Groups: L&B NWAG at the Moseley Gala

In glorious late summer weather that brought out the crowds, the L&B North West Area Group (NWAG) provided a Display and Sales Stand, as well as a working L&B model layout, at the Moseley Railway Trust Gala at their Apedale site near Stoke-on-Trent, over the weekend of 12/13 September 2009.
 
The Moseley Trust started life as a technology project at a secondary school near Manchester, with the pupils restoring small industrial diesel locomotives.  They built a line that eventually weaved its way around the school playing fields, which was popular with families as a Sunday afternoon outing with the kids.  Having to leave the school site, their collection of locos was in store for some years, until they obtained a new site in Apedale Country Park - a reclaimed colliery near Stoke, now popular for country walks.  Here they provided displays in the Heritage Centre, built a loco shed and workshops, and have constructed the first 400yards of a 2ft gauge line.  
 
The September Gala was only their second MRT Open Day, but there was an impressive array of outdoor attractions, including various demonstration industrial trains and operations, the heavy freight train being operated by visiting O&K 0-6-0 Sragi Mills No 14, magnificently restored at Statfold recently.  Apart from the large collection of locomotives owned and restored by MRT, there were WW2 exhibits, vintage commercial vehicles including a Sentinel steam lorry, classic cars and much more besides.  There were also several narrow gauge model railways, specialist booksellers and society stands.
 
The L&B stand was in the Heritage Centre, next to a Simplex loco on static display, and opposite the Ashover Light Railway Society stand (so there was a particularly good collection of Eric Leslie's artwork on display in that area!).  The L&B display stand showed a little of the history of the line, and the story of its revival.  A good quantity of L&B books, magazines and postcards were sold, to a slightly different set of visitors to those at the Model Railway exhibitions the NWAG have attended previously.  Most people knew of the L&B, and were interested in progress.  Grateful thanks are due to Roger Desforges and new volunteer Mark Simon who manned the stand on Saturday, and to Gerry Crocombe and Stuart Robertson who took over on Sunday.
 
Bob Barnard gave his recently refurbished 40+ year old 009 model of Lynton station its first public airing, a number of visitors recognising the station building and goods shed from passing by during trips to Devon.  As well as showing the properly signalled operation and shunting of mixed trains, a shuttle service operated from the bay platform with Axe, Coach 7 and Van 23.  The model proved a hit with many children, some dragging their parents and grandparents back several times, one or two even being allowed to operate the signals and points, and drive the trains.  Stuart Robertson brought his 16mm scale live steam Manning Wardle loco to display on the Sunday.
 
Several L&B members made themselves known, as well as other interesting people (including one who had travelled on the L&B in 1935).  MRT are keen for the L&B to return next year (when they hope to be carrying passengers on their NG line).

Photos: Bob Barnard

1.Gerry Crocombe (far left) and Stuart Robertson (far right) talk about the L&B.

2. Roger Desforges (centre) and Mark Simon (right) chat to a visitor.