North Staffordshire Rolling Stock Trust

Have been making larger pieces of wood into smaller and more complicated shapes with the usual by-products of shavings and sawdust.

Spending quite a long time at the "making bits" stage, so I'm now looking forward to the building things stage !

 

61 and 127 had their first public runs of 2018 on 15th April, next up on 13th May ...

and further progress has been made on the ABC

 

On Saturday (28th April) the NSRRSRT sent some representatives to examine the current state of the work on NSR23 ...

 

Lots of progress has been made on No23 ... the roof planks are being dry-fitted this week.

 

The Knotties are running at Foxfield on Sunday 2nd September 2018.
There will be info available on the progress on 23 and 228 ...

 

Plenty progress on NSR23 ... *some* painting has been done.

 

Virtually finished now ...

 

May 4th, 5th & 6th will see a three coach four wheeled Knotty train running for the first time in a century. This very special event will see H/L no2 visit the Foxfield railway from our friends at Tanfield. Stanegate Restorations have done a fantastic job, so too members of the Trust who have worked so hard to make this happen. It is only five years since the remains of NSR no 23 were discovered, an incredible achievement.

NSR 1st 228 is next.

 

Will be great seeing the rake grow to three vehicles. The success of the project is astounding, really looking forward to seeing 228 tackled as I worked alongside it for several years at Cheddleton during its previous (stalled) restoration.

Although 228 was the last remaining NSR vehicle on the CVR, an NSR line, I applauded its transfer into the NSR coach project as I believed its best place would be where it would be most in context, running with its sisters. The idea of 228 running as part of a rake of no less than four vehicles is fantastic, it would only ever have been an isolated museum piece at the CVR, had it ever been finished.

I hope all the people involved enjoy seeing the set up to three vehicles, brown Shark no longer required!

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There's enough for a rake of 5x, with 2x former 1st Class also being found at the same location as NSR23 - and there seemingly being enough bits to make one good vehicle. Looking forward to seeing this project all come together (and develop into a new build NSR B Class...).

 

D class tank surely? Definitely a go anywhere loco and small enough to suite all heritage lines. First however... No.2/72/Princess

 

I'm straying dangerously into greedy territory....but a rake of 5 would really be a "proper" vintage rake. Longer vintage sets, particularly using matching vehicles, are a real treat in preservation, for the enthusiast and public alike.

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You want more NSR coaches ... that's OK with me now we've finished NSR23.
228 will be next, it just needs the funds to be raised and we can start work ...
And I'm not forgetting the two first class bodies from Rudyard, there is enough to build both provided the funds become available !

 

According to the experts a standard rake was a third brake, 2 thirds and a 1st. So the 4 coach rake will be prototypically correct.

 

The first departure from and arrival back into Blythe Bridge Caverswall Road Station of the 3 coach rake on the 1st May 2019.

 

No. "B" Class definitely. We have enough 0-6-0T engines in preservation, so why not go for something completely different? A NSR loco for the Knotty rake doesn't need to be a go anywhere loco, it's selling point will be it's a local loco for local lines. With there only being 2x lines concerned, a 2-4-0T will more than happily cope at each. You're not looking for a loco capable of hauling 6/7 Mk1s on a 10+ mile round trip.

A 2-4-0T recreating the Loop Line services would look spot on, and I firmly believe the Knotty Coach Group can achieve such in time if this is the hey choose to take. They are a real credit to preservation, not just locally but nationally too. However, we need the 5x coach rake first (and there's the 2x Midland coaches too).

As for 7(2), just yes! Though if funds are unlimited can we build a super heated boiler for her..?

 

As with all of these things its all down to time and effort. I was asked on the launch day of no23 how far had we got with the new build idea, my answer was three pints !. So onwards and No 228 beckons. We have received a donation of £3000 from the study group and we have officially started the appeal for this £150,000 project. We have some materials and all the fittings including a further pass com set in stock. Substantial grant aid will be required. But we have a USP and will be gathering our thoughts. I am interested I contacting a engineering draffy / project engineer to assist with the new frame for this coach- it may be that other groups are looking for 12ft wheel base 20ft frames for similar projects ?. We have several options for items in our ownership, if we went new build frame we have two mk1's bogie units in stock and could come to a arrangement. I look forward to asking Stanegate restorations to make a start !!!. We may use existing frames and modify, we shall see.

 

Sunday 2nd June sees the Knotty Heritage Train running at Foxfield.

( I don't know the planned timetable )

 

The next outing for the Knotty train is this coming Sunday 4th July, rostered locomotive is Beyer Peacock 1827/1879