Rudyard Lake Steam Railway
The Rudyard Lake Steam Railway is a ridable miniature railway and the third railway of any gauge to run along the side of Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire. The railway runs for 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) on the track bed of an old standard gauge North Staffordshire Railway line. After the NSR line closed down, a small narrow gauge train ran on the site for two years before moving via Suffolk to Trago Mills in Devon. The current line started in 1985 and is 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge, and operates to a timetable. It was built by John Eastman of Congleton working on his own over a period of 10 years. He sold the railway to the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway Ltd in October 2000 who have developed it since that date.
Trains are about half the size a normal narrow gauge railway and are steam hauled. The railway runs from Rudyard railway station to the Dam then along the side of the lake to terminate by the lakeside at Hunthouse Wood. This is about a mile south of the site of the old Cliffe Park railway station.
The Railway was purchased by the Leek and Rudyard Railway on 18 December 2015. This company owns the assets of the former Mull Railway and has plans to combine the two railways at Rudyard.
Trains run at weekends and Bank Holidays from March to November, with more regular services from Easter to October and daily during school holidays. The railway is a member of Britains Great Little Railways and was a member of the Heritage Railway Association.
Route
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Locomotives
It has five steam locomotives, mostly named by the former owner's wife after the legends of King Arthur:
| No. | Name | Wheel arrangement | Builder | Date built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Excalibur | 2-4-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway | 1993 | Previously named River Churnet prior to rebuild in 2003, when regauged from 12 1/4 inch gauge |
| 7 | Merlin | 2-4-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway | 1998 | Overhauled 2020 |
| 8 | King Arthur | 0-6-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway | 2005 | Overhauled 2019 |
| 196 | Waverley | 4-4-2 | David Curwen | 1948 | On permanent loan from a group linked to the Isle of Mull Railway |
| - | Victoria | 2-6-2T | Mouse Boiler Works | 1993 | Based on scaled-down Victorian Railways NA class.Victoria is owned by the Leek & Rudyard Railway Ltd who also owns all the closed Isle of Mull railway along with diesel loco's Frances and Glen Audlyn. Victoria ran regularly at Rudyard until Autumn 2015. She was removed for overhaul in Sheffield on 22 December 2015 and returned to service in December 2018 following 3 years work. |
There is also :
- A 4wPM loco No. 2 Modred (also known by the volunteers, as the Ferret)
- A 4W+4W bogie diesel loco. No. 5 Rudyard Lady
- A 4W+4W bogie diesel loco. Glen Auldyn, from the closed Isle of Mull Railway
- A 4W+4W bogie diesel loco Frances, from the closed Isle of Mull Railway
These are normally only used for maintenance although they are often used for occasional mid-week services.
Visiting steam locomotives often attend the annual steam gala held each year over a weekend in late September. The 2011 guest locomotive was Victoria from the closed Isle of Mull railway which remains at Rudyard and is used on many normal services. Pendragon, as shown in the top right of this section, left the railway in 2019 as it is privately owned.[1]
A fleet of 13 carriages and a wide variety of goods wagons are also used. A further enclosed brake carriage was constructed in 2011 and brought into service in August and another 12 seat enclosed coach added in December 2012. The carriages from the closed Isle of Mull Railway are also slowly being brought back into service after restoration.
Facilities
Rudyard Station comprises Platform 1 with a shelter where the trains depart. A footbridge links this to Platform 2 where the cafe, a large covered picnic area, signal box and toilets are located. Platform 2 is, in fact, the original standard gauge platform built by the North Staffordshire Railway. The original flower beds and retaining walls are clearly visible. At a higher level than platform 1 is a good vantage point. To the South end of the station are the engine shed, water tower, coal bunker, storage shed and workshop.
The railway offers learn to drive a steam train courses, of either a half or full day for individuals or groups. Children's parties are hosted and the Platform 2 Cafe provides hot and cold refreshments all year around whenever the railway is running.
References
- Hanton. Peter The Heywood Society Journal No. 34 Spring 1994
- Williams John K. The Heywood Society Journal No. 52 Spring 2003
- Hanson Michael The Heywood Society Journal No. 56 Spring 2005
External links
- Official website, including current timetable details