Middleton Railway Hudswell Clarke gala 18th/19th June 2011

SORRY! It's Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June (this weekend) but can't seem to change thread title - it's too early for typing really...


Sorry for late notification but we've been busy preparing!

The bare bones are:

This year celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first locomotive leaving the Railway Foundry of Hudswell Clarke & Company Limited. The company then went on to produce thousands of locomotives which were used on railways around the world.

The Middleton Railway is home to a number of Hudswell Clarke locomotives, full-size and scale models, and to celebrate this important anniversary the Railway is organising a Hudswell-themed gala over the weekend of 18th & 19th June 2011. All available Hudswell locomotives will be in operation, along with several on static display. The Railway's usual intensive timetable wil be in action (approx 1050 to 1620)

Locomotives running over the weekend are:

M.S.C No. 67 (steam)
577 "Mary" (diesel)
631 "Carroll" (diesel)
Besides the intensive passenger service (first train 11:00), the Railway will also be offering diesel cab rides in the yard for a small fee.

The finer print is (subject to all the usual disclaimers) Mary and 67 will work on two separate rakes of mixed freight and passenger stock and will traverse the system between Moor Road and Middleton Park Halt PLUS the rarely used Balm Road connection to Network Rail. Not the Dartmouth branch this time I'm afraid. Carroll is almost certainly on the cab rides in the yard (rare track in itself!).

If you would like any further details please telephone 0845 680 1758 or e-mail info@middletonrailway.org.uk. I will also try to answer any questions on here at various times during Friday if required.

Hope to see some of you there!

Ian

 

Re: Middleton Railway Hudswell Clarke gala 17th/18th June 2011

and what about the "extension" to Middleton Park???: it is spoken cince 20 years at least!:baby:
regards
noel

 

As regards the Park extension it is still on the wish list but in the meantime we just make the most of what we have got!!

@Martin: thanks for the updated title - must stop trying to post when still half asleep!

 

You'll probably never post in that case, Ian!

 

Owing to a visit by scrap metal thieves, line to Middleton Park unusable today. Revised timetable in operation on Balm Road branch. Sorry for any inconvenience.

 

Upwards of 200 chairs smashed on 120 concrete sleepers so unless the nuts come off easily it isn't going to be a five minute job. Pure coincidence that an encampment of gypsies has set up 300 yards away.

 

Well it has certainly been an interesting day. After the discovery that our main running line had been vandalised beyond use, we quickly wrote a new timetable, using two mixed trains on the Balm Road branch only. Many of our passengers praised our efferts for still putting on a good show with three locomotives in use on the trains.

If your nearby, do come and show us your support. Hopefully the damage can be rectified before too long.

Andy Hardy
Traffic Manager
Middleton Railway

 

Hi Andy,

Well as one of today's visitors I can certainly agree with that, it was awful to see what was done to the line, but the makeshift timetable gave us plenty to enjoy, and there were some nice double-headers working down the Balm Road Branch, so I would certainly encourage anyone planning a visit tomorrow to go along and enjoy the day and show your support.

Hope you can get the damage rectified without too much cost, it's sad to see something like this done to a heritage railway.

Well done to all your staff for still managing to give us a good day out, and thanks to all for their efforts.

Alan.