Below: Newcastle wasn’t the only thing we acquired! This pile of bits is in fact a historically important side tipping waggon of the ‘MSC’ type (so named after the Manchester Ship Canal construction contract that popularised this type of cheap and easily built waggon in side or end tipping form). Such waggons were widely used nationally (and internationally) and originate from a design by one of T.A.Walker’s engineers, first used on the Barry Docks contract but to a well established format. This one originated at Storefield Quarry in the ironstone fields.

Below: Extraction of the remains, no more than a pattern plus metalwork, was accomplished using the farm forklift – seen here taking to the track en route to the lorry!

Below: A close up of a variation or optional extra for these waggons – a brake! We now have a growing collection of bits of such waggons, and one day I hope to arrange a project to rebuild a short rake of a hugely significant but totally overlooked type of railway vehicle.

Below: Another delivery! This pile of ex Bord na Mona Hudson Jubilee track is for use on part of our new narrow gauge railway and arrived thanks to the cooperation of Middlepeak Railways Ltd who sold us a quantity of the material which is in pretty good condition considering the transitory nature of it.

The track came from store at Apedale, base of the Moseley Railway Trust. Can you spot the connections in this photo? Newcastle, seen in the background, worked at Apedale at the beginning of its life…