The Apedale Valley Light Railway has released an update on the overhaul of one of its locos and of progress on its new museum building.
Their Hudswell steam loco was withdrawn from service in 2023 after its boiler ticket expired.
Its overhaul has begun with the boiler being lifted off the frames, while other work on the loco is progressing intermittently, in between hosting special events and running a regular train service.
It is hoped that the work to be undertaken on the boiler will require little more than a re-tube, but nothing is known until everything has been stripped back, which can also throw up some unexpected surprises.
Progress on the new museum has been made with the pouring of the concrete base, this has now set and a rough layout of the positing of three lines into the building has been marked out, once this is done the track can be left in situ before another concrete layer will be applied to bring the floor up to the finished height, which will embed the rails.
Once this is done, thoughts can be turned towards making the museum water tight by adding walls and a roof!
Located next to the Apedale Heritage Centre, The Apedale Valley Light Railway in Newcastle-Under-Lyme is an entirely volunteer run 2 foot narrow gauge railway that is operated by the Moseley Railway Trust, the line is presently just under 1/4 of a mile long, although plans are in place to extend the line.
Train services run every weekend and bank holiday from Easter until the end of October and feature a mix of both steam and diesel haulage using a range of rolling stock that is open and enclosed, which take passengers on a 15 minute round trip.
There is also a shop on site and a café is available in the Apedale Heritage Centre.
Tours of the locomotive shed are available on running days, while the railway also hosts a number of special events every year and is also open to private hire and the running of special charter trains.
For more information about the Apedale Valley Light Railway or to arrange a visit over this summer visit https://avlr.org.uk/about
