NEWS OF THE RUDYARD LAKE STEAM RAILWAY

NEWS (Updated 10/11/2009)- recent news shown in red

Trains ran at night for the Rudyard Lake Firework display in November 7th. Work has resumed on the track between the Dam and Rudyard.

The Steam Gala saw 7 steam engines in use over the weekend which was the largest number ever seen  at Rudyard. The North Staffordshire Model Engineering Society  also attended with their portable track. The gala was a great success and will be hard to beat. However 2010 will be the railway's 25th anniversary so something special is on the cards.

The new cafe is now open at weekends from 10am to 4pm for the sale of sandwiches, soft drinks, tea, coffee, cakes, crisps etc. and our really excellent traditional ice cream.  As well as the usual cornets we also offer the traditional ice cream wafer for those who remember them. Staffed by volunteers we have now added hot food options as winter approaches. 

An additional station canopy has been reinstated on Platform 2 to give much more cover in wet weather. When finally complete with its valances it will complement the North Staffordshire Railway theme in the station.

Merlin has had work done to its firebox which involved lifting the boiler from the frames welding the bottom two rows of stays and the a hydraulic test to 300 P.S.I. This was completed over a ten day period and a successful steam test on 30th July saw the engine back in use. The Lake Festival on 2nd on August was enhanced by fine weather and two train running. All 4 Exmoor steam engines are in use.

Trains are now running daily until September 6th. The catering facility is also complete and now open at weekends and sometimes during the week.  A catering store has since been added and is a replica of a North Staffordshire Railway lamp hut.

The railway has had a visitor from Thailand  Polpoj who flew in especially to undertake a driver training course with his son. They had a great time  with King Arthur before flying home.

Work on Rudyard station continues with the platform concreted and supports for the extended canopy put in.  Traditional gas type lamps have been added to add atmosphere and allow for running night trains. The next stage is more covered areas. and additional picnic tables have been made.

The locomotives have required attention with new main driving axle bearings being replaced on Excalibur. From identification of the problem to completed repair took less than a week showing the value of using standard industrial bearings. Pendragon has also had attention to a loose fly crank at the same time.

A successful night visit by the Narrow Gauge Railway society took place on Wednesday 17th June.

The track has now had its first full line weed killing train to stop the lush grass growth. A second dose will be added in September. The busy  traffic continued on the trains which ran every day over the late may bank holiday week from May 23 to 31st. The superb hot weather over the May end weekend saw record sales of ice cream and our traditional stop me and buy one bike was much appreciated.

The early May Bank Holiday was very busy and again broke records even though the weather was unpleasant on Monday. One long heavy train operated each day on an hourly schedule with different engines used each day. The Lollipop Specials were well received and especially by the children.

Conversion  of the Platform 2 waiting  facility is well in hand and is now secure and weatherproof. Fitting out will take a few weeks and is hoped to be completed in early June.

A series of improvements to Rudyard Station is underway with toilet facilities, catering provision, an extended platform shelter, new platform surfaces and fences and a general spruce up. The platform at the Dam is also to be extended to cope with 7 coach trains.

Easter 2009 was the busiest ever on the railway with fine weather on three of the four days helping to bring out the crowds and the railway running to capacity on the Sunday and Monday. The smaller Exmoor steam engines were working very hard to take 7 fully loaded coaches up the track but managed it without any real problems. Daily running for the two weeks of the school holidays is also underway.

Britain's Great Little Railways held their AGM & spring meeting at Rudyard on 25th March. Despite poor weather train rides were enjoyed and a successful meeting held in the Lake Activity Centre. Further joint publicity initiatives were agreed as well as a debate and presentation on the use of recycled plastic sleepers.

The railways yellow diesel No.5 Rudyard Lady is back in use after attention to its drive mechanism and a successful test run took place on the 25th March. It has now had sanders fitted to improve its adhesion in wet weather. With Waverley passing a test run on the previous Sunday all the railways rolling stock is now available for use.  

The rebuild of two of our ballast wagons is complete with new removable bodies and new decking. There are in the style pioneered by Sir Arthur Heywood and like very well and far to good to be filled with stone. Capacity is estimated at about 1.5 tones per wagon.

We have agreed to do joint learn to drive a steam train courses with the Fairbourne & Barmouth Railway in Wales. Staffordshire County Council have also scraped and levelled Rudyard Car Park to remove the potholes.

Waverley is back together again after repairs to its valve gear and will be tested soon. The diesel No.5 Rudyard Lady is stripped down for attention to its drive system. Its builder Mr. A Smith from Leek visited us to advise on its construction.

Trains started running again on every Sunday from January 4th despite the ice and frost. Work on the station is planned to improve the platform surface and extend the canopy.

The track is also being refurbished with new ballast and extra sleepers. A long length from the Dam to Rudyard has been attended to recently. Work has also been done to improve access to the footpath to the lake from Rudyard Station.

Boiler Inspections on Waverley, King Arthur and Excalibur were successfully carried out on the 19th of December. All 5 steam engines now have certificates until 2010. The program of fitting sanders to the Exmoor engines is also  complete. All are fitted except that Pendragon's new front sander is still to complete. It does have sanders on the rear from its days at Ashorne Hall. But its planned to turn it round at sometime and so will need them on the front.

Work to improve the station platform at Rudyard has been done to straighten the track and level the platform.. The spoil is being used to improve the car park. The last normal trains of 2008 ran on 30th of November with only Santa Specials on December 13 & 14 then left . They ran with 9 coach trains double headed with King Arthur and Pendragon. The very long heavy trains sounded superb.

Click Here to see and hear the 2008 Santa Train: Youtube Link

Steam engine driver courses have been a popular present  with a good number booked each year.  Click here for more information for 2009 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 on 01995 672280

or email info@rlsr.org