Sewage Works narrow gauge ‘Protected’ Motor Rail (MR1369 of 1918) locomotive. The hour-long programme, due to be screened in early 2003, will follow the full restoration process over a 3-month period at the premises of Dorothea Restorations in Derbyshire.

The petrol-engined machine (commonly known as a ‘Tin Turtle’), on permanent loan from Leeds Industrial Museum, had not operated since the early 1960’s when it was withdrawn from service. In 1980 this loco, in remarkably original condition, passed to Leeds Museum where it was to spend a further 15 years on static display. Acquired for eventual restoration by the Moseley Railway Trust, the machine arrived in 1995 in time for display at its Military Gala. Following the Moseley Railway Trust’s removal from the Cheadle site, this project was classed as low priority. The Trust’s current Buxworth restoration base is tackling more practical equipment in preparation for developing a railway at a new permanent home.

In early 2002 the Moseley Railway Trust were approached by Wall-to-Wall Television, makers of the Salvage Squad programme, to provide a suitable project. This resulted in the former WW1 locomotive being selected over 2 other Trust engines.

Although in substantially original condition, the locomotive was robbed for spares to keep its sister running whilst at Knostrop Sewage works. Amongst other things, this has resulted in the whole of the ignition system (carburettor, magneto, etc) having to be replaced with the correct pattern parts. Thanks are due to Mike Hart of the Ffestiniog Railway Heritage group, for provision of a very valuable source of engine spares.

Restored to original WW1 condition, this locomotive took part in a special Memorial Day on 11th November 2002, on one of the few surviving remnants of the WW1 light railway system in France; CF Cappy-Froissy-Dompierre (APPEVA).

Having arrived back in the UK again, the locomotive has returned to its berth in the Moseley Railway Trust’s Buxworth workshops. Hopes are high that the restored locomotive will make several working visits to UK Heritage railways in 2003.

For further information please visit either the Moseley Railway Trust homepage (www.mrt.org.uk) or the dedicated website for the ‘Tin Turtle’ (www.tinturtle.info)

Source: Moseley Railway Trust – Latest News

Posted by Peter Bowyer on 29 November 2002

Webrings