Motor Rail Mania
110 years ago, in 1916, a Bedford engineering company created the first Motor Rail locomotive. Trading as “Simplex”, they went on to become one of the UK’s most prolific builders of narrow gauge internal-combustion locos. This will be a special weekend celebrating that heritage through the significant collection of such locos at Apedale. Frequent trains will operate using Motor Rail diesel and petrol locos. The event will run from 1130 until 4pm on both days. If you own a Motor Rail and fancy bringing it to join the fun, get in touch via the website “contact us” button.
We are pleased to announce yet another visiting loco for the Motor Rail Mania event on June 27 & 28. This extra visitor is loco 40S383, displayed in public for the first time ever. The loco is normally based at a private railway in Scotland (the photo shows it many years ago at a peatworks near Carlisle). The full list of visitors, as at 4 June, stands as follows:-– 40S383 (above)
– 4724 “AGWI Pet” and 5226 “Bambridge Hall” from Statfold
– 8739 “Pioneer” and 60S324 “Campbells” from the Golden Valley Light Railway
– 8695 (No.30) and 10409 (No.43) from Leighton Buzzard.
– 8540, from a private railway in England
The loco roster for the mainline passenger trains has been updated, and is as follows:
Saturday 27th June
11:00 No.13 ‘Pilk’ 11142 + 60s 364 “Campbell’s”
11:30 No.6 7066 + No.21 8669
12.00 No.7 ‘The Wade’ 8663 + 5226 “Bambridge Hall”
12:30 No.30 8695 + No.20 8748
13 00 No.98 ‘L5’ 21520 + 8739 “Pioneer”
13:30 No.75 22235 + No.60 ‘ Lord Austin ‘ 6035
14:00 No.47 1369
14:30 No.3 8878 + 4724 “Agwi Pet 2”
15:00 No.42 7710 + No.43 10409
15:30 No.87 5213 + 40s383
16:00 No.20 8748, No.36 8540 & 8695 “No.30”
Sunday 28th June
11:00 No.101 60SD754
11:30 No.81 2197 + No.39 1111
12.00 No.21 8669 + 8540
12:30 No.87 5213 + 5226 “Bambridge Hall”
13 00 No.43 10409
13:30 No.14 ‘Knothole Worker’ 22045 + 40s383
14:00 60s 364 “Campbell’s”
14:30 No.30 8695 + 4724 “Agwi Pet 2”
15:00 No.40 ‘Sludge’ 40SD516 + 20/28 8739 “Pioneer”
15:30 60s 364 “Campbell’s” + 20/28 8739 “Pioneer”
16:00 No.61 ‘Block of Flats’ 1320
Both days:
- Freights will alternate between the above passenger trains. Locos for the freights will be drawn from the ‘mainline pool’ as convenient.
- There will also be a frequent service of trains on the Field Railway, using the above pool of locos, plus others from the Apedale collection.
Fares for this event will be – Admission and one ride – Adults £8, children £1. Day Rovers – Adults £25, children £12.
There will also be a photo charter on Saturday morning, themed around the Leighton Buzzard sand quarries. An early start of 07.30 and running until 10.30, just in time for the gala to kick off in style at 11.00. Priced at £40 this includes access to the photo charter, a return train ride and site access during the Saturday of the event. Please use the website (www.avlr.org.uk) “contact us” button to book onto the charter event – we’ll keep a list of participants and collect payment on the day (cash or card).
