These photos came to the Chasewater Railway Museum by way of the GCR Auctions. They were taken between c1960 – 1980.
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These photos came to the Chasewater Railway Museum by way of the GCR Auctions. They were taken between c1960 – 1980.
Album 12 2020 All Arthur Deakin’s Photographs XL Files
Click on a pic to see a larger version and on the side arrows to move along. The description in on the larger pic.
Taken from the Mercian 2.1 June –July 1963
GC Special Issue
Part Editorial
The Flying Scotsman, 4472, certainly gets an airing in its ‘preserved state’, as many Societies now take advantage of hiring out this fine loco for their Specials. Mr. Pegler has done a fine job in purchasing it for preservation. The RPS is most proud to have’4472’ to head its Great Central Special on June 15th which we are hoping will bring the Society much publicity and many more members.
D. B.
Hednesford Progress Report
As there has not been a ‘Mercian’ for some time now my report covers quite a few months of work at the depot.
Despite the Wintry conditions that prevailed in the early part of this year, small parties continued to press on with restoration work on the Maryport & Carlisle coach. This consisted in the main of burning off the paint in two of the compartments and sanding down in preparation for priming paint.
The next job consisted of reglazing the windows in the same compartments already mentioned. Some good work has also been done by two members renovating old books and documents that we have in our possession. This is vital work! As we all know, these items are completely irreplaceable.
The Webb Coal Tank continues to get regular attention and maintenance. An excellent job has been made of the cab fittings by Mr. and Mrs. Roger Bell (Princess Elizabeth Fund) and all members join me in expressing their appreciation and thanks for their much devoted labour and wish them luck with their Princess Fund.
D. A. Ives Hon. Sec.
Great Central Rail Tour
Although the Railway and Model Press are carrying details of the GC trip, we would like here to give members a brief reminder.
The train will now depart Sheffield Victoria 8.50am and not 9.00am as previously advertised. There will be refreshment car facilities on the train, and also a short souvenir history of the Great Central Railway.
On the outward journey it will call at Chesterfield Central (if the loop is still open), Nottingham Victoria, Loughborough Central, Leicester central, Rugby Central, Woodford Halse, Quainton Road, Aylesbury Town, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Marylebone, with four hours stay in London, during which time a visit will be made to the BTC Museum at Clapham as both large and small relics are now on display. On the return journey call at Rugby, Leicester and Nottingham only to set down passengers.
Picture: Sharman-Corbis
The motive power will be 4472, Flying Scotsman, (by courtesy of Mr. Pegler) and coaching stock ex-LNER. Members who have not yet booked and would like to travel on this train may be lucky to get a ticket at this late date. But it should be noted that seating accommodation is strictly limited. For further information and details please contact Mr. E. Cowell, Sheffield, using the form which was enclosed with ‘Forum’ immediately. Our thanks and appreciation go to Mr. Cowell for the wonderful effort he has made to organise this trip in spite of a recent injury to his back. We hope it is a great success and that many more trips of this nature spring from his idea. The proceeds after expenses are to go to the Carriage & Wagon Preservation Fund.
Open Weekend at Hednesford
Members will probably have already read in the Railway Press that the Society is holding an open weekend at the depot. It is hoped that members will give this function their utmost support, a lot of hard work has been put in by the ‘faithful few’ and we do appeal to the less active people to give a hand to act as stewards, etc.
Remember that these events are designed to give people an idea of the aims of the Society, and of course as money raising schemes without which, the aims cannot possibly be put into effect!
Therefore the depot will be open from 2.00pm Saturday, June 29th until 7.30pm, and again on Sunday, June 30th from 2.00pm until 5.30pm.
Working model layouts and a good photographic display, as well as all our vintage stock can be seen. Please bring your friends, neighbours, etc. A small admission fee will be charged, which we hope to help boost our funds with (as preservation is a costly business).
Refreshments will also be available. Members who could, or wish to volunteer their services on either day should contact the Hon. Sec. — Please help!
Visit to Swithland Hall.
Pic – Wikipedia
A small party of Midland Area members paid a visit to Lord Lanesborough’s ancestral home on Saturday, April 27th. His Lordship entertained members by operating his extensive model layout. This was followed by a trip to Swithland sidings, where his Lordship answered questions on the Great Central line; he also outlined the Great Central association’s scheme for the takeover from British Railways.
