Between September 2000 and September 2001 an enormous amount of work was done on the Chasewater Railway, from the old station being closed and demolished to make way for the M6 Toll Road to the new station being open for business!
Well done everyone involved, especially, as far as this blog is concerned, photographer Jim Higgins.
Posted in Photograph Collection
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, New Brownhills West Station, Old Railway Lines, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
Now that the new Brownhills West Station was pretty much finished on the outside, it was time for the plasterers, chippies and painters to get going on the inside!
Fortunately for us, Jim Higgins was there with his camera.
Posted in Photograph Collection
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, New Brownhills West Station, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
Another 9 photos of the new station at Brownhills West.
A selection showing the building of the new station from scaffold to external completion.
But there’s still a fair bit to do inside! That’s for the next selection.
Posted in Photograph Collection
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, New Brownhills West Station, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
The first three photos in this selection show what a mess was left when the old station came down. What to do about it – stick a motorway through it! It didn’t quite happen that way, more like – shift your railway so we can build a motorway!
The fourth photo shows a line put in to move the rolling stock from the old depot to the new one., as shown in the next two photos.
The final three show the beginings of the new Brownhills West station and yard.
Our thanks again to the family of Arthur (Jim) Higgins for giving this collection to the Chasewater Railway Museum.Old Brownhills West,New Brownhills West staion,
Posted in Photograph Collection
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, New Brownhills West Station, Norton Canes, Old Brownhills West Station, Pelsall, Photograph Collection, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
The Museum has been given a collection of photographs of Chasewater Railway’s move from the old station to the new one and then on to Chasewater Heaths. The photos were taken by a Chasewater enthusiast, Mr Arthur (Jim) Higgins, and given to the Museum by his family.
They were taken over a period from September 2000 to 2003, which includes the building of the Heritage Centre.
This first selection shows the old Brownhills West Station, and its demise, taken between September 2000 and January 2001.
National Railway Museum version
Chasewater Railway version
A joke… I think…..
An almighty shower over Chasewater this afternoon, water pouring into the Heritage Centre under the roller-shutter door and into the museum itself. The museum staff, Rob on the squeegee and Barry and John with mops and buckets, succeeded where King Canute failed and turned back the tide!! These photos were taken after most of the drying out had taken place. None of the exhibits were affected.
Later, water was found to have got into the toilets in the station, more mopping,- where was Noah when we needed him?!
Additions to our coal mining memorabilia
As you are no doubt aware, without the coal industry there would be no Chasewater Railway, as the original line was built for transporting coal, although passenger services were introduced from Brownhills to Aldridge via Walsall Wood. We are always glad to receive artefacts from the mining industry to display in the Museum.
Baths Invitation
The latest of such items to come our way are an invitation to the opening of the Pithead Baths at Wyrley No. 3 Colliery, Great Wyrley, on August 14th, 1954, and The Bather’s Handbook.
These items came to the Museum from a former employee of the Colliery, his first job after National Service with the RAF.
Posted in From the Archive, Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Chase, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Coal Mining, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Mining Heritage, National Coal Board (NCB), National Union of Mineworkers, NCB, Norton Canes, NUM, Pelsall, Pithead Baths, Staffordshire, The Bather's Handbook, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton, Wyrley No.3 Colliery
Chasewater Railway Museum 