2014 Railway News

Santa trains sadly did not run in 2014 for the first time in 10 years due to the ill health of the railways owners and the possible sale of the railway. The owners need to sell the railway due to retirement was announced in July information on that is set out on the Sale page.

A programme of track works to add extra sleepers and new ballast means there were no trains in the early part of 2014. Services restarted at the February Half term after the majority of the track work had been done. The remainder was completed by Easter. Working parties operated twice a week from late December to the February half term. This involved raising the track adding 3 extra sleepers per panel and replacing any defective ones. Ballast was then added and Kango packed. Regular maintenance then continued through the year

A new open wagon for carrying prams, bikes and buggies has been constructed and brought into use in July. A new 12 seat coach was also built by LTM engineering and brought into service. The car park at Rudyard station now has a tarmac surface.

Trains are now ran through the summer on Saturdays and Sundays and with the Platform 2 cafe open again. Trains also ran daily in all the School holidays. It was a record year for traffic on the normal trains and put the railway in a healthy financial position so that the loss of Santa trains was not a problem.Victoria after examination of her boiler got a new certificate and returned to use in September ready for the steam gala. The steam gala Sep. 20, 21 was our busiest ever with 11 locomotives in use on both days.

The steam gala ran on September 20/21st with 7 steam engines and 4 diesels in use.

This sign still points the way to Cliffe Park station at the North end of Rudyard Lake over 50 years after it closed. It’s hoped to return the trains there one day in the not too distant future.