Moseley Railway Trust News

Moseley Railway Trust recovers equipment from Great Britain’s last peat works railway

The Moseley Railway Trust has recovered all of the remaining locomotives, wagons and track from Great Britain’s last peat works railway. The railway served workings on Lindow Moss, near Wilmslow. This location made national headlines in 1984 when the well-preserved remains of an Iron Age male were discovered. Lindow Man, as he was named, is now an exhibit at the British Museum.

The works used a 2’0” gauge line ran from the peat fields to the works, where the peat was tipped from the wooden wagons, processed, and then taken from site to be used for (amongst other uses) mushroom cultivation. At one time, such railways were used on many sites where peat was dug, but increasing environmental concerns have effected a cessation of such activities.

Following an agreement with the site owners, Croghan Peat, Moseley Railway Trust members recovered three locomotives, four wagons and a quantity of track. The recovery took place on June 24 and 25, in an operation further complicated by the need to comply with COVID-19 guidance. All of the equipment has been removed to the Trust’s centre of operations at Apedale, Staffordshire.

Two of the locomotives (a Lister and a Keef) are complete, and indeed both were returned to operation within a few hours of their arrival at Apedale. The third locomotive, another Lister, is missing many of its major components.

Phil Robinson, Chairman of the Moseley Railway Trust, said “I would like to thank Croghan Peat for their support with this project, and also the Trust members who negotiated and planned this operation. I would also like to recognise all the Trust members who turned out, in baking heat, to recover the equipment from Lindow Moss”.

The Moseley Railway Trust’s Apedale site remains closed to the public at present. However, the Trust hopes to be able to announce plans for the remainder of the 2020 season in the near future.

Moseley Railway Trust launches appeal for new shed project

The Moseley Railway Trust has launched a public appeal for funds to assist with the construction of a new building to project the Trust’s collection of narrow gauge railway rolling stock.

One of the first actions which the Moseley Railway Trust undertook when it came onto the Apedale site was the construction of a large storage building. This was completed in 2008. Since then the collection has grown significantly. We have seen not only new items arrive onto the site, but also the restoration of items which we now wish to keep protected from the weather. In particular, the Trust has a notable collection of World War One wagons, many of which are wooden-bodied.

It has therefore been decided that a second large storage shed will be built on the site. The shed will have four tracks within, and will measure approximately 30 feet by 85 feet. Tracks will be provided for 2’0″, 2’6″ and 3’0″ gauge vehicles. Full planning permission for the development has been granted, and the Trust is now close to placing a contract with a preferred supplier for the work.

The images give an idea of the appearance of the building. Note that the location on the Apedale site has changed, as have the dimensions, since they were created.

The building will cost approximately £85,000, and there are also associated costs, such as groundworks and track work to reach the shed. The Trust is therefore seeking public donations to assist with this cost. All donations can be made through the Trust’s website at www.avlr.org.uk.

The Moseley Railway Trust’s Apedale site remains closed to the public at present. However, the Trust expects to re-open to the public on August 1^st.