Battlefield Line Railway

Battlefield Line Railway
A busy scene from the 2014 Spring Steam Gala at Shackerstone Station
Coordinates 52°36′00″N 1°24′54″W / 52.600°N 1.415°W / 52.600; -1.415Coordinates: 52°36′00″N 1°24′54″W / 52.600°N 1.415°W / 52.600; -1.415
The Battlefield Line as shown on a period map
Commercial operations
Name London and North Western Railway
Midland Railway
British Rail
Built by London and North Western Railway
Original gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Owned by Shackerstone Railway Society
Operated by Shackerstone Railway Society
Length 5 mi (8.0 km)
Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened 1873
Closed 1965
Preservation history
1973 Partial re-opening
Headquarters Shackerstone
Ashby & Nuneaton Joint Railway
Leicester–
Burton upon Trent line
Overseal and Moira
Moira
Donisthorpe
Coalville Town
Measham
Charnwood Forest Rly
Leicester–
Burton upon Trent line
Snarestone
Hugglescote
Heather and Ibstock
Shackerstone Junction
Shackerstone
Battlefield Line Railway
Market Bosworth
Shenton
Stoke Golding
Higham on the Hill
Trent Valley line
(West Coast Main Line)
Birmingham–
Peterborough line
Nuneaton
Abbey Street
Nuneaton
Coventry–
Nuneaton line
Hinckley
Trent Valley line
(West Coast Main Line)
Birmingham–
Peterborough line

The Battlefield Line Railway is a heritage railway in Leicestershire, England.[1] It runs from Shackerstone (Grid ref SK 379 065) to Shenton (SK 396 002), via Market Bosworth, a total of 5 miles (8.0 km). Shenton is near Bosworth Field, (the location of the final battle of the Wars of the Roses immortalised in Shakespeare's Richard III), giving the railway its name.

Overview

The Shackerstone Station Building

The railway runs steam and diesel-hauled trains every weekend and Bank Holiday from March to December, as well as a summer mid-week service on Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays in July and August and Wednesdays in September; the latter is operated by the Heritage diesel railcar service. Special events:Christmas Santa Specials and others throughout the year.

History

Shackerstone Station

The railway used to be part of the London and North Western Railway and the Midland Railway, who operated the line jointly between Moira West Junction and Nuneaton. The first trains ran along this section in 1873. At Shackerstone station, there was once a junction where one section branched off towards Moira and Ashby and the other went towards Coalville Junction. In 1883, the Charnwood Forest Railway was opened, which extended the branch from Coalville Junction to Loughborough's Derby Road station, passing through the villages of Whitwick and Shepshed. In the 1923 Grouping, these lines were assigned to the London Midland and Scottish Railway. In 1931 the last scheduled passenger train went down the Charnwood Forest branch, with the line then only being open to freight and excursions until the 1960s. The Coalville Junction – Shackerstone section was dismantled and closed completely in 1964. The Ashby – Nuneaton line had its last passenger service in 1965, which was an enthusiasts' special, before British Rail pulled the rails up in 1970. In its heyday, Shackerstone was a busy station, with steam trains doing the workings between Ashby and Nuneaton, whilst a railcar did the service between Shackerstone and Loughborough Derby Road.

The line was originally double track but was later singled. Confusingly, part of the line was called the Bluebell Line (the Charnwood Forest Line, Hugglescote to Loughborough Derby Road station; this line was only accessible via the ANJR).

The royal train now in the National Railway Museum went to Shackerstone on its first outing in December 1902. It conveyed King Edward VII, Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria on their way to Gopsall Hall, where Handel is reputed to have composed his oratorio Messiah.

Renovation project

GWR 2-6-2T Small Prairie Tank No. 5542 at Shackerstone Station

The Shackerstone Railway Society was set up in 1969 at Market Bosworth, but soon moved to Shackerstone in 1970, as they needed a proper home for their first steam engine. When they got to Shackerstone they found one through line still intact, and their first aim was to build some sidings. Later they reinstated the "down" platform and connected the sidings to the line to Market Bosworth.

In 1973, to celebrate the centenary of the line, a small train of open wagons was hauled to Market Bosworth. Following the successful conclusions of the negotiations with British Rail, a start was made on track rearrangements which created run-round loops at both ends of the line and a number of sidings at Shackerstone.

In the 1980s, the Battlefield Line launched a campaign to extend their line to Shenton. This involved buying 1 1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) of track and in 1992 after a successful campaign, the inaugural service arrived, hauled by the appropriately named 0-6-0 tank engine "Richard III."

Journey

The first section of the journey travelling south from Shackerstone is a climbing gradient which continues until the train is clear of the station limits. The signal box on the left is the oldest Midland Railway Co. type one box still in operational use. The train then passes under the first bridge which carries the road to Barton-in-the-Beans, and into open farmland.

Market Bosworth Station
Shenton station

Market Bosworth is 3 miles (4.8 km) from Shackerstone. There are usually stored locomotives or wagons here. To the right can be seen the old buildings and signal box which used to control part of the operation of the station.

South of Market Bosworth station, the train passes Aqueduct Cottage and the Ashby Canal aqueduct beyond it. Trains slow as they cross the road bridge between Shenton and Sutton Cheney. As the line curves to the right, the train approaches the terminus at Shenton, just over 4 1⁄2 miles (7.2 km) away from Shackerstone. The station pottery is the only surviving part of the original station. The present station is the reconstructed Humberstone Road station from Leicester. At the end of the line is a headshunt underneath an old cattle bridge. The small bridge was previously used to allow safe passage of farm traffic over the original railway.