The Hon. Sec. proposed a vote of thanks to his Lordship in allowing members to visit the hall and sidings, the party then continued to Mountsorrel Granite Quarry to inspect the workings and railway installations.
David A. Ives
Carriage and Wagon Fund
BR are continually pressing for the final payment on the Midland Royal Saloon, some £240 is still owing on this vehicle and we would remind members to make a special effort and donate to the fund in order to clear the account.
Other items awaiting purchase include a LNWR lower quadrant home signal and a Midland dumb buffer crane, which the Society hopes to put to good use. The cost of the crane being £8. A small fund for this crane has now been launched, and £2 has already been donated, we should like to cover the cost of transport for this very interesting relic. All donations to the Hon. Treasurer please.
News in Brief
Council for British Archaeology
Thanks were expressed in this important National Report for the work that the Midlands Area of the RPS and the Stafford Railway Circle had done jointly in the survey of Railways for the Industrial Revolution section.
The Warwickshire and Worcestershire (May) Magazine have included an article on Lord Lanesborough and also mentions the Society. There will be a follow up article in the June Edition with pictures of the RPS in action at Hednesford.
Late News
Chasewater Line
This line has been offered to the Society by the NCB for the very low rental of £10 per annum, other extras such as maintenance, fencing, etc. are not included. A resolution was passed at the last committee meeting that the Society accept this very reasonable offer, a further meeting with the NCB to discuss the legal and other aspects is to be conducted very shortly.
Pic – L. Hodgkinson
There are still seats left for the GC Tour on June 15th — book yours now if you have not already done so!
Our curator, Barry Bull, has compiled further information about the armchairs, recent arrivals at Chaasewater.
After information received from Lawrence Hodgkinson a little more light can be shown on the two Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway armchairs recently arrived at Chasewater.
The chairs were originally acquired following a tip-off by Ian Smith, signalman and one-time Secretary of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society. The armchairs, with others, were in the MSL Rly Directors’ saloon carriage and retained in this 1890 Gorton Works-built vehicle throughout its working life.
In its later years the saloon ended up as the District Engineer, Edinburgh Inspection Carriage No. SC 970113E. Preservation was mooted but following accident damage in 1968, severe enough to result in its withdrawal and scrapping, some of the internal furniture at least was saved, including the two armchairs now at Chasewater, after many years in storage with Mike Lewis – to whom our thanks.
During Great Central days some modernising touches were given to the Directors’ saloon No 1033, which had been built by Parker at Gorton in 1890. These included a big roller map of the system in 1913, to be seen on the left of this photograph of the larger of the two main compartments. Photo: George Dow collection
So far as coaching stock is concerned the palm for active service must surely go to Watkin’s saloon No 1033 which finished up as the inspection car of the District Engineer, Edinburgh, No SC 970113E. Apart from its Gresley bogies and a modernised galley its original condition was unaltered when it was withdrawn for scrapping, because of severe damage in an accident, in the early part of 1968, at the ripe old age of 78. Photo: George Dow Collection
Posted in Chasewater Railway Museum, Museum & Artefacts, Museum Exhibits
Tagged Armchair, Brownhills, Burntwood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Directors' Saloon, Directors' Saloon 1033, Great Central, Hednesford, Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway, MS&L, Museum Collection, Old Railway Lines, Parker at Gorton, RPS
Coal Tank 1054 at Hednesford
Taken from the first ‘Mercian’ Jan/ Feb 1962
Bi-Monthly Newssheet for the Midlands District of the RPA
In my previous post I reported that the Railway Preservation Society was in future to be called the Railway Preservation Association. For some reason, four times on the first page of the first ‘Mercian’ the RPS is referred to – curious.
The idea was to publish the Newssheet by the 23rd of each bi-month. Anyone who takes on the job of Editor of a newssheet or magazine of this type has my greatest admiration (and sympathy!) as they always seem to struggle for articles after the initial burst of enthusiasm.
Progress report to date during 1961
Good progress has been made at our Hednesford depot, accomplishments to date include track lowering, to allow the stabling under cover of the Webb Coal Tank and our own TPO van, this vehicle has a lot more work to be done on it, but it has now been completed in undercoat livery of the LNWR on one side. This was done by the very able direction of our Assistant Depot Master, and the woodwork renovations being done by our Hon. Treasurer, Frank Harvey. The interior of the TPO is now in good shape due to the efforts of our Chairman, Arthur Chatfield. Incidentally, he could do with some more help in this direction. How about it some of you people who have not yet shown up?
