The featured loco today is ‘Rawnsley’, at Hednesford Canal Basin, a Lilleshall loco of 1872. Number 4 at Cannock and Rugeley Colliery.
Thanks to David Bathurst, Nigel Canning, Bob Duffill, Arthur Edwards and Keith Day for their contributions to these, and other, Chasewater Railway Magazines.
176 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces
From Chasewater News Christmas 1994 – Part 2
A Christmas Message from the Chairman
It is difficult to believe that we are about to enter the Christmas period yet again. The year has passed so quickly that it seems to have passed us by. Yet for the railway, such a short period has witnessed so many exciting developments.
Anyone visiting the railway for the first time would wonder what it’s all about and why we are all so enthusiastic. But for regular visitors and, more importantly, the intrepid band of volunteers who devote so much time to the welfare of the railway, the year has been full to overflowing.
This is not the time to review, in detail, the year’s events; the annual report is more appropriate for that. However, the extension to the line merits comment, because of its importance to the public’s perception of our operations and, perhaps more vitally, our credibility as a passenger-carrying railway.
We had hoped to have laid the track into Norton Lakeside Station and to have completed the construction of the station during 1994. That we did not achieve this ambition is of little importance; my colleagues will be familiar with my entreaty that “it is not a race”. We cannot afford to compromise on quality by cutting corners in the interests of speed. It is essential that the extension across the causeway, the station itself and the remainder of our line all meet the standards necessary to satisfy the Railway Inspectorate. We have much work to do to consolidate our current line before we invite HMRI to return to Chasewater.
Having said all that, Easter 1995 now seems a realistic target for the opening of Norton Lakeside Station. Pencil the Easter Weekend into your new diaries, and “watch this space” for further information.
1995 will also see an increase in momentum for the carriage shed fund. If the spirit of Christmas moves you to make a donation to this worthy cause, then please do not hesitate to see Chris Chivers or myself.
May I remind you of the ‘Santa Specials’ on 11th and 18th of December when we can all find an excuse (if we need one) to open up the seasonal festivities. Whether or not you are able to join us on one of these dates, may I take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a very prosperous New Year.
David Bathurst – Chairman
A view looking across the causeway back towards Brownhills West, just over a mile away. On the left can be seen the platform face for the new Norton Lakeside Station with the first length of track in place. A lot still remains to be done, but this could be a very popular place for photographers next year!
Synthetic Chemicals – Final Phase – by Arthur Edwards
It doesn’t seem like it, but this is the final part of the saga of retrieving the track from Synthetic Chemicals. After a call from our ‘Fat Controller’, Steve Organ, on Friday 15th October to establish whether I was available for the Saturday morning, about a dozen people gathered at Synthetic Chemicals to collect what track was left there.
Anyway, Mick had called for me at 8.30am and we had been there about an hour when Steve asked Mick and I to return to Chasewater to get the JCB ready for when the lorry arrived with said track. At about lunchtime the lorry duly arrived and Mick and I did our stuff unloading it. An hour or so later ‘Curly’ the driver went off to get another load. While he was away, Mick and I straightened up the rails and sleepers. I had to go at 5.30pm but I believe the rest of the crew stayed until about 8.00pm to complete the job.
After that Saturday all there was left at Synthetic Chemicals was a buffer-stop, some smallish lengths of rail and a few sleepers. After some hectic phone calls, Steve managed to get about six people on Saturday 22nd to go back and retrieve the last few remnants of track.
On the Sunday, with the help of the CS people, we actually laid the track through Norton Lakeside Station. Once agreement has been reached with the Railway Inspectorate, it is our intention to just keep laying track down until we run out of either sleepers or rail, or until we reach our next objective which is Chasetown. It is thought that we now have enough track to get us to the end of our lease, but hopefully we will have topped up our stocks before we get that far.
Whilst we continue to work on the track, the CS people have begun re-pointing the platform at Norton Lakeside Station, and preparing the top for the edging slabs.
The arrival of a loaned ‘dogfish’ hopper wagon will hopefully make the job of ballasting a lot easier, and there are even rumours of a rented track-tamping machine being used in the near future!
Kenneth Judkins – by Dave Ives
It is my sad duty to inform you that Ken Judkins (Ken the Steam to his close friends), passed away on September 27th 1994 at Anson House Rest Home. Ken was 91 last January, being born in Little Haywood in 1903. Ken lived a very colourful and busy life in various parts of the country. He moved to Stafford for the final few years of his life from Wimbourne Minster, Dorset, stating that he wanted his bones to rest in his native county, which has indeed now happened. His remains lie buried in Colwich Churchyard. He was Christened in Colwich Church and served as a chorister for a number of years.
Members will be aware of Ken’s long association with steam traction having started with Ralph Gee & Son, Wolseley Bridge, then on to Staffs County Council, Foden’s, Thomas Hill (Rotherham) Ltd. and Sentinel.
Ken was the author of two books “My Life in Steam” and “More of My Life in Steam”. The books are worth a read and give a fascinating story of the tough and skilful job of steam driving in the 1920s and 30s. Ken also served six years in the army RAOC in the war and was wounded in the lung whilst being evacuated from Dunkirk.
I suppose one can sum up by saying that this is the end of an era and that Ken is sorely missed by numerous friends, especially on the rally fields where he gave a lot of advice to scores of steam traction owners.
Alas! We shall no longer see him propping up the bar, staying overnight in one of our coach compartments, puffing his pipe on Brownhills West Station seat or in his brown slop coat and Foden hat on the footplate of the Sentinel.
More about Ken – Nigel Canning
“Ken the Steam” as he was known to his friends, spent the majority of his working life and the whole of his retirement closely involved with steam traction on both the road and railways. His experiences and expertise were sufficient to fill a book – or two, to be precise – both now sadly long since out of print.
Ken was never happier than when he was showing off just what steam power was capable of, and in his last two jobs, at Foden, and then at Thomas Hill (Sentinel) as Chief Demonstrator and Test Driver, that is exactly what he was paid for, selling those Companies’ products and fending off the advance of the motor lorry and diesel loco.
In his retirement Ken continued to take an interest in steam by helping the preservation movement where his enthusiasm backed up by a lifetime of experience was of invaluable assistance to many an amateur locoman or fitter.
At Chasewater his advice was of particular assistance in the operation of the Sentinel. On one occasion when one of the poppet valves on the engine was playing up, Ken was all set to ride down the line and back to observe the valve events and pinpoint the problem. It took a lot of doing to convince him that it was not the done thing to run a passenger train with an engineman in his late eighties hanging on the side of the loco, but we eventually succeeded, and as a result of his advice the valves were alter re-set to operate correctly.
Ken once admitted that he didn’t really like Sentinels as they were dirty things, but that just reflected his real love, the Foden, and his exploits with those machines are well-documented and will be remembered for a long time.
177 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces
From Chasewater News Christmas 1994 – Part 3
Carriage & Wagon News
New Acquisition: ‘Dogfish’ DB992841 – This useful hopper wagon has recently arrived at Chasewater on loan for 12 months from Andy Goodman of Allely’s Transport. Following minor attention to the chute actuating gearboxes the wagon has entered service as part of the PW works train to transport ash up to the new station and beyond.
Pressed Steel Co. DMBS W51372 – This car has remained in service coupled to W59444 to form the loco hauled train. It was recently given an ‘A’ exam, and following the recent acquisition of some more spares one or two minor repairs may shortly be carried out.
Derby Works centre Car W59444 – The electrical system of this coach has recently been overhauled, including servicing of the batteries, cleaning and resetting of contactors and renewal of some of the invertors for the strip lights.
Derby Works Centre Car M59603 – This coach has remained stored out of use.
2-Car DMU: DMBS W51370 & DMS W 51412 – This train has remained in service, being run on non-steam Sundays until recently when declining passenger numbers made it uneconomical to continue.Summer congestion at Tysewater!
Manchester, Sheffield & Lincoln six-wheel coach – A great deal of progress has been made recently on this vehicle. All of the doors now close properly, and all of the glass has been fitted in the windows and doors so that the interior can be kept dry. The partially burnt panelling around the guard’s doors has been removed, and new locking bolts for the double doors made and fitted. Various rotten mouldings are being renewed, and the exterior of the bodywork has been given a preliminary coat of paint to help protect it. A certain amount of work has also been done on painting the interior.
LNWR (Paddy) Coach – Work has started on this coach by a carpenter working on the Community Service Scheme. So far some of the doors have been re-fitted, and repairs have been carried out on the roof to try and waterproof it.
Battery charging – The station battery charger has now been rebuilt and connected into a network of underground cabling enabling a number of vehicles to be connected to it simultaneously.
Stop Press
The Board has agreed to purchase around 600 concrete sleepers, enough to relay track to the rear of the Burntwood Industrial Estate. Delivery will commence in the New Year.
The Annual October Transport Rally – Arthur Edwards
This year’s rally seemed to surpass all of the rallies that we’ve had over the last five or so years. There were more vehicles than previously, but all cordoned off in such a way that it seemed that we could have had at least half as many again.
I finished work at 2.45pm on the Friday afternoon to be at Chasewater by 3.00pm to help Dave Whittle, Rally Organiser, to put up the fencing. This involved finding the fencing stakes before I could start. Eventually it was time to make my way home, and I told Dave I would be there at 9.30am on Saturday.
I duly arrived at Brownhills West Station at the said time, collected the stakes and started to knock them in to cordon off all the stationary engines and their owners’ living quarters, caravans, mobile homes, etc.
Steam trains didn’t run until Sunday as one of Asbestos’ springs had to be re-fitted following its repair, but our illustrious General Manager (Steve Organ) decided to use his DMU set.
Sunday dawned with high skies and not a threat of rain. A few of us had to take the permanent way works train down to the far end of the running line to work on the extension. This had to be done as even after the departure of the Wickhams we were still a bit cramped in the available siding space. I digress slightly, anyway all went according to plan, and next year they are planning an even bigger event.
All credit on this occasion must go to Dave Whittle for the red-hot phone calls, and to his associate Paul Richards, with their mind-boggling train of events. All the best for next year’s rally. Thanks chaps, very much appreciated.
Commercial Manager’s Update – Rob Duffill
The season, apart from the two Santa dates which are in the future at the time of writing, is now over until Easter. However, we do continue to tick over during the winter months and any income we can generate from whatever source during this period is essential to keep the wheels turning.
In addition to the core aspects of running the buffet and shop, we have been to several exhibitions. These have been at the bonded warehouse in Stourbridge organised by Trev Cousins who was Secretary of our group in the 60s. Also the Warley Model Show at the NEC and the Societies and Hobbies Fair at Walsall Town Hall.
The NEC exhibition is in its second year and is over two days and very interesting. As usual John and I set up on the Friday and all went very smoothly as the Warley Show is very well organised. The hall was better laid out this year and the public avoided the jams of last year. We were opposite an ‘0’ gauge layout of the Taff Vale and a colliery with lots of industrials. Also, Trev Cousins has produced in ‘0’ and ’00’ a model of Hanbury from our own area. This 0-6-0ST Peckett was of very neat outline. Trev and Pete Stamper, both members from the 60s, would be pleased to sell you one. Our stand was fairly busy with its blend of both toys and relics and we exceeded last year’s takings.
The Hobbies and Societies Fair at Walsall was successful, not from the actual sales, but from the publicity point of view. A lot of interest in the Santa Specials was generated. Quite a few people looked at the old photos we had taken and said they were ex-miners who remembered them. We also displayed a Pelsall Millenium plate at both exhibitions. The Brownhills paper also took photos and promised free publicity, and several potentially useful contacts were made. This event was definitely worth John and Margaret’s (with Chris) time, and our fairly low entrance fee.
Well done to all who helped during 1994, the trick being to extract money from the public in as pleasant way as possible, and to try and make the most of it all and enjoy yourself. We look forward to next year’s opportunities to increase income with the line open over the causeway.
Bass Brewers Community Awards
Bass’s Grand to Chasewater
Chasewater Railway has received a Bass Brewers Community Award of £500 towards the £20,000 required to build the proposed carriage & wagon shed which we intend to build when funds are sufficient, and the North Orbital Road route has been finalised. The fund now stands at about £2,000, the majority having been raised by members through donations and profits from events and rallies.
For those who are not aware, this is the third year in succession that the railway has been a recipient of a Bass Brewers Community Award. In 1882 we received £300 towards the transport costs of removing redundant trackwork out of Hams Hall power station. 1993 saw a £250 award towards the purchase of rail, and £500 this year to the Carriage and Wagon fund.The presentation of the cheque at the end of the platform of Brownhills West Station platform, surrounded by what appears to be total darkness!
The presentation of the cheque took place on 27th September at 7.00pm at Brownhills West, and was presented to Alwyne Marsden and Tony Wheeler of the Carriage and Wagon Dept. (Looking at the official Bass picture, and the expression on Tony’s face, it would be easy to believe that it was Tony’s money he’s giving away rather than receiving it from Bass!).
The Award is now becoming an annual event with an open invitation to all working members and volunteers, to which over forty came, with husbands, wives and children. After the presentation of the cheque and pictures taken rather quicker than normal due to failing light, there was a trip down the line in the newly acquired DMUs by Railway members, Janice Clark, Regional Communications Manager for Bass and her photographer. This not only showed how previous awards had been wisely spent, but also showed how much progress had been made enabling us to go to the extreme end of the line where no DMU had gone before, over Spikey Bridge. (Since then the line has been laid through the platform at Norton Lakeside and on 30-10-1994, the first works train travelled through it).
On arrival at Brownhills West Station a buffet and liquid refreshment had been arranged, and was consumed by those present. With the evening turning into a social event, members could find time to talk and joke with each other in a more relaxed atmosphere, which is not often the case when running trains or events, or generally going about the various tasks on the railway.
Many thanks to those who came on the evening of the 27th, to Janice Clark, who I feel enjoyed the evening as much as we did, but also to Bass for their contribution to our railway.
Thanks Bass – and Cheers. Keith Day.
Chasewater Railway Museum 