168 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces

From Chasewater News Winter 93 – Spring 94 – Part 4

From The Board Room – David Bathurst, Acting Chairman.

With so many initiatives being worked-up on the railway at the present time, the Board is finding itself with an ever-increasing agenda.  Indeed, the Board Meeting held on 20^th December failed to complete its business and had to be adjourned.

To enable members to be aware of the work being done on behalf of the Company, it is hoped to publish from time to time a brief resumé of matters currently under consideration by the Board.

This short note is not intended to cover all details of the Board’s business, but I trust it will be of interest to members.

1.    Following damage to the park which occurred during the movement of rolling stock, which resulted in considerable correspondence from the Council, it has been agreed that all such movements must in future be cleared with the general manager, and the crossing of grassed areas under the Council’s jurisdiction will not be permitted.

2.    A framework for crew training is to be considered in conjunction with the Roster Clerk, so as to maximise the potential of prospective crew members.  This will include both steam and diesel traction.

3.    The rostering of trainee firemen under the supervision of a passed fireman will be discontinued.  Trainee firemen will in the future act under the direct supervision of the driver.

4.    Only drivers and passed firemen acting under the supervision of the driver shall be permitted to drive steam locomotives while hauling passenger trains.

5.    In view of steam locomotive footplate constraints, only rostered crew and other authorised persons (including official guests) shall be permitted to ride on the footplate.

6.    The Board has agreed to the disposal of the crane, in view of its limited use by the CLR and the liabilities associated with it.  The availability of the crane, by way of sale, is to be advertised in the railway press.

7.    Paul Richards is to assume responsibility as Membership Officer as successor to Adrian Hall.  The date for transfer of membership details has yet to be agreed, being dependent on the setting up of suitable computer software.

8.    A shed fund has been opened, with a small sum banked to set the ball rolling.

9.    In view of the shortage of siding accommodation, any future proposals to introduce further items of rolling stock to the railway will have to be cleared by a sub-committee constituted by the Board.

10.                       It is considered essential for the CLR to enter into proper agreements with private owners of rolling stock, and perhaps other plant and equipment, which is residing at Chasewater.  The introduction of such agreements is intended to provide a clearer relationship between the parties, and to protect the interests of both the CLR and the private owners concerned.

11.                       Work on the causeway restoration scheme is proceeding rapidly, and should be completed during the spring/early summer.  However, it will be necessary to obtain the approval of HMRI before long.  Thanks to a donor who wishes to be anonymous, a footbridge has arrived on site on the causeway.The recently installed footbridge at the far end of the causeway.  This bridge was located, donated and installed all in the space of a few days.  It will provide pedestrian access alongside the existing railway bridge.

12.                       Consultations are proceeding with Lichfield District Council to secure the land which will be needed in the future to extend the line to Anglesey Wharf, but this may be delayed owing to the uncertainties associated with the line of the Burntwood Western By-pass.

13.                       Consultations are also proceeding with the Birmingham Northern Relief Road promoters regarding the relocation of Brownhills West Station.  Track layouts have been prepared by Regional Railways as a basis for discussion.

14.                       The disposal to Llangollen of the Wickhams, following asbestos removal, has been confirmed by the Board, subject to suitable arrangements having been made with regard to replacement passenger stock.

169 – Bits and Pieces

169 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits and Pieces

From the Editorial – Nigel Canning

This issue of Chasewater News records our recent visit with ‘Asbestos’ and a brake van to Bromford Tube Works.  The majority of the magazine has been taken up by photos taken by members in an attempt to record the layout of the railway system in the works which has now sadly closed.

A great deal has been happening at Chasewater since the last issue.  Our coaching stock problem has been solved, although it may have created another one – lack of siding space; and track is being laid to the new station, which now has a name.

Locomotive News

No.4 Asbestos – This loco got through its visual examination and steam test without problem, although the Inspector did comment on the condition of some of the boiler tubes, and that if any of them failed the entire set would have to be replaced.  As if to emphasise the point, a number of tubes started to leak at Bromford following some energetic running, and have given trouble ever since.

Following renewal of the worst two tubes, the loco ran on Easter Sunday, but failed with further tubes leaking on the Monday.  After that, a further dozen tubes were renewed enabling the loco to run on Bank Holiday Sunday, only to fail again on the Monday.

Enough new tubes have been ordered to renew the entire set, some of which must be in excess of fifteen years old.  Whilst awaiting delivery of the full set, a further twelve have been renewed to enable trains to run at Spring Bank Holiday.

