Category Archives: Events

If you are going to visit Chasewater Railway for the Gala this weekend, don’t forget to pop into the museum and pay us a visit. We are to be found in the Heritage Centre.

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Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway, Chasewater Railway Gala, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Hednesford, Lichfield, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Steam Locomotives, Steam Trains, Walsall, Walsall Wood

Chasewater Railway Museum – Another visiting Loco – Port Talbot 0-6-0ST No. 26 (GWR 813)

Posted on January 28, 2016 by John D | 2 comments

Chasewater Railway Museum

Another visiting Loco

Port Talbot 0-6-0ST No. 26 (GWR 813)

Photo – Elja Trum

This locomotive is a six-coupled 0-6-0ST Saddle Tank No.813 under the Great Western Railway numbering system but was built for the Port Talbot Railway & Docks in 1901. The Port Talbot Railway & Docks Company was formed in 1894 to work the docks of the town. The Railway opened several branches especially those to the Llynfi & Garw valleys. This attracted a heavy coal traffic, which was dealt with at Duffryn Yard.
In 1901 the PTR ordered a number of small 0-6-0 saddle tank locomotives (six in all) from Hudswell Clark of Leeds & was given the works No. 555/01 & on delivery it became PTR No.26. In this guise it was put to work in Duffryn Yard & served in this capacity until 1908 when the PTR was absorbed into the GWR system. However, no changes were made to the loco at this time until the grouping which brought changes to No.26 in that it was first Westernised & given the GWR number 813.
The GWR decided later however that the older absorbed locos should be sold off out of service & No.813 fund itself on that list in 1934. It was sold to a Backworth Colliery, Northumberland where it was again renumbered as No.12 & remained there for the next 33 years. The No.12 did not stay for long though, as when the colliery was absorbed in to the National Coal Board when it was formed in 1947 it became NCB No.11
In 1950 it was fitted with a new boiler & firebox. However the original GWR boiler fittings were retained. As steam working was nearly at an end hastened by the closing of collieries, older locos were withdrawn in the late 1950’s & early 60’s with 813 lasting until the summer of 1967.
The loco was duly discovered by Mr. Paddy Goss & attempts to preserve it were ultimately successful for he was able, after a great struggle to raise funds as is ever the case in the preservation scene, to purchase the loco. The loco arrived at the Severn Valley Railway in November 1967 with sufficient finance available to pay for the removal charges. Since then much loving care & a great deal of money has been spent keeping 813 in its present condition.

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Posted in Events, Photograph Collection

Tagged 0-6-0ST Saddle Tank No.813, Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, GWR No.13, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Hudswell Clark, Lichfield, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Port Talbot Railway & Docks, Steam Trains, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton

Chasewater Railway Museum – Photos of a visiting loco, 2004 – Beattie Well Tank 30587

Posted on January 12, 2016 by John D | Leave a comment

Chasewater Railway Museum

Photos of a visiting loco,2004

Beattie Well Tank 30587

Photo – M.Denholm

Looking through some more old photos, I came across some taken of locomotives visiting Chasewater Railway, so I thought that I would post a few over the next few weeks, starting with the Beattie Well Tank 30587.

Chasewater Railway was proud to feature this locomotive at our Spring Gala, 2004.

Built between 1872 1nd 1876, this loco was one of a class of 85 produced to a design by James Hamilton Beattie, the mechanical engineer of the London and South Western Railway from 1st July 1850, who was succeeded in the same position from 23rd November 1871 by his son William George Beattie.

Based on the three locomotives of the ‘Nile’ class built in 1859, but with many improvements, they were designed in consultation with Charles Beyer, of Beyer Peacock Co. and manufactured at their works at Gorton, Manchester – becoming known as Standard Well Tank engines.

The National Railway Museum selected 30587 for preservation after being finally withdrawn from service in December 1962, after 88 years of service. The engine was ultimately transferred, on loan, to the Dart Valley Railway at Buckfastleigh numbered 3298 on 22nd April 1978 and remained there as a static exhibit until 2nd December 2001 when it was taken to the Flour Mill Workshops in the Forest of Dean for restoration to full working order, before returning’home’ to Bodmin numbered 30587 on 12th November 2002.

Two of the then three remaining Beattie 2-4-0 Well-tank engines, used on the Wenford Bridge line until 1962, on an RCTS railtour shunting at Hampton Court station in December 1962. The engines were 30585 and 30587 – G.D.King.