Work continues on the Maryport & Carlisle coach, this is slow work and is mainly due to lack of materials which are most costly, perhaps any members who could help out in these matters in cash or kind would they kindly contact me? Glass, wood and hardboard are most urgently required.
Maryport & Carlisle coach before work started.
The Great Eastern brake has now been converted to a temporary workshop, and part is the museum. It now has a genuine relic in the form of an LNWR signal box stove which has proved a most useful asset during this winter period.
Great Eastern brake before work started.
John Elsley, the Assistant Depot Master and his usual few stalwarts namely, Bob Wormington, Terry Jones, David Bradbury, John Bradbury and Fred Lewis continue to press on with tracklaying in spite of the recent cold snap, all you people interested in tracklaying, now is your chance to give a hand.
Mention must be made last but by no means least of Maurice Harper and Brian Kinder who are always at hand to help out with any task which might crop up. The tea is always made by these men and it is most appreciated by all the working parties.
A final word of gratitude to our President Charles E. Ives (no relation to David Ives) who so kindly allows the Society free and complete use of the depot. Good luck to you all in 1962.
David A. Ives Hon. Sec.
East Midlands District Report
We in the East Midlands have just passed through the first stage of the intensive publicity campaign that was started in mid December. So far the response has been quite good and I think the main contributory factor to this was the excursion to Ashford and Stratford Railway Works on January 3rd of this year. Owing to bad weather we were delayed for over two hours but this did not dishearten the prospective members who found the visit very enjoyable.
One of our more recent members, Mr. Popham of Raunds has shown great interest in our cause, he rendered invaluable assistance on our Ashford venture. He and I are making a survey of the Kettering – Cambridge branch line. We hope to publish our results in the National Newsletter. Another outing for prospective members will be arranged around April time to Lancashire and Cheshire.
J. M. Harvey, East Midlands District Organiser.
Diary dates were given for social gatherings of the West Midlands District and the Stafford Railway Circle.
Taken from the RPS Newsletter Vol 3 No.2 – Date – Summer, 1961?
West Midlands District
Our covered space at the Hednesford depot now houses the London North-Western Webb coal tank, together with the London North-Western TPO van, Maryport & Carlisle and Great Eastern coaches, which are in various stages of restoration.. A considerable amount of really hard work has been carried out during the last three weekends.
Collection of small relics continues to grow, thanks in no small measure being due to two of our junior members, Brian Kinder and Maurice Harper, of Walsall. Donations to the TPO fund were received from some 18 members.
The West Midlands District also toured the railway system of the Bass, Ratcliff and Gretton Company at Burton-on-Trent. The trip was organised as a joint effort by Stafford Railway Circle, and the party travelled in a four-wheeled directors’ saloon of 1889 vintage. Acquired from the Midland Railway, the vehicle was built by the Railway Carriage & Iron Co. Ltd. at Manchester.
Bass Locos – Published by Bass Museum
The following piece is taken from an article written by A. A. Chatfield (Vice-Chairman of the West Midlands District).
The Webb Coal Tanks of the LNWR
With the arrival at our Hednesford depot of number 1054, the last of the celebrated Webb coal tank engines, A. A. Chatfield has outlined a brief history of the class.
The first of these locomotives was constructed at Crewe works in 1881, and during the ensuing years no fewer than 300 were built. Initially they were a tank version of the very successful coal engines with the addition of a pair of trailing wheels running in a radial axle box under the bunker and rear wheel tank. Designated for working heavy mineral trains in the colliery areas of Lancashire and the South Wales valleys, the design changed very little over the years except that quite a few were fitting with the vacuum brake for working branch line passenger trains.
Main dimensions were: cylinders 17in. x 24in., pressure 150lbs., grate area 17 sq. ft., total heating surface 10,548 sq. ft., weight in working order 43 tons. Water capacity 1,150 gallons, height 13ft. 1in., and tractive effort 16,530lbs.
It is a strong testimony to the workmanship put into these locomotives that many of them survived for so long after the Grouping, as the total was still quite large even after the close of the second world war when some of the survivors were at least 60 years old. It is strange that so many of Webb’s simple designs should have lingered on for so long, for by the time the railways were nationalised quite a few octogenarians of this design could be found happily and usefully employed in the quiet backwaters of the LMSR.
