Tag Archives: Chasewater Railway Museum

From the Archives – Handbills

From the Archives

Handbills

 The latest addition to be entered on the museum database is a collection of handbills, a number of them from local stations.8451 To Sutton Park

The one pictured here is obviously of interest to Chasewater Railway members, being a return trip to Sutton Park, leaving from, amongst other places, Brownhills (Midland) station and Walsall Wood.  This was the Midland line which extended into the Cannock Chase coalfield, passing through our present Brownhills West station.  How about the price? – 5p return to Sutton Park in today’s money!05291 Midland Station, Brownhills

The Brownhills (Midland) station was situated between the A452 Chester Road and the A5.  We have others of local interest which I shall post here in the future, but I haven’t as yet come across any more from Brownhills – but I shall keep on looking!!

Acquisitions – A couple of signal box nameboards

Acquisitions

A couple of local signal box nameboards have arrived at the Museum recently.DSCF9100DSCF9123DSCF9122

Colour photos of Cannock Chase Loco ‘Foggo’

05443 Foggo 0-4-2ST Self-Build 1946 BP Design CCC Yard

Black & White photo of ‘Foggo’ taken in the Cannock Chase colliery Co. yard at Chasetown

Foggo

‘Foggo’ was an unusual engine, 0-4-2ST being built at Chasetown in 1946 from spare parts supplied by Beyer Peacock and other spares accumulated over the years from other locos. The name came from the General Manager at the time – M.J.Foggo.BM13046EJ

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These photos were taken by Bernard Mettam in winter 57/58 on a day with awful weather at Brereton.

These are the first colour photos of ‘Foggo’ that we in the Chasewater Railway Museum have ever seen, and were passed on to us, after enhancement, by Peter Stamper.  Thanks Pete.

‘Foggo’ ended her working life at Brereton Colliery, which closed in July 1960, and was scrapped by W.H.Arnott Young Co. Ltd in 1961.

Chasewater Railway Museum – One for the Archive

One for the Archive

Dec 2013 Magazine Inc. Chasewater

The latest magazine of the Industrial Railway Society, the December 2013 edition of Industrial Railway Record 215, has been purchased by the Museum for our archive. It contains a report on their Annual General Meeting , held at Chasewater Railway, and a lengthy article about the railways of Chasewater, amongst many other interesting items.

Copies are available from Barry Bull in the Chasewater Railway Museum.

Chasewater article title page

 

Talon – The Best Of Eagles

TALONTalon 2

CD Cover

The Best Of Eagles

Some time ago,  Chasewater Railway had the pleasure of hosting a photo-shoot by ‘Talon’ the No. 1 tribute band to the great ‘Eagles’ , and on the weekend Nov 16/17  Nov 2013 the Railway was given a CD showing the results of the shoot, along with a very nice ‘thank you’ letter and some posters.Letter of Thanks

To see the original post about the photo-shoot go to:

Talon – the Best of Eagles

Thank you very much ‘Talon’ we enjoyed your company and wish you every success in the future.

To find out more about ‘TALON’  go to their website:

Home

Small PosterCentre Spread

Another picture of Brereton Sidings Signal Box

Another picture of Brereton Sidings Signal Box

5837 Vanguard at Brereton Sidings after pit closure

Among a few photos of Brereton Colliery was this one of loco ‘Vanguard’

(0-4-0ST Peckett  1491/1917  Acquired from Royal Arsenal, Woolwich  1920.  Still at Brereton Coll. 1957, since scrapped.)

sitting by the Brereton Sidings signal box.  This was taken by Don Dutton in 1960, after the closure of the pit.  Don was the driver, ‘Perce’ Vernon (shunter), George Wilshaw (shunter) and George Blackburn (Boilersmith).

Chasewater Railway Museum Collection – Horseshoe shaped wagon plate

Among the latest additions to the Chasewater Railway Museum Collection:

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Horseshoe-shaped wagon plate

The latest wagon plate to be put on display in ChasewaterRailwayMuseum is an example of one of the horseshoe-shaped variety of the Thomas Burnett & Co. Ltd., Doncaster.  The horseshoe shape was chosen by Burnett’s to reflect the importance of their base in Doncaster to the British horse racing scene. 

 Burnett’s were a well respected firm of wagon repairers with several repair depots.

 In 1951 the Company merged into Wagon Repairs Ltd. and the name ‘Burnett’ vanished.

2 Centenarians at Chasewater Railway

On platform colour

2 Centenarians at Chasewater Railway

The Chasewater Railway Museum has  a significant amount of paperwork formerly belonging to David Ives, a founder member of the Railway Preservation Society and a long-time Board Member of the Chasewater Railway.  Our curator is working his way through this paperwork to put it in some sort of order, and is finding some interesting photographs in some of the boxes, including the ones shown here.B&W no people

The centenarians involved are the traction engine ‘Little Wonder’ and the Neilson steam locomotive known as ‘Alfred Paget’  (2937/1882).

The gentlemen in the photo holding the cake are the late Johnny Mayes, at the time the owner of ‘Little Wonder’,  and the late David Ives of Chasewater Railway, on the right.

Hats off

New Museum Aquisition, August 27th 2013.

The Museum of Cannock Chase, which is based at the old Valley Colliery in Hednesford, is redesigning the coal mining display. This means that a life sized fibreglass model of a pit pony will be surplus to requirements.

val and pony

An article was posted on their web site asking if any one could find the pony a new home. Chasewater Museum’s registrar John, spotted this, and promptly put in an offer for it. John’s bid was successful, beating many more offers from other interested parties, and Chasewater Museum is now the proud owner of this splendid animal.

Our thanks go to Nick Bullock for the collection from Hednesford and delivery to its new home at Chasewater.

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The pony soon made itself at home in the Heritage Centre at Brownhills West.

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All photo’s courtesy of John chasewaterstuff.

Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces 62 – From RPS Newsletter No.3, July – October 1973

Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces 62

From RPS Newsletter No.3, July – October 1973

 DMU on causeway001

Due to the grand summer weather our train running operations have proved very successful, this of course has also been enhanced by having the DMU trailer unit now in regular service, our train crews have carried out the job of keeping the wheels rolling most efficiently.  Members wishing to participate in train duties should report to Steve Allsopp for instruction.

Neilson 0-4-0 Locomotive

1977 Lighter

This locomotive has now passed its boiler test successfully and is now in the process of being re-assembled.  I understand that the main bearings are being re-metalled.  The whole project is in the capable hands of our General Manager, Derek Luker, with Keith Sergeant acting as chief assistant.  We are heavily indebted to these two members for sticking to the job.

MSLR Carriage

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Restoration of this vehicle still continues, also a long slog by John Elsley. John would appreciate a little more help with this vehicle.  Anyone who is reasonably skilled in woodwork should report to John Elsley.

 The platform building had been slowed down due to the train operations, and the Railway held a very successful Railway Exhibition at the Forum Theatre in Cannock. Very many thanks to all the people who set up the stands, acted as stewards, and in particular, to Rob Duffill and his team of ladies who manned the refreshment bar.