Slim gauges in the Forest of Dean, and the Severn Valley gala
With lots of photos, and video too, it’s taken a little while to put it all together – but some results from the two days are now on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“. Visit “In the Forest” for an illustrated account of the day in Dean, and “Severnside M7” for photos and video of Sunday’s fun on the Severn Valley Railway
That’s M7 as in London and South Western Railway 0-4-4T, dating from the days of Dugald Drummond. 30053 normally lives on the Swanage Railway, but is visiting the Severn Valley Railway for their September gala – along with S&D 2-8-0 no. 88 from the West Somerset, the Worth Valley’s Midland 4F no. 43924 and the Caprotti 5 no. 73129 from Butterley. It was, of course, a good day, even if everything seemed to be the wrong way round. The photos and video will disprove that theory, won’t they? They’ll appear on Geoff’s Rail Diaries in due course (but not before I’ve dealt with yesterday’s outing).
The Forest of Dean is a great place for narrow gauge railways – especially when Keefs hold their annual open day. Star attraction is the completed “Barber”, the locomotive built in 1908 by T Green of Leeds for the Harrogate gas works railway – it’s ready for the journey back to South Tynedale and its return to steam. Nearby is the Lea Bailey Light Railway, where there’s a real narrow gauge industrial feel to operations. We’ll look in at Clearwell Caves too, to have a look at the locomotives there 
(including Lea Bailey’s Hunslet), before visiting Perrygrove, where the annual gala is in full swing, with visitor St Egwyn from the Evesham Vale line. There will be a full set of photos in a day or two, when I’ve had time to put a “Rail Diaries” entry together – but not tomorrow, we’re visiting the Severn Valley for their gala…
Making the most of the dry and warm weather – another Wenlock Edge walk, from the car park at Presthope. The route as far as Easthope follows the Shropshire Way, but it’s not been been heavily walked. One short section of path has vanished altogether, requiring a deviation (a short walk along a busy road), and the route across the fields has new crops growing on it. Where are all the waymarkers? As we approach Easthope, a red kite glides high overhead – the second time we’ve seen one hereabouts recently.
From Easthope, we follow the minor road up to the crest of the Wenlock Edge, and descend to the old railway track. The passenger service between Wenlock and Craven Arms ended more than 60 years ago; freight from Wenlock to Longville finished in 1964. Now the trackbed provides an excellent surface to walk back to Presthope; though the sun filters through, there’s not much of a view – just one or two windows in the forest.
Visit “September Steam at Statfold” for photos and an account of Saturday’s open day at Statfold barn – just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“
Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries”, an account of Friday’s fun at Apedale – turtles, a diver, a Baldwin, a Brigadelok and much more – and lots more pictures. Visit “Tracks to the Trenches“.
We’ve done it before, more then once – from the end of the surfaced lane up onto the edge, then south-eastwards along the crest to the point where it peters out, almost at the main road. There’s a red kite quartering Corvedale, gradually working its way southwards and out of sight. The return route follows the stream, barely a trickle today, before tending away to its west and up to the manor house, where there’s tea and coffee, but we’re too late for the cakes – they’re all gone. A Twix will suffice – it’s not far back to the car.
Help! The traction engines have escaped from their field, and have wandered off into the field beside the railway. It was a bit like a herd of cows, one after another, rather hesitantly making their way from the lane, across the railway and into the stubble. They lost interest after a while and began to wander back. Yes, another great day at Statfold. Lots of photos to sort through: a selection will appear on “Geoff’s Rail Diaries”, once I’ve dealt with the pictures from yesterday’s visit to “Tracks to the Trenches”
…was great fun – an excellent afternoon’s entertainment provided by the Moseley Railway Trust at their Apedale Valley Railway. There really were 2’0″ gauge tracks running to real trenches, WW1-style. It’s amazing how much railway equipment (a) has survived from the First World War, and (b) was assembled at Apedale for the event.
There will be many more photos, on the Rail Diaries, in due course – but not for a day or two. Tomorrow it’s Statfold. In the meantime, here’s a sample – Baldwin 4-6-0T no. 778 (BLW 44656 of 1917) in action on the Apedale main line.
There’s a regular bus service from Broseley to Much Wenlock – that’s one every two hours, from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm (ish). So today’s outing requires a little planning – it’s not wise to just turn up at the bus stop and hope – might be a long wait. The 1.30 (ish – it was late) gets us to Wenlock just before 2.00 – that’s a good time for the walk to Benthall Hall, which is open four days a week – we can call in for refreshments. The autumn days are becoming hazy, but it’s sunny and pleasantly warm. It can’t last…
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