MEMORIES OF SUMMER TRIPS
Staffordshire Trip 
We made our way from Cheddleton by various narrow lanes to the Foxfield Railway at Blythe Bridge. We were using an OS map so only had one overshoot where the road to Caverswall Road Station was cunningly made part of the mainline level crossing.
Most preserved railways are on the track beds of closed passenger lines and while many started with small industrial tank engines the got rid of them and started using imposing ex- mainline engines as soon as they could. Not so the Foxfield Railway which is the line from Foxfield Colliery uphill and down to the main line at Blythe Bridge. They are proud of their collection of small industrial locos.
They are proudest of all of their Beyer Peacock. A beautifully preserved 0-4-0. For railway buffs I think the Lancashire & Yorkshire draughtsmen at Horwich must have had a good look at this before the designed their Pug.
Works Plate of the Beyer Peacock telling us how old it is. Master Li is professionally interested in recording Name ,Number and Works Plates for his Data base. He got one or two of use to him on this trip 
After the inevitable cup of tea in the refresh, alas, no Staffordshire Oatcakes, we boarded our train which was hauled by a far younger loco and six coupled too named Florence No 2. Named after the colliery it worked at which took its name from the 3rd Duke of Sutherland’s eldest daughter, the Duke being the coal owner.
Florence No2 Running round the train at the Dilhorne Park end of our journey
Florence No2 back on her train ready for the journey back and the passenger are being most restrained and not standing in front of the loco.
Continued Below Click Here
As you can see the loco was Staffordshire built by Bagnalls of Stafford. Foxfield like to collect locally built locos
Kerr Stuart of Stoke on Trent were pioneers in Industrial Diesels and this is one of theirs built not long before the company folded due to one of the Company Directors gambling on the stock market. I have always had a soft spot for Kerr Stuart as they built lots of little narrow gauge locos and in fact the last steam loco built by the Hunslet Engine Company in Leeds was a Kerr Stuart design. The one with me stood next to it that featured in the Yorkshire Post a week or so ago.
Kerr Stuart Works Plate.
On our way home we had a discussion on Semantics arising from the fact that as we drove into Derbyshire we saw a large notice:- Motorcycle Accident Zone, so the bikers would know where to go have their accidents. Then there were notices saying either Bikers Beware or Beware Bikers. Now if you start saying these phrases, your tone of voice can make all the difference to their meaning. If you have a pause between Bikers and Beware it is warning motorists of danger from bikers. If you say it quickly it means the bikers have to beware. Have a go yourself and see how you can change the meaning. Do it when you are on your own or you will get some funny looks.
Anyway a Grand Day Out Grommit
