A sight very rarely seen in railway circles – Barry Bull dropping a slice of cake. A very tasty piece of gateau by the look of it – the look on Barry’s face says it all!!
Good splat, eh??
We all know how clean Barry keeps the floor in the museum but we believe that he resisted the temptation to carry on with his snack – although it was replaced on the plate!!
Barry not only wiped the floor, but even polished it with his knees!!
The first item is a welcome addition to our collection of mining memorobelia, a leather belt with the initials ‘NCB’ stamped on it.
This was kindly donated by Rob Duffill.
The second item is a booklet about the Walsall Steam Raiway, which was found in a collection of old magazines given to the museum by Clive Smith, a long-time friend of the museum.
This was very coincidental as only about three weeks ago, our man Godfrey had found a couple of references to this railway an an old narrow gauge magazine!
From the booklet:
A couple of interesting links:
http://walsallsteamrailway.webs.com/
The following link was about a show in the Arboretum:
http://chasewaterstuff.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/a-bit-from-the-scrapbook/
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Coal Mining, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Miniature Railway, National Coal Board (NCB), NCB, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Steam Trains, Walsall, Walsall Arboretum, Walsall Steam Railway, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
This Cannock & Rugeley Colliery wagion plate is not the most common item ever seen in the museum – in fact, no-one we have asked has ever seen one! This obviously makes it a bit special. Unfortunately, it has a crack (repaired) through the right-hand bolt hole – I wonder how that happened?!
This next item, a book for the library, has come along at a good time – as we have recently seen the return of the horse-drawn parcels van.
It should be pointed out that the horses in this book used to pull carts, vans, etc. unlike the Chasewater Railway Museum version, which seems to prefer to ride in them!
The final item was a raffle prize at the recent Gerald Reece talk about Brownhills, and shows Brownhills High Street in the early 1900s, won by one of the museum staff. If you’ve seen the photo on Brownhills Bob’s site, the bald headed bloke on the back row, right-hand side!
http://brownhillsbob.com/2014/11/30/happy-talk/
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Brownhills High Street early 1900s, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock & Rugeley Colliery, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, CRC, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Including a Local Colliery Wagon Plate, Lichfield, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Railway Horses, Staffordshire, The Latest Museum Arrivals, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
First up, a fairly local wagom owner’s plate, from Florence Coal & Iron Co.Ltd. of Trentham. This is a recent purchase.
Next, two local bricks to add to our collection – one from Walsall Wood Colliery and one from the Cannock Chase Colliery Co. I think I am right in saying that the Cannock Chase bricks came in three markings – CCC, CCCC and our latest – CCCCo. We have a four Cs one and now a three Cs and Co – now we would like a three Cs one, so if anyone has one in the shed or somewhere, we can find a good home for it!
These two bricks were generously donated to us by our friends, the Burntwood Chase Heritage Group
This loco whistle is on loan from a member who is thinkning of buying an engine. The engine he is thinking of hasn’t got a whistle at the moment so this will be a start! It will also give our curator something to polish other than windows!!
It will be in the museum until needed to be fitted on the loco.
Arriving home – but not under its own horse-power…..Donated by Earl Lanesborough, Swithland Hall, Leicestershire in the 1960s, going first to Hednesford and then Chasewater.
Its most recent use at Swithland having was as a residence for a few laying hens.
Placed on long-term loan to Shugborough Museum in the 1970s as they could provide covered accommodation. The loan was renewed in 1995.
Returned in very good condition to Chasewater Railway September 1st 2014.
When in for repairs it was normal practice for the LMS to remove old company (in this case, Midland Railway) plates and replace them with LMS ones. The LMS didn’t exist until 1923.
Horse-Drawn Parcels Van
Still in LMS livery and painted in the company’s crimson lake colours, horse-drawn van No.4990 is outside Craddock’s shoe factory, 18 September 1952. Wolverhampton’s railways thrived on the sheer quantity of goods traffic emanating from the town and nearby Black Country. As ‘common carriers’ however, they were obliged to carry anything from heavy plant to small parcels, the latter requiring delivery from the goods yard to the customer, usually by lorry, or as in this case, by horse-drawn van.
The van not looking too happy at the Hednesford Depot
Posted in Museum Exhibits, News
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Delivery Vehicles, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Midland Railway horse-drawn parcels van, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Shugborough Museum, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
The previous post stated that this vehicle was at Derby on a long term loan, giving the impression that it still belonged to Chasewater Railway – this is not the case – this post explains subsequent events.
This unique example of Midland Railway Regal coachbuilding has been purchased by the RPS (West Midlands District) from British Railways at a cost of £300. This was only possible with a loan of £240 from a generous member.
The loan is being paid back at the rate of £10 per month to this fine member, who wished to remain anonymous. His name was released at the AGM but to save further embarrassment, we will not mention it in these columns, but let it be ‘broadcast’ by word of mouth.
