NEWS OF THE RUDYARD LAKE STEAM RAILWAY

NEWS (Updated 1/5/2008)- recent news shown in red

Work has started on Lakeside signal box with the casting of the concrete base. Merlin is back in service.

The latest rolling stock to  be commissioned is No.3 a 2-2-2 battery electric "device" with major components from a motorised wheel chair. Named Sir Ernie after the famous milk float it has ventured the full length of the line and proved capable of pulling a bogie flat wagon. Another new 12 seat open coach body has been commissioned . All the yard points are now connected to the lever frame except No.5 which will follow shortly.

Waverley has proved reluctant to re-enter service and has required great persistence to overcome the valve gear's desire to escape from the engine. However on the 20th of April it successfully did 3 trips up the line then took a final short train up on its own

New fencing is being installed at Rudyard Station to improve safety and the station appearance. The new CCTV system is being commissioned. We have also located the local sewerage system so that the long awaited toilets can be progressed. The car park has finally had attention from Staffordshire County Council.

A new LNWR style ground frame was installed at Rudyard over the Easter weekend to operate the yard points. The first point has been connected. The weather was bizarre with every day seeing sunshine and then hail or snow. It was also very cold. Six or seven coach trains were run with the new public address system in the coaches bringing a notable improvement in behaviour and safety. A walker on the lake path who had become ill was also successfully evacuated by train on Easter Monday to meet an ambulance summoned by the train guard's mobile phone.

A new water tower was built  and commissioned at Rudyard over Easter to speed up watering  of engines and therefore the engine turn-round times.  The water tower has been painted and the lifting gantry relocated to the workshop track. An ash pit has been installed for the smaller engines. Merlin also has had its boiler removed for attention to the fire level stay head nuts which have all been replaced.

Waverley is now back together painted Apple Green and ready for lining out and test runs. Merlin was dismantled on 3 March for attention to a leaking boiler stay.

A new coach body to replace the last of the original articulated coaches is complete and ready for collection after Easter. It will be a little wider and easier of access than its predecessor. A new bogie is also almost ready so that this set of coaches can go back up from 2 to 3 coaches.

Work to replace all the points in the yard at Rudyard  started on Sunday February 3rd and  thanks to a major effort from the railways volunteers 4 points and 4 panels of track were laid on that Sunday . Further track panels and a  further curved point was altered and installed on Sunday the 10th of February as well as ballasting and packing of the new track. This has extended the run round loop and will give better access to the storage sheds. Conventional track is now in use for all of the yard and train services re-commenced after a  week's gap on February 12th. 

A view part way through with most of the new track in place

There was none of the old box section track remaining in use by the end of Sunday the10th February. A new point has been manufactured and  is now  installed to give access to the workshop. A lever frame is to be installed to control the yard points.

Waverley has been repainted in Apple Green. Its motion has been overhauled and is now largely  reassembled. A large radius point from Ashorne Hall has been re-gauged and installed at the North end of Lakeside loop. This will give a smoother entry for trains returning to Rudyard.

Work on the track is continuing when the weather is reasonable. The newly machined point blades have been fitted to the North end  loop points at Rudyard Station. The left hand curve is now much more gentle.

Trains ran on all Sundays in January for the first time and were well patronised.

The carriages  have had an intercom system fitted ready for 2008. Tidying up the workshops is underway as more machinery has arrived.  New point blades have been manufactured for an existing point. Steel for the planned extended station canopy and CCTV poles has arrived.

The railway will operate in future on more Sundays in the winter.  The 2008 scheduled services will run on School holidays and every Sunday from February 17th. Check the events page for exact dates.

Steam engine driver courses have been a popular present  with a good number booked during 2005 & 2006.  Click here for more information for 2007 dates.

Click here for details of previous years events and history of the line

Click on this link for more pictures and details of the line

OPERATIONS

The railway is run by the Friends of the Railway. All proceeds from operations are being reinvested in developing the railway.

The Friends of the Railway are a very friendly and active group who derive a great deal of enjoyment from working on or for the railway . If you would like to find out more about getting involved please contact us by phone, email or letter. The Friends aim is:

" To help develop and run a safe and prosperous railway and to have fun doing it "

There are opportunities to volunteer to get involved for both the physically active and those who are less inclined or able in that direction.

If you are unable to come and help but want to fulfil a dream you can also learn to drive a steam engine on one of our driver experience courses. Click here for more details.

FURTHER INFORMATION ( click on buttons below)

or Contact us by telephone 01538 306704

or fax on 01995 672280

or email info@rlsr.org