Chasewater Railway
{{Short description|Heritage railway in Staffordshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Heritage Railway |
| name = Chasewater Railway
| other_name =
| image_name = ChasewaterHeathStation.jpg
| caption = The Chasewater Heaths station, with the new signal box rebuilt at the station in 2007
| locale = Brownhills West
| map =
| mapsize =
| terminus = Chasetown (Church Street) (north)
Brownhills West (south)
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| originalgauge = {{Track gauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}}
| originalrack =
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| preservedgauge = {{Track gauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}}
| preservedrack =
| preservedelec =
| era =
| owned =
| operator = Chasewater Light Railway & Museum Company
| stations = 4
| length = {{convert|2|mi|km}}
| originalopen =
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}}
{{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.
The line is approximately {{convert|2|mi|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 {{convert|1/4|mi|km|adj=on}} long causeway.{{cite book |last1=Kelman |first1=Leanne |editor1-last=Brailsford |editor1-first=Martyn |title=Railway track diagrams 4: Midlands and North West |date=2022 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Frome |isbn=978-1-9996271-5-7 |edition=5|at=22D}}
History
Prior to preservation, the line was part of the network operated by the NCB to serve the coalfields of the Cannock Chase area.{{cite book |last1=Christiansen |first1=Rex |title=The West Midlands |date=1973 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-6093-0 |page=132}} The exchange sidings, where the colliery line connected with the Midland Railway, were situated about {{convert|1/4|mi|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{{cite book |editor1-last=Butcher |editor1-first=Alan C. |title=Railways restored 2010 |date=2010 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton |isbn=978-0-7110-3465-5 |page=40}}
{{anchor|Museum}}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.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-07 |title=SpotLog - Loco List for Chasewater Railway |url=https://spotlog.org/LocoList/LocoList/Site?country=UK&site=Chasewater%20Railway |access-date= |website=Spotlog}}
Locomotives
File:Chasewater Heaths Station - Chasewater Light Railway (geograph 4367493).jpg
- Steam Locomotives
- Hawthorn Leslie {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}} No. 2780 "Asbestos" built in 1909 (On display/awaiting overhaul).{{cite web|title=Asbestos Special 1st January 2012|url=http://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/news.php|access-date=12 February 2012}}
- W.G. Bagnall {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}} No. 2648 "Dunlop No. 6" built in 1940. (Operational)
- Sentinel {{whyte|0-4-0|VBT}} No. 9632 built in 1957. (Under repairs/overhaul)
- Sentinel {{whyte|0-4-0|VBT}} No. 9366 built in 1945. (Operational)
- Neilson {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}} No. 2937 "Alfred Paget" built in 1882. (Under overhaul).
- Peckett and Sons {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}} No. 917 built in 1902. (In storage).
- Hudswell Clarke {{whyte|0-6-0|ST}}, No. 431 "Sheepbridge No. 15" built in 1895. (In storage)
- Hunslet {{whyte|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 {{whyte|0-6-0|DH}} 08472 (Operational).
- North British Locomotive Company {{whyte|0-4-0DH}} No. 27656 built in 1957. (In storage).
- North British {{whyte|0-4-0|DH}} No. D2911 built in 1958. (In storage/under repairs).
- Baguley {{whyte|0-4-0|DM}} No. 3590 "Bass No. 11" built in 1962. (In storage).
- Fowler {{whyte|0-4-0|DM}} No. 4100013 built in 1948. (In storage).
- Hunslet {{whyte|0-4-0|DH}} No. 6678 built in 1968. (Under overhaul).
- Andrew Barclay & Sons. {{whyte|0-6-0|DH}} No.659 'Sam' (Operational).
- Hunslet {{whyte|0-6-0|DH}} No. 9000 built in 1983. (Operational - donated from Sellafield Ltd.).
- Hunslet {{whyte|0-6-0|DH}} No. 8999 ‘Redwing’ (Under repairs).
- Brush Bagnall {{whyte|0-4-0|DE}} No. 3097 built in 1956. (Under overhaul).
- Kent Construction and Eng Co. {{whyte|4w|DM}} No. 1612/21 Planet built in 1929. (In storage).
- Ruston 48 {{whyte|4w|DM}} No. 305306 "Ryan" built in 1952. (Under restoration).
- Ruston 165 {{whyte|6w|DM}} No. 313394 "Jammo" (Operational, on loan from Telford Steam Railway).
- Hudswell Clarke {{whyte|0-6-0DM}} No. D615 built in 1938. (In storage).
- Bagnall {{whyte|0-6-0|DM}} No. 3119 "Hem Heath" built in 1956. (In storage).
- Bagnall {{whyte|4w|DH}} No. 3208 built in 1961. (In storage).
- Bagnall {{whyte|4w|DH}} No. 3097 (In storage).
- Kent Construction and Eng Co. {{whyte|4w|DM}} No. 20 Planet built in 1926. (On long term loan to the National Brewery Museum).
- Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 8366/Bagnall {{whyte|0-4-0|DH}} No. 530003, "Myfanwy" built in 1962. (Operational, on loan to Foxfield Railway).{{irs-el |el=15}}
- Thomas Hill {{whyte|4w|DH}} No. 01568 "Helen" built in 1976. (Operational).
- Simplex {{whyte|0-4-0|PM}} No. 15097 (works number 1930) "Ubique" built in 1919. (Storage).
- Simplex {{whyte|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 {{whyte|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
File:Chasewater Light Railway - narrow gauge railway (geograph 4366915).jpg
There is a {{RailGauge|2ft|lk=on}} 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
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Chasewater Railway}}
- {{Official website}}
- [https://chasewaterrailwaymuseum.blog/ Chasewater Railway Museum]
- [http://www.enjoychasewater.co.uk/ Chasewater Country Park]
{{Heritage railways in England}}
{{Coord|52.6761|-1.9467|type:landmark_region:GB-STS|display=title}}