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Apedale Valley WWI Steam Narrow Gauge

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  • Member since
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Posted by 54light15 on Sunday, February 7, 2021 3:25 PM

Who needs model trains when you can play with that layout! I know where I'm going if I ever get back to the U.K. 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, February 7, 2021 12:08 PM

Thanks David!  That's a pretty good show they put on!

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, February 7, 2021 6:19 AM

he Apedale Valley Light Railway was officially opened in September 2010 by the Moseley Railway Trust. The railway normally operates a diesel service on every Saturday during its opening season, and the second weekend of every month is a Steam weekend. Keep an eye on www.avlr.org.uk for timetables and information in special events, as it becomes available. Standard Fares are £2.50 for adults and £1.50 for children with a family ticket costing £6.

The Moseley Railway Trust aims to preserve industrial narrow gauge railway locomotives, rolling stock and other equipment. The trust’s collection includes examples from the Steel, Peat, Glass, Water, Brick, Explosives and Sewage Industries. You can view a selection from the MRT’s collection in the Heritage Centre museum.

 

A small selection from the MRT fleet

 

Narrow gauge railways form an important part of our industrial heritage, the most well known application being in the mining industry. However, a narrow gauge railway could often be found where ever there was a need to transport large amounts of materials. Even today, modern narrow gauge railways are at work, for example in the construction taking place for the London 2012 Olympics.

 

 
 

 

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, February 7, 2021 6:14 AM

Railway opening

We are now closed to the public. We are currently hoping to re-open for our Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Saturday, April 3 2021. 

However, when this is written (January 2021), we are in the depths of another lockdown, so there can be no certainty currently. We will keep this website updated as circumstances change.

When we are able to open,  trains will run from 1130 to 1230 and from 1300 to 1600. The train will run with a significantly reduced capacity due to the need for social distance. Therefore, we will run trains “on demand” when needed, in order to prevent queues building up.

During 2021, our currently planned (hoped for?) events are as follows:

April 3,4,5 – Easter Egg Hunt

May 1,2,3 – Teddy Bear Outing

May 16 – Bus Rally, organised by Potteries Omnibus Preservation Society

June 12, 13 – Teddy Bear Outing

July 11, 12 – Classic Diesels & Steam weekend

August 7,8 – Military Trains weekend

August 28, 29 – Leafers at t’pit Classic Landrover Rally

August 30 – Classic Cars day

September 25, 26 – Steam Gala

We will make an announcement later in 2021 about our popular Halloween and Santa Special trains.

There is a one-way system in place around the station, and the train will be sanitised after each trip. Things will be different, but hopefully still fun and enjoyable.

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, February 7, 2021 5:54 AM

By Public Transport…

Chesterton Village is served by bus routes 4 and 4A from Hanley. These are operated by First. The 4A route continues to Kidsgrove Town Hall, a short distance from Kidsgrove station. This is the simplest means of reaching Apedale from a railway station. Kidsgrove station now enjoys the best service ever, with trains provided by the East Midlands Trains Derby-Crewe route, Northern Rail Stoke-Manchester stopping trains and London Midland trains from London Euston to Crewe via Stoke.

Stoke on Trent station is well served by trains from all parts, including Virgin West Coast trains from London Euston, Cross Country Trains from Birmingham and elsewhere, East Midlands Trains Derby-Crewe trains and Northern stopping trains from Manchester. There is no direct bus route from Stoke station to Chesterton; it is recommended that one catches a (frequent) bus to Hanley, and then the 4 or 4A as above.

One should alight in the centre of Chesterton Village, on London Road, and then proceed as follows:-

  • Walk south along London Road. At the roundabout in Chesterton, turn into Loomer Road.
  • Follow Loomer road to the end, and follow the road to the right into the country park
  • Keep going straight ahead until you see car park signs, just by the Apedale Heritage Centre

It is about a fifteen minute walk from Chesterton Village.

There is an infrequent bus route 35 from Newcastle under Lyme bus station which serves Loomer Road, and operates to a point significantly closer than the 4/4A routes described above.

Bus information can be found at www.stokebus.info

Train information can be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk

 

apendale

valley website:

https://avlr.org.uk

 

;

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Apedale Valley WWI Steam Narrow Gauge
Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, February 7, 2021 5:20 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miG1zGBOX_w

They have more in operation and more different types than Cumbres & Toltec and Durango & Silverton together!

Steve Sattler Alerted me.

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