Rudyard Lake Steam Railway

The Rudyard Lake Steam Railway is a minimum gauge railway and the third railway of any gauge to run along the side of Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire. The railway runs for a mile and a half 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. The current line started in 1985 and is 10¼ inch gauge, and operates to a timetable. Trains are about half the size a normal narrow gauge railway and are usually steam hauled. Trains run on Sundays and Bank Holidays from February half term to the end of November, adding Saturdays as well between the start of April and the end of September. There are midweek services on most days during the school holidays but visitors should check the [http://www.rudyardlakerailway.co.uk/ railway's website] for exact details.

Locomotives

It has five steam engines named after historical characters:

*King Arthur 0-6-2T built 2005 No.8
*Pendragon 2-4-2T built 1994 No.9 (previously named Ashorne from Ashorne Hall Railway)
*Excalibur 2-4-2T built 1993 No.6 (previously named "River Churnet" prior to rebuild in 2003)
*Merlin 2-4-2T built 1998 No.7
*Waverley 4-4-2 built 1948 by David Curwen, on permanent loan from the Isle of Mull RailwayThe first four of these locomotives were built by the Exmoor Steam Railway

There is also :
*A 4 Wheel Petrol Loco No.2 Modred (also known by the volunteers, as the ferret)
*A 4W+4W bogie diesel loco. No.5 Rudyard Lady
*A 2-2-2 battery electric loco. No.3 Sir ErnieThese are normally only used for maintenance although even for these duties the railway is now using its steam engines year round in preference to internal combustion engines as they are proving more economical and reliable.

Visiting steam engines often attend the annual steam gala held each September.

A fleet of 12 carriages and a wide variety of goods wagons are also used.

Facilities

The railway offers "learn to drive a steam train" courses, of either a half or full day. These are highly regarded and popular presents. Special events such as Halloween are aimed at Children and are run throughout the year.

Santa trains run on some Sundays in December and must be booked in advance.

External links

* [http://www.rudyardlakerailway.co.uk/ The railway's website]
* [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/hanson.mike/driver.htm Learn to Drive a steam engine information]