Neha Patil (Editor)

Chasewater Railway

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Stations
  
4

Length
  
3,219 m

Locale
  
Brownhills West

Length
  
3,219 m

Phone
  
+44 1543 452623

Chasewater Railway

Terminus
  
Chasetown (Church Street) (north) Brownhills West (south)

Original gauge
  
4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Operated by
  
Chasewater Light Railway & Museum Company

Preserved gauge
  
4 ft 8 ⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Address
  
Brownhills West Station, Chasewater Country Park, Pool Ln, A5, Burntwood, Burntwook WS8 7NL, UK

Hours
  
Closed now Friday10AM–4PMSaturday9:30AM–5PMSunday9:30AM–5PMMondayClosedTuesdayClosedWednesday10AM–4PMThursday10AM–4PM

Similar
  
Chasewater, Chasewater Country Park ‑ Sta, Amerton Railway, Telford Steam Railway, Churnet Valley Railway

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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.

Contents

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.

2016 may 28 chasewater railway


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

  • Brownhills West
  • Norton Lakeside Halt
  • Chasewater Heaths (adjacent to Burntwood bypass)
  • Chasetown Church Street

    • 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. In recent years 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 newly completed Heritage Centre.

    Locomotives

  • Steam Locomotives
  • Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 2780 "Asbestos" built in 1909 (On display).
  • W.G. Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2648 "Linda" built in 1940. (Under overhaul).
  • Sentinel 0-4-0VBT No. 9632 built in 1957. (Under overhaul).
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 1223 "Colin McAndrew" built in 1911. (Operational).
  • Neilson 0-4-0ST No. 2937 "Alfred Paget" built in 1882. (In storage).
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No. S100 built in 1949. (Under restoration).
  • Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 917 built in 1902. (In storage).
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST, No. 431 "Sheepbridge No. 15" built in 1895. (In storage)
  • Hunslet 0-6-0ST No. 3783 "Darfield No. 1" built in 1953. (Operational, currently in the guise of local engine "Holly Bank No. 3").
  • Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-6-0T No. 7684 "Nechells No. 4" built in 1951. (On display).
  • Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 2012 "Teddy" built 1941. (Operational)
  • Diesel Locomotives
  • Ruston 0-4-0DE No. 544998 built in 1969. (In storage).
  • North British Locomotive Company 0-4-0DH No. D2911 built in 1958. (Operational).
  • BR Class 08 no D3249/08 359 built in 1958. (Operational).
  • Baguley 0-4-0DM No. 3410 "Martson, Thompson and Evershed No. 4" built in 1955. (Operational).
  • Fowler 0-4-0DH No. 4220015 "Toad" built in 1962. (In storage).
  • Hunslet 0-4-0DH No. 6678 built in 1968. (Operational).
  • Fowler 0-4-0DM No. 4100013 built in 1948. (In storage).
  • Brush Bagnall 0-4-0DE No. 3097 built in 1956. (Under overhaul).
  • Kent Construction and Eng Co. 4wDM No. 1612 Planet built in 1929. (Operational).
  • Ruston 48 4wDM No. 305306 "Ryan" built in 1952. (In storage).
  • F.C. Hibbard Planet 4wDM No. 1891 "Derbishire Stone No. 2" built in 1934. (In storage).
  • Bagnall 0-6-0DM No. 3119 "Hem Heath" built in 1956. (In storage).
  • Kent Construction and Eng Co. 4wDM No. 20 Planet built in 1926. (On long term loan to the National Brewery Museum).
  • Baguley 0-4-0DM No. 3027 "Bass No. 5" built in 1939. (Operational).
  • Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 8366/Bagnall 0-4-0DH. 530003, Myfanwy (Undergoing Restoration).
  • Diesel Multiple Unit Centre Cars
  • BR Class 127 no. 59603.
  • BR Class 116 no. 59444.

    • Narrow gauge railway

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

    References

    Chasewater Railway Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA