The Apedale Valley Light Railway in Staffordshire has issued an update about its Motor Rail Mania event on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June.

The event is being held in celebration of the Motor Rail locomotive. A Bedford engineering company built the first of these locos 110 years ago, in 1916. The company, Simplex, became a leading manufacturer of narrow-gauge, internal-combustion locos.

The Apedale Valley Light Railway has a significant collection of these locomotives.

During the Motor Rail Mania event, frequent train services will operate using Motor Rail diesel and petrol locos. The Railway is inviting Motor Rail owners to bring their locos to the event, and is asking them to contact them in advance.

As part of the event, the Railway will be hosting its first diesel-centred photo charter event. This will be themed around the Leighton Buzzard sand railway, and will feature some of the Railway’s home fleet, and possibly some visiting locomotives.

The Railway, which is currently undergoing maintenance work while it is closed for the winter, is a 2’0″ gauge railway operated by the Moseley Railway Trust. It is currently only a few hundred metres long, but hopes to extend in the future.

The Railway runs both steam and diesel trains, and in 2024 added Bagnall ‘Moto’ to its steam fleet.

For the Motor Rail Mania event, the action will start early, at 07.30, with trains running until 10.30. At 11.00, the gala will commence.

A £40 ticket includes access to the photo charter, a return train ride and access to the site during the Saturday.

Fares for this event will be:

• Admission and one ride – Adults £8, children £1.
• Day Rovers – Adults £25, children £12.
  

The Apedale Valley Light Railway is located next to the Heritage Centre in the Apedale Country Park, which is near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire. The Country Park is about a fifteen-minute walk from Chesterton Village, and can be reached by road or by public transport.

The railway has several other events planned for the coming season, including April’s Easter Egg Hunt and Drive-it Day.