Chasewater Railway

Chasewater Railway
The Chasewater Heaths station, with the new signal box rebuilt at the station in 2007
Locale	Brownhills West
Terminus	Chasetown (Church Street) (north) Brownhills West (south)
Commercial operations
Original gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated by	Chasewater Light Railway & Museum Company
Stations	4
Length	2 miles (3.2 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

v t e Chasewater Railway
Legend
Chasetown (Church Street) Chasewater Heaths Norton Lakeside Halt Chasewater causeway Brownhills West  M6 Toll  Midland Railway to Brownhills Watling Street

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.

The line is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) in length, contained entirely within Chasewater Country Park. The route, which forms a horseshoe 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. ^[1]

History

Prior to preservation, the line was part of the network operated by the NCB to serve the coalfields of the Cannock Chase area. ^[2] 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 original Brownhills West station due to the building of the M6 Toll motorway. This led to the rebuilding of Brownhills West slightly north of the old station 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 Queen's Award for Voluntary Services.

Stations

• Brownhills West
• Norton Lakeside Halt
• Chasewater Heaths (adjacent to Burntwood bypass)
• Chasetown Church Street ^[3]

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. Chasewater is also home to only preserved rake of MGR wagons in the UK. Currently there are 10 examples of various types at the railway.

All locomotives listed below have been confirmed via the cited source. ^[4]

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/awaiting overhaul). ^[5]
  • W.G. Bagnall 0-4-0 ST No. 2648 "Dunlop No. 6" built in 1940. (Operational)
  • Sentinel 0-4-0 VBT No. 9632 built in 1957. (Under repairs/overhaul)
  • Sentinel 0-4-0 VBT No. 9366 built in 1945. (Operational)
  • Neilson 0-4-0 ST No. 2937 "Alfred Paget" built in 1882. (Under overhaul).
  • 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/Hollybank No.3" built in 1953. (Operational, returned to service in 2021)
• Diesel Locomotives
  • BR Class 08 0-6-0 DH 08472 (Operational).
  • North British Locomotive Company 0-4-0DH No. 27656 built in 1957. (In storage).
  • North British 0-4-0 DH No. D2911 built in 1958. (In storage/under repairs).
  • Baguley 0-4-0 DM No. 3590 "Bass No. 11" built in 1962. (In storage).
  • Fowler 0-4-0 DM No. 4100013 built in 1948. (In storage).
  • Hunslet 0-4-0 DH No. 6678 built in 1968. (Under overhaul).
  • Andrew Barclay & Sons. 0-6-0 DH No.659 'Sam' (Operational).
  • Hunslet 0-6-0 DH No. 9000 built in 1983. (Operational - donated from Sellafield Ltd.).
  • Hunslet 0-6-0 DH No. 8999 ‘Redwing’ (Under repairs).
  • Brush Bagnall 0-4-0 DE No. 3097 built in 1956. (Under overhaul).
  • Kent Construction and Eng Co. 4w DM No. 1612/21 Planet built in 1929. (In storage).
  • Ruston 48 4w DM No. 305306 "Ryan" built in 1952. (Under restoration).
  • Ruston 165 6w DM No. 313394 "Jammo" (Operational, on loan from Telford Steam Railway).
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0DM No. D615 built in 1938. (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).
  • Bagnall 4w DH No. 3097 (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, on loan to Foxfield Railway). ^[6]
  • Thomas Hill 4w DH No. 01568 "Helen" built in 1976. (Operational).
  • Simplex 0-4-0 PM No. 15097 (works number 1930) "Ubique" built in 1919. (Storage).
  • Simplex 0-4-0 PM No. 15099 (works number 2028) "Morris" built in 1920. (Operational/Storage).
  • GEC Traction 5383/306 (Storage)
  • GEC Traction 5414/251` (Storage)
  • GEC Traction 5454/267 (Storage)
  • FC Hibberd Co Ltd 4w DH No. 1612 (In storage)
• Diesel Multiple Units
  • BR Class 127 Centre coach no. 59603. (Operational, used as hauled coaching stock).
  • BR Class 116 Centre coach no. 59444. (In storage, awaiting overhaul).
  • Northern Rail Class 142 no. 142 029. (Under overhaul)
  • Northern Rail Class 142 no. 142 030. (Operational)
  • Northern Rail Class 142 no. 142 027. (Storage/spares)

Narrow gauge railway

Chasewater Light Railway – narrow gauge railway

There is a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge narrow gauge railway behind the heritage centre, where there are a few shed buildings, and a line that stretches along the heritage centre close to the steam shed.

References

1. Kelman, Leanne (2022). Brailsford, Martyn (ed.). Railway track diagrams 4: Midlands and North West (5 ed.). Frome: Trackmaps. 22D. ISBN   978-1-9996271-5-7.
2. Christiansen, Rex (1973). The West Midlands. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. p. 132. ISBN   0-7153-6093-0.
3. Butcher, Alan C., ed. (2010). Railways restored 2010. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 40. ISBN   978-0-7110-3465-5.
4. "SpotLog - Loco List for Chasewater Railway". Spotlog. 7 April 2025.
5. "Asbestos Special 1st January 2012" . Retrieved 12 February 2012.
6. Industrial Locomotives: including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Vol. 15EL. Melton Mowbray: Industrial Railway Society. 2009. ISBN   978-1-901556-53-7.

External links

• Official website
• Chasewater Railway Museum
• Chasewater Country Park

52°40′34″N1°56′48″W / 52.6761°N 1.9467°W / 52.6761; -1.9467