Apart from the tube problem the loco has continued to run well, and due to its being returned from Bromford facing the other way round, looks better hauling trains chimney first in its freshly painted green livery.

No.5 Sentinel – Very little  progress has been made on this loco due mainly to the amount of work needed to try and keep Asbestos running.  The boiler has, however, now been re-assembled, and the fittings are being refurbished off-site.

S100 – Work has continued on another of the four big leaf springs, the buckle of which was heated to expand it prior to assembly in Asbestos’s firebox. Various bits and pieces of brake rigging have also been fitted to the frames.

Fowler diesel – This loco has remained in service, used for shunting and works trains.

Ruston DL7 – In a surprise operation just prior to Easter this loco was fitted with an exhauster, valves and pipework to enable it to work vacuum braked passenger trains.  Since then it has completed several days of passenger train operation including ’extra’ non-advertised days as well as standing in for Asbestos.  Being unaccustomed to such intensive running, one of the axle boxes began to overheat, requiring stripping and cleaning.  The drive belt for the low voltage dynamo also caused a problem by disintegrating half way down the line.  This was, however, repaired fairly quickly without the train having to be rescued by another loco.  The general public appear unaware of the difference between the diesel and Asbestos, although to be fair, they are both painted the same shade of green and produce roughly similar quantities of smoke when running!

L&Y petrol loco – This loco seems to have been abandoned for the time being with various bits scattered around the station yard and loco shed.  Hopefully the re-assembly will commence shortly!

No.21 diesel – The engine for this loco is awaiting new cylinder head gaskets, and when fitted an attempt will be made to finally get it running again.

New Fowler – This four-coupled diesel mechanical loco appeared on site recently having been acquired from a preservation society in Redditch.  Following an attempt to tow-start the loco, it was found that the fuel injection pump needed repair, and this has since been removed.  Various other components have also been removed for attention so it could be some time before the loco is runnable.

Smith Rodley crane – this vehicle has remained out of use and has been pushed out of the way up No.3 road until a buyer can be found for it.

Carriage & Wagon News

New coaching stock – At long last replacements for the 2-car Wickham DMU and the recently departed Gloucester trailer have been found and began to arrive at Chasewater at the end of May.  A total of four additional vehicles have been purchased from BR, a centre car and three power cars.

The first of these vehicles, a Pressed Steel Co. motor brake second, W51372, arrived in time to run at Whitsun.  The recent history of this vehicle is quite interesting as it is one of several used by the contractors of the Channel Tunnel and has been through to France.  A maintenance record book found in the drivers’ cab refers to various faults as being at “the French end” of the train.

Ultimately it is intended to retain two of the four for use as a working DMU in BR green livery, whilst the other two will be used as loco-hauled stock.  Hopefully full details of the new stock will be included in the next magazine.

Wickhams E56171 & E50416 – The trailer car remained in service on passenger trains until just before Whitsun, when a vacuum leak in the brake system caused serious problems.  In view of the impending arrival of the replacements it was withdrawn from use.  The power car has also remained out of use.

Payment for the Wickhams has now been received from Llangollen, although a date has not yet been set for their removal from Chasewater.  This is likely to cause a space problem, as with the new arrivals there will be a total of seven DMU cars on site for a while.

Derby centre car W59444 – This coach has remained in service although it has been noticed that the surface of one of its tyres has started to flake away.  Advice is being sought as to whether it can be repaired.

20 ton Great Western Toad – This vehicle was ‘done up’ to run at Bromford Tube with Asbestos.  If nothing else it has benefited from having the rust worn off its brake blocks, as it covered most of the distance at Bromford with its brake screwed hard on!

CRC 4-plank wagon – Progress on the wagon has continued and it now appears to be back in one piece.  Tony Wheeler has started on the paintwork with the intention of finishing it in the livery of the ‘Conduit Colliery Company’.

Great Eastern six-wheel passenger brake – With the coming of better weather Dave Borthwick has started again on painting this vehicle.

Other vintage stock – No work appears to have been carried out on any other vehicles although this situation will hopefully improve during the course of the summer.

Shed Fund – This fund is now well underway so that by the time the route of the motorway is finally settled there may be enough money to make a start on this project.  Meanwhile donations will be gratefully received by the Treasurer, Chris Chivers.

I’m sorry but I can’t remember who took the photographs.