Apedale Railway
9th October 2022
It was my first visit to the Apedale
Railway arriving before the first train of the day.
The passenger stock for the day was in
Silverdale station platform.
I took a walk along the trackside
footpath and the shed quickly came into view.
There on the inspection ramp was the
loco I`d come to see almost ready to come off shed.
This was the final steaming weekend for
Hunslet 1215 this year.
By the time I`d retraced my steps to get
to the other side of the tracks no. 303 was moving off shed.
In a cloud of steam from the cylinder
drain cocks she moved slowly to the shed front.
Built for the First World War in 1916
this is Hunslet 4-6-0 no.303 (builders No 1215).
Moving up now to take good old Welsh
steam coal...
... and then on towards the station.
Entering Silverdale station.
The first train of the day seen passing
the sheds...
...bathed in bright autumn sunshine.
This is Apedale Road station. There are
plans for a further extension.
The guard stands by the run round point.
An interesting rake of carriages makes
for an enjoyable ride.
First train of the day from Apedale Road
passes the running shed...
...on the return to Silverdale station.
An interesting collection of WW1 stock
in the siding on left.
303 pauses on the run round as the
driver can be seen applying grease to the outer curved rail presumably
to stop wheel squeal.
Makers plate on bunker.