Steam locomotives

Operational

Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Owner(s) Date Photograph
Cumbria No. WD194 (Works No. 3794) Hunslet WD 0-6-0ST A wartime design but delivered new to Longmoor Army Stores. Preserved in 1973 and now owned and operated by the Furness Railway Trust. On hire to the Battlefield Line for 2016-17. Maroon. Furness Railway Trust 1953
Sir Gomer Peckett and Sons class OX1 0-6-0ST Designed as a powerful industrial, "Sir Gomer", according to findings, is capable of moving a 928-ton train at slow speed on level ground. Blue. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. (available for sale) 1932

Undergoing overhaul, restoration or repairs

Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Owner(s) Date Photograph
No. 3
Richard III		 Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns
0-6-0T		 This locomotive is currently stored awaiting overhaul. (available for sale) Light Blue. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1949
No. 7 Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST Having not steamed since the early days of the railway, this locomotive has been stored in the North End Yard in recent years. However, in April 2012 she was dragged from her resting place of 30 years to the locomotive works yard. During late July 2012 the restoration began. N/A. Private Owner. 1951 ~
No. 5011 Joseph booth crane Used as a yard crane for its builders until entering preservation at the Keighley and Worth Valley. later sold to a private individual and stored, this 7.5T crane was rescued from a farmyard near gatwick during 2014. In July 2014 the restoration began. N/A. Private Owner. 1941 ~

Diesel shunters

Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Date Photograph
No. 2 Nancy Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 Stored (Privately owned) (available for sale) Dark Blue
No. D2867 Diane Class 02 Operational. Used as shed shunter (Privately owned) Green 17/11/1961
No. 04110 (D2310) Class 04 Operational (within station limits) (Railway owned) BR Blue 22/12/1960
Hercules Ruston 0-4-0 Under repair (Private owner) Yellow and Pink
No. 12083 Class 11 Under restoration (Privately owned) BR Blue 30/11/1950
Big Momma Barclay Shunter 0-6-0 Stored out of use at Market Bosworth station (Privately owned) Light Green
No 422 Hot Wheels Andrew Barclay Stored out of use at Market Bosworth station (Privately owned) Blue

Ex. mainline heritage diesels

Number & Name Description History & Current Status Livery Owner(s) Date Photograph
No. 73114 British Rail Class 73
Bo-Bo		 Under Repair BR Rail Blue. Private Owner. 1966
No. 47640
University of Strathclyde		 British Rail Class 47
Co-Co		 Operational BR Large Logo Blue. Private Owner. 1966
No. 33019
Griffon		 British Rail Class 33
Bo-Bo		 Under repair Grey & Yellow Private Owner. 1960
No. D6508
Eastleigh		 British Rail Class 33
Bo-Bo		 Awaiting Repair From The Watercress Line BR Green. Private Owner. 1960
No. D6593 British Rail Class 33
Bo-Bo		 Awaiting Repair From The Watercress Line BR Green. Watercress Line. 1960

Diesel multiple units

Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Photograph
DMBS No M55005. Class 122 Operational, used on passenger trains regularly (Privately owned). Built in 1958. BR Blue & Grey
DMS No 51321 Class 118 Operational, used with 55005 on passenger trains when a second coach is required at busier times (Privately owned). Built in 1960. BR Blue & Grey
DMBS No 51131 Class 116 Under Overhaul, undergoing mechanical and bodywork repairs (Privately owned). Built in 1958. BR Blue & Grey

Coach stock

British Railways Mark 1 coaches

The original A&NJR closed long before the formation of British Railways, but as very few suitable period carriages were preserved, BR Mark 1 coaches form part of all Battlefield Line passenger trains today. They are a renowned design of standardised rail stock, being both durable and high-capacity vehicles.

Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Owner(s) Date Photograph
No. M1104 Mark 1 RE Converted into a Griddle buffet from RF No. 301 while working for BR, and was later preserved. Overhauled in 2015 and now in service. BR Lined Maroon. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1952
No. M81428 Mark 1 BG Operational. BR Lined Maroon. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1957 ~
No. M25729 Mark 1 SK In Service. BR Lined Maroon. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1961
No. M4918 Mark 1 TSO Operational. BR Lined Maroon. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1962
No. M4939 Mark 1 TSO Operational. BR Lined Maroon. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1962
No. M4989 Mark 1 TSO Operational. BR Blood & Custard. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1962
No. W13313[2] Mark 1 FK Operational. BR Chocolate and Cream. Private owner. 1961
No. W13474 Mark 2 FK Operational. BR Maroon. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1968 ~
No. W34935 Mark 1 BSK Awaiting repair. BR Blood & Custard (West side).
BR Chocolate & Cream (East side).		 Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1956
No. 34953 Mark 1 BSK Awaiting a major overhaul. Maroon. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1956 ~
No. ADB975459 Mark 1 BSK Originally numbered 34136 until conversion into a departmental coach. Docked in the Shackerstone bay siding as volunteer accommodation. BR Lined Maroon. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1952
No. 1816 Mark 1 RMB In use as mess room at Shackerstone. N/A. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1959
No. 3087 Mark 1 FO Away for overhaul. N/A. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1959 ~
No. 1505 Mark 1 RKB Numbered ADB977084 after becoming part of the original Crewe Test Train. In storage awaiting overhaul. N/A. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1960 ~
No. 81470 Mark 1 BG At present in use as a parts store. InterCity. Shackerstone Railway Society Ltd. 1958 ~
No. W93701 Mark 1 GUV Presently at the end of the Shackerstone north siding complex as a storage vehicle. BR Rail Blue. Private owner. 1959 ~
No. 94142 Mark 1 CCT Awaiting overhaul in the Shackerstone south siding. Maroon. Private owner. 1960 ~

References

  1. ↑ OS Explorer Map 232 : Nuneaton & Tamworth: (1:25 000) : ISBN 0 319 46404 0
  2. ↑ http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=1566
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