Two locomotive worksplates comprising of a cast iron Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd, 7292 of 1953 and Hunslet 3789 of 1953 have come to Chasewater Railway Museum, along with the three nameplates.
The Hunslet was delivered to Chasetown numbered 3 and was a replacement for the aged fleet of Victorian locos, she later saw service at Cannock Wood and Granville where she met her end after a life of just 16 years.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Austerity 0-6-0ST, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Hunslet 3789-1953 Worksplate, Lichfield, Mining Heritage, National Coal Board (NCB), NCB, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Steam Locomotives, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
Two locomotive worksplates comprising of a cast iron Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns Ltd, 7292 of 1953 and Hunslet 3789 of 1953 have come to Chasewater Railway Museum, along with the three nameplates already described.
Both locomotives were of the Austerity type, the RSH coming to Littleton Colliery from its previous owner the War Department, in May 1947, originally WD 71483 she became number 6 at Littleton being cut up there in Oct. 1970.
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Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Mining Heritage, National Coal Board (NCB), NCB, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn, RSH 0-6-0ST 7292-1953 Worksplate, Steam Locomotives, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
The third nameplate, following those of ‘McClean’ and ‘Marquis’, is that of Beaudesert from the little 0-6-0 saddle tank built by Fox Walker, works number 266 of 1875 supplied new to Cannock and Rugeley Collieries as their number 5. Beaudesert was the ancestral home of the Paget family who became Earls of Uxbridge before being given the title and Estate Marquis of Anglesey. Finally cut up in 1964 the other nameplate of the loco survives and is on display in Kidderminster Railway Museum.
‘Beaudesert’ 0-6-0ST Built by Fox Walker No. 266 – 1875
No.5 at Cannock & Rugeley Colliery
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Tagged 0-6-0ST 266-1875, Beaudesert, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock & Rugeley Collieries, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Fox Walker, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Mining Heritage, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Steam Locomotives, Walsall, Wolverhampton
After ‘McClean’, the second of the three locomotive nameplates to arrive is Marquis. The name originates from the first Marquis of Anglesey, a title awarded to the Earl of Uxbridge who fought along side Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Carried by the Lilleshall Company built 0-6-0 saddle tank new to the Cannock and Rugeley Collieries as their first loco in 1867, she, or is it he, lasted until cut up at the NCB Cannock Central Workshops during May 1964.
Lilleshall locomotive 0-6-0ST No.116 of 1867 ‘Marquis’ Cannock & Rugeley Collieries’ No.1
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Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock & Rugeley Collieries, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Lilleshall, Marquis, Mining Heritage, No.1 Marquis 0-6-0ST Lilleshall 116-1867, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
An opportunity presented itself in 2013 to acquire by way of private purchase half a dozen items of local colliery railway interest. Not since the 1960s and early 1970s, when in that period a good relationship existed between the Railway Preservation Society and local National Coal Board management and which resulted in several donations of interest has the chance to obtain in bulk such star items for the museum collection. First and arguably the finest piece from the Chasewater Railway point of view is the nameplate McClean from the 1856 built Beyer Peacock, the first of five similar locomotives delivered between 1856 and 1872. McClean lasted one hundred years before scrapping and in her later years was considered to be the oldest loco in the country still at work. The name McClean was bestowed in honour of John Robinson McClean who first came on the local scene as engineer in the construction of the South Staffordshire Railway before later, together with Richard Chawner leased land to mine coal forming the Cannock Chase Colliery.
‘McClean’ Beyer Peacock 0-4-0ST No.28 of 1856
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Tagged Beyer Peacock 0-4-0ST, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Lichfield, McClean, Museum Collection, No.28 of 1856, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Steam Locomotives, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
Our Curator has been out and about again, this time coming back with another very nice worksplate.
Neilson 3789-1888
A worksplate, NEILSON, 3789, 1888, from a standard gauge 0-4-0T which was new to the Gas Light & Coal Company (later the North Thames Gas Board) at Beckton Gas Works, their No 19. It remained there all its working life and was scrapped in 1962. Engraved brass, 9″x 5½”, the engraving picked out in red, the back stamped 19.
No.3789 was one of the heavier Neilson engines with extended tanks, it is seen here as No.19 inside the Beckton Roundhouse on 9 July, 1927. Photo: H.C.Casserley.
Beckton Gasworks was a major London gasworks built to manufacture coal gas and other products including coke from coal. It has been variously described as ‘the largest such plant in the world’ and ‘the largest gas works in Europe’. It operated from 1870 to 1969, with an associated by-products works that operated from 1879 to 1970. The works were located on East Ham Level, on the north bank of the Thames at Gallions Reach, to the west of Barking Creek.
Neilson No.3789 was an 1888 arrival at Beckton and is seen here with a coke train on 22 April, 1959. Photo: Sydney A.Leleux.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged 3789-1888, Aldridge, Beckton Gasworks, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Museum Collection, Neilson, Neilson Worksplate, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Steam Locos, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
The Neilson loco 2937-1882 0-4-0ST, complete with ‘Alfred Paget’ nameplates, on a freight train at Chasewater Railway in early days.
A locomotive worksplate, Neilson, No.2937 of 1882, from a 0-4-0ST O/C new to William Baird & Co (Ltd from 1893) at Bedlay Colliery near Glenboig, their No 11, becoming part of the Scottish Iron & Steel Co Ltd in January 1939, Bairds & Scottish Steel Ltd six months later and the National Coal Board in January 1947. It returned to Bairds & Scottish Steel Ltd at Gartsherrie Ironworks, Coatbridge, in about 1950 and following withdrawal, was acquired in June 1968 by Railway Preservation Society, Hednesford, Staffordshire and later went to the Chasewater Light Railway.
Cast brass 10 x 6″¼”, the front of the plate has been repainted.
Posted in Museum Exhibits, 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, Neilson 2937-1882 0-4-0ST, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, Worksplate
This enamelled sign came from Stafford No.5 signal box, and was given to the Museum by Network Rail – our thanks to the Company.
Photo: tillyweb.biz
The sign can be seen set into the signal box. On one end is a white patch with a red arrow, and on the other, a clear white patch to balance up the sign.
It may be of interest to Chasewater Railway members that the Station Hotel, Stafford, where the inaugural meeting of the Railway Preservation Society, fore-runner of Chasewater Railway, was held in 1959, was approximately 150 yards from the signal box!
Posted in Museum Exhibits, News
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, BR LMR, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Museum Collection, Network Rail, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Stafford, Stafford No.5 Signal Box, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
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