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)
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)
Commercial history
Preservation history

[v · d · e]Chasewater Railway
Legend Chasetown (Church Street) Chasewater Heaths Norton Lakeside Halt Chasewater Causeway Brownhills West M6 Toll Midland Railway southward 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 two miles 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 one-quarter mile 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 a quarter of a mile 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).

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 carriage shed.

Locomotives

Andrew Barclay No.1964, built 1929. This locomotive has been repainted in GWR green to resemble GWR no. 701

A selection of diesel locomotives participating in the 2007 Diesel Gala

• Steam Locomotives
  • Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST "Asbestos" (Currently operational^[when?])
  • W.G. Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2648 "Linda" (Currently operational)
  • Sentinel 0-4-0VBT (Currently under overhaul)
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST N.C.B 1964 (Currently operational)
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 1223 "Colin McAndrew (Currently operational)
  • Neilson 0-4-0ST, built 1882. (Currently stored)
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No. S100. (Currently under restoration)
  • Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST, built 1902 (Currently under restoration)
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST, No.431. (Currently stored)
  • Hunslet Engine Co. 0-6-0ST "Rhos". (Currently stored)
  • Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 2343. (Currently stored)

• Diesel Locomotives
  • Ruston 0-4-0 diesel-electric
  • North British Locomotive Company 0-4-0 "D2911" (Currently stored, pending repairs)
  • BR Class 08 no D3249/08 359

Many other ex-industrial diesel and petrol locomotives, in various stages of restoration, are also present at Brownhills West.

• Diesel Multiple Units
  • BR Class 101 Metro Cammell "Daisy" nos 53160 and 53164 (Currently being repaired)
• 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. This will hopefully open in 2011.

External links

• Official web site
• Chasewater Country Park

Coordinates: 52°40′34″N 1°56′48″W / 52.6761°N 1.9467°W / 52.6761; -1.9467