Chasewater Railway

The Chasewater Railway is a former colliery railway running round the shores of Chasewater in Staffordshire, England. It is now operated as a heritage railway.

Chasewater Railway
The Chasewater Heaths station, with the new signal box rebuilt at the station in 2007
LocaleBrownhills West
TerminusChasetown (Church Street) (north)
Brownhills West (south)
Commercial operations
Original gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated byChasewater Light Railway & Museum Company
Stations4
Length2 miles (3.2 km)
Preserved gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Chasewater Railway
 Chasetown
(Church Street)
 Chasewater Heaths
 Norton Lakeside Halt
causeway
 Brownhills West
 M6 Toll 

The line is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) in length, contained entirely within Chasewater Country Park. The route, which forms a horse-shoe shape around the lake, passes through heathland, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and passes over a 1⁄4-mile (0.40 km) long causeway.

History

Prior to preservation, the line was part of the network operated by the NCB to serve the coalfields of the Cannock Chase area. The exchange sidings, where the colliery line connected with the Midland Railway, were situated about 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) north of the current Brownhills West Station.

Significant changes happened in 2002/2003 caused by the closure of the old Brownhills station, due to the building of the M6 Toll motorway. This led to the rebuilding of Brownhills West with significantly improved facilities, including a new carriage shed and heritage centre, and completion of the Chasetown section of the line (the 'Chasetown Extension Railway' between Chasewater Heaths and Chasetown Church Street).

In 2016 the Railway was awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Services.

Stations

The buildings at Brownhills West house Chasewater Railway Museum.

Rolling stock

The railway is home to a collection of steam and diesel locomotives of mostly industrial origin, many with local industrial connections. Passengers are conveyed in ex-DMU cars and British Railways Mark 1 coaches, as well as brake vans on gala days. The railway has also played host to various guest steam locomotives from other lines.

The railway also owns various vintage carriages, some dating back over a century. These, as well as other rolling stock, are accommodated in the Heritage Centre.

Locomotives
Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-6-0T No. 7684 "Nechells No. 4" operating a demonstration freight train.
A selection of diesel locomotives participating in the 2007 Diesel Gala.
  • Steam Locomotives
    • Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0 ST No. 2780 "Asbestos" built in 1909 (On display).[1]
    • W.G. Bagnall 0-4-0 ST No. 2648 "Dunlop No. 6" built in 1940. (Operational, returned to service in 2017).
    • W.G. Bagnall 0-4-0 ST No. 2842 "Kent Electric Power Company No. 2" built in 1946. (Operational, on loan from the Foxfield Railway).
    • Sentinel 0-4-0 VBT No. 9632 built in 1957. (Under overhaul).
    • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 ST No. 1223 "Colin McAndrew" built in 1911. (On display).
    • Neilson 0-4-0 ST No. 2937 "Alfred Paget" built in 1882. (Under overhaul).
    • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 T No. S100 built in 1949. (Under restoration).
    • Peckett and Sons 0-4-0 ST No. 917 built in 1902. (In storage).
    • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 ST, No. 431 "Sheepbridge No. 15" built in 1895. (In storage)
    • Hunslet 0-6-0 ST No. 3783 "Darfield No. 1" built in 1953. Under overhaul (currently in the guise of local engine "Holly Bank No. 3"). Nearing completion in September 2019.
    • Peckett and Sons 0-4-0 ST No. 2012 "Teddy" built 1941. (On display)
    • Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0 ST No. 750 "Waleswood". Built in 1906. (The locomotive was completely overhauled at the NIRT until 2019, when it left for Chasewater on 1 September to become part of the operating fleet).
  • Diesel Locomotives
    • North British Locomotive Company 0-4-0 DH No. D2911 built in 1958. (Operational).
    • BR Class 08 no D3249/08 359 built in 1958. (Operational).
    • Baguley 0-4-0 DM No. 3027 "Bass No. 5" built in 1939. (Operational).
    • Baguley 0-4-0 DM No. 3410 "Martson, Thompson and Evershed No. 4" built in 1955. (Operational).
    • Baguley 0-4-0 DM No. 3590 "Bass No. 11" built in 1962. (In storage).
    • Fowler 0-4-0 DH No. 4220015 "Toad" built in 1962. (In storage).
    • Hunslet 0-4-0 DH No. 6678 built in 1968. (Operational).
    • Fowler 0-4-0 DM No. 4100013 built in 1948. (In storage).
    • Brush Bagnall 0-4-0 DE No. 3097 built in 1956. (Under overhaul).
    • Kent Construction and Eng Co. 4w DM No. 1612 Planet built in 1929. (Operational).
    • Ruston 48 4w DM No. 305306 "Ryan" built in 1952. (Under restoration).
    • F.C. Hibbard Planet 4w DM No. 1891 "Derbyshire Stone No. 2" built in 1934. (In storage).
    • Bagnall 0-6-0 DM No. 3119 "Hem Heath" built in 1956. (In storage).
    • Bagnall 4w DH No. 3208 built in 1961. (In storage).
    • Kent Construction and Eng Co. 4w DM No. 20 Planet built in 1926. (On long term loan to the National Brewery Museum).
    • Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 8366/Bagnall 0-4-0 DH No. 530003, "Myfanwy" built in 1962. (Operational).[2]
    • Thomas Hill 4w DH No. 01568 "Helen" built in 1976. (Operational).
    • Simplex 0-4-0 PM No. 15097 (works number 1930) built in 1919. (Operational).
    • Simplex 0-4-0 PM No. 15099 (works number 2028) "Morris" built in 1920. (Operational).
  • Diesel Multiple Units
    • BR Class 127 Centre coach no. 59603.
    • BR Class 116 Centre coach no. 59444.
    • Northern Rail Class 142 no. 142 029. (Currently under driver training)

Narrow gauge railway
Chasewater Light Railway - narrow gauge railway

Volunteers are working to establish a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge narrow gauge railway close to the heritage centre.

References
  1. "Asbestos Special 1st January 2012". Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  2. Industrial Locomotives: including preserved and minor railway locomotives. 15EL. Melton Mowbray: Industrial Railway Society. 2009. ISBN 978-1-901556-53-7.

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