Inside the Royal Saloon
The final item on the agenda was the consideration of an offer from the Midland Railway Trust based at Butterley for the purchase of our ex Midland Railway Royal Saloon Coach. The history of the coach was briefly outlined. The coach was on loan to Derby Corporation for a further 17 years and they had a 25 year option open to them after that.
The Trust have spent a considerable amount of money upon the coach so far and wish to finish the job properly but don’t feel able to unless the coach is their property. They reckon they will have spent well in excess of £10,000 on the coach by the time it is complete. Inside the Royal Saloon
As the Chasewater Light Railway Society was in a difficult position – in effect our hands were tied – it was decided to let the coach go. It was unlikely to come to Chasewater in the majority of our members’ lifetimes and, as in the case of the ‘E1’, if it had not been for the Railway Preservation Society then it would have gone to the scrap heap years ago, so at least some satisfaction could be derived from that. The coach is to be exchanged for the following:-
1. £600 in cash
2. Equipment surplus to the Midland Railway Trust’s needs, such as crossing gates, signals, ancillary equipment, etc., but in demand at Chasewater – to the value of £1,000 plus
3. The ex Walsall Gas Works Sentinel Locomotive (S9632/1957) plus spares, which will be in working order when it arrives at Chasewater, hopefully before Easter.
Sentinel 1989
Posted in From the Archive
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock Chase, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Midland Royal Saloon, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Sentinel, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
We recently paid our first visit to the Midland Railway Centre at Butterley, and after our first train ride it was a most enjoyable day. I had heard the the Midland Royal Saloon had been restored there and was delighted to find it looking quite superb.
It was withdrawn from service in 1963 and was purchased by the Railway Preservation Society and taken to Hednesford. The RPS had discussions with Derby Corporation, after which the vehicle was placed on a long term loan for eventual display at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley
Here are three photographs of it, the first while just out of service, the second at RPS headquarters at Hednesford and the third fully restored at Butterley.
The carriage is in the museum – not Godfrey!!
Also at the centre is the beautiful loco – Princess Margaret Rose
An acquisition from the Great Central Railwayana Auction at Bloxham on Saturday 16th August, 2014 was the worksplate off Baguley 3410 of 1955, the ex Marston, Thompson and Evershed Ltd four coupled 150 hp diesel locomotive which resides at Chasewater.
The plate sold was from the collection of the late Keith Buckle of Solihull, whose fine collection is being disposed of by GCR Auctions.
Below are 2 photographs of the loco
Before and after repaint
In the museum there are a lot of boxes containing archive paperwork, but these boxes have already been cleaned, dried and sorted by David Bathurst before I enter them on our database. This folder is different – and so are the contents. The boxes are sorted into companies but the folder isn’t! When I first saw it, I thought that it was a folder of luggage labels – straight forward – but as I turned the pages I could see that not only were they not all luggage labels but they were also from different companies, this made life more difficult as it was not straightforward but also a lot more interesting, with some companies I had never heard of and all sorts of information – I just had to read them all to see what they were all about!
Luggage Labels
I thought that they were all luggage labels like these!
Then the next one came along, an 1874 quote for rates to carry manure!! I have stared at the word long and hard and can’t think of anything else it could be.
Then came the Great Western Horse Department!
Now, an advice note from the Barrow Steam Navigation Company, dated 1899, for transport from Belfast to Skipton.
And finally for this time, an 1876 enquiry from the Bristol & Exeter Railway Company about the cost of transport from Staffordshire. Asking how the 9/7 is made up. That’s the old money version, in new money it’s 48p!
Books, bricks, pay tokens, even a chunk of tram rail – all sorts coming into the museum.
A quick explanation of these items: the first book is the TPO one mentioned on the chasewaterstuff blog, the next Volume 2 of a Century of (local) Railways – a bit of luck, we already have Volume 1.
Next, one of 3 black and white photos of Asbestos, taken by Robin Stewart Smith in 1993, then a decorative brick – made in Birmingham ( we prefer colliery-made bricks but don’t turn many away!). Then a British Transport Commission blue enamelled sign and a Hem Heath lamp token, followed by Littleton Colliery Sidings signal box diagram. A couple of Midland Railway books next – 1 the MR on postcards and 2 an Illustrated History of Midland Wagons. A token from the Salop Miners’ Federation (1919) is next followed by another book – ‘The Signal Box’ by the Signalling Study Group, and finally for this time, a length of tram rail, given to us by Frank Jennings, a long-time friend of the railway. We don’t know where it’s from at the moment!
Posted in Museum & Artefacts
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Books, Brownhills, Burntwood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Photos, Staffordshire, Steam Trains, Tram Rail, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
Chasewater Railway Museum 