Diesel Delights and Platforms Posted on 2nd October 2018 We hope we need hardly remind you that this coming weekend – October 6 & 7 – is the 2018 Diesel delights event, when the Apedale fleet of non-steam locos is given a chance to perform. The event title is a tad misleading, but “Diesel, Petrol and Battery-Electric Delights” didn’t scan well and wouldn’t fit on the poster. Trains will run frequently from 1130 to 4pm, and it is hoped that each train will have a different loco on it. The plan is to use locos, as far as possible, which haven’t previously worked passenger trains at Apedale. Each year, this gets a bit more difficult, and some of the locos (like some of the drivers) can be a bit temperamental – but we’ll do our best to entertain. Hence, most recent work has been fettling, shunting and cleaning the performing cast. Despite this, another major project has been progressing – extending the platform at the main station. The use of the ex-Ffestiniog coach means drivers have to be quite precise in stopping. Extending the platform gives a margin for error, and hence makes operation that bit easier. The job was done “old-school” with barrows and shovels – none of that high output yellow plant for us.
