Apedale Valley Light Railway - Open for Business

Good evening. Just a quick update from Apedale. Following sign-off by ORR, a formal track inspection, and final brake testing, the Moseley Railway Trust carried its first fare paying passengers on the Apedale Valley Light Railway yesterday 14/8/10. A mere 4542 days after the railway at Cheadle school closed. Surely some sort of record. I hope no other group have cause to beat it! As I am sure you know, the formal opening will take place during the Gala on September 18 & 19, but we will be running from 1100 to 1630 every Saturday from now to the end of October, plus the August BH Sunday & Monday. October 15 & 16 will be a steam weekend with Stanhope. Keep an eye on the news pages at www.mrt.org.uk for updates.

Remember, you read it here first - mainly because I haven't written the press release yet.

 

The Lincolnshire Coast Light railway closed for 25 years, so about 9000 days.....

Regards

Peter

 

I said there would be a press release, and here it is!!

The Moseley Railway Trust is delighted to announce that its 2’0” gauge railway, known as the Apedale Valley Light Railway, will be open to the public from this Saturday, 21st August 2010. Trains will run from 11.00 to 16.30 every Saturday until the end of October. Trains will also run on the Saturday, Sunday & Monday of the August Bank Holiday weekend. The railway is located adjacent to the Apedale Community Country Park, Chesterton, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire.
Phil Robinson, the Chairman of the Moseley Railway Trust said “Opening the AVLR is a fantastic achievement for the Trust and for its volunteers. This has been a dream since we left Cheadle School more than 12 years ago. It’s been a long time coming, and that makes it all the more worthwhile. I’d like to pay tribute to the Moseley Railway Trust volunteers who have laboured tirelessly in all weathers to build and equip the railway. I’d also like to express my thanks to Steve Turner and the ORR team for their support, advice and assistance whilst navigating the approvals process for the railway”.
The Grand Opening Gala will be held on September 18 and 19, and this will mark the official opening for the Apedale Valley Light Railway. Sir James Hawley, Staffordshire’s Lord Lieutenant will carry out the opening ceremony at 11.00 on Sunday the 19th, along with the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Three steam locomotives will be in operation during the Gala. The event will be open from 11.00 to 17.00 on each day.
A further steam weekend will held on October 15 & 16, when it is anticipated that the Kerr Stuart locomotive “Stanhope” will be used; demonstration freight trains will again be in operation.
Santa Special trains will run and further details of these can be found at www.mrt.org.uk.
Operating dates for the Apedale Valley Light Railway in 2011 will be from Easter to the end of October.