Naturally the coal tanks were very prominent in the ranks for 30 of them were still at work in these out of the way corners when the 1950s dawned. By this time numbers were thinning out but still the coal tanks chuffed on until only one, 1054 or 58926 as she had become, remained – latterly employed ignominiously as a stationery boiler at Pontypool Road MPD.
However, the old lady still had her final fling to come, for she was cleaned up and hauled out to pilot an LNWR 0-8-0 on the last special train over the Merthyr – Abergavenny line on which duty she was filmed and recorded for posterity. After this brief appearance in the limelight she was sumped in a siding at Pontypool Road depot to await the last call to Crewe for breaking up.
Fortunately the story has had a happy ending for through the good offices of Mr. J. M. Dunn and a large group of enthusiasts who were familiar with these engines in their hey-day, number 1054 has been saved for posterity, decked out in her original finery, and has been put into the custody of the West Midland District of the RPS at Hednesford within a stones throw of her old birthplace.
During 1963, Mr Dunn and his supporters arranged for 1054 to be transferred into the ownership of the National Trust for display at Penrhyn Castle in North Wales, not far from where the engine worked in the 1920s.
Although Penrhyn provided public access in safe and secure surroundings, facilities for effectively exhibiting the locomotive were limited. After nine years at Penrhyn, and with the growth of railway preservation groups providing improved facilities, some of the locomotive’s original trustees arranged for the engine to be cared for by the ‘Bahamas’ Locomotive Society at their Dinting Railway Centre near Glossop in Derbyshire.
In 1980 the engine was overhauled, put into working order, and restored to the LNWR condition in which it would have appeared just prior to the First World War. In May that year it attended the great exhibition at Rainhill near Liverpool. This was held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the ‘trials’ won by George Stephenson’s famous Rocket, and the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway in 1830.
In the years since, 1054 has performed reliably and well.
LNWR Loco 1054 at Hednesford depot.
To the best of my knowledge, 1054 is owned by The National Trust. It is currently undergoing overhaul by volunteer members of the’Bahamas’ Locomotive Society, who have cared for the engine since 1973.
The work is being undertaken at the Society’s Museum & Workshop –
Ingrow Loco – on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in Yorkshire, and is supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Pictured at Oxenhope on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway by John Winters.
For video footage go to:
We are also, of course, open on Saturday 15th
From the RPS Newsletter Oct 1960 Vol 2 No.1
From the General Secretary’s Page
Following a proposal from the Middleton RPS that they would form part of the national organisation envisaged by the RPS, a plan was drawn up outlining an organisation of autonomous groups, each covering a heavily populated area and taking over all responsibility for voluntary preservation in their area. The national level of the organisation would transact such matters as were more effectively handled on a country-wide basis and would provide a common pool of information for all groups to draw on. This was expected to be the most important subject at the AGM on October 22nd 1960.
The District Report
West Midlands
The next item to be moved into Hednesford depot will be a LNWR travelling post office van built in 1909. This carriage keeps most of its original fittings, though the ‘pick-up and drop’ apparatus has been removed at some time and a plain panel used to cover the resulting gap. This is not only a fine relic in itself, but will give covered space for display of historic relics. The British Transport Commission preserves a replica of the original TPO on the London and Birmingham Railway which was built by LMS. Now we have preserved an example of the type used during the early years of the 20th century.
Requirements of the post office were standard for all types of TPO and the appearance of these vehicles only varied with the roof contour and panelling details of the companies who operated them. A very high proportion of pre-grouping types have remained in service until recently when British Railways put in hand the building of complete new trains. An interesting survival was reported a few years ago in the model railway press. This was a six-wheeler TPO of the GNWR stripped and used as a tool van on a break-down train.
Late Extra
Progress on Great Eastern Coach
West Midland District
Ray Hallworth
Despite rather thin attendance at working parties, progress of restoration work on the recently acquired Great Eastern coach has been very satisfactory. It is hoped that the interior will eventually form the first railway museum in the West Midland District. A temporary exhibition will be staged there for our annual meeting on October 22nd.
Inside walls have been scraped and have received a generous coat of priming paint. Most of the woodwork has been repaired. The small brake compartment at the end of the coach has been converted into a tool store.
Improvements are slowly but surely being made to the exterior, one side and end facing the main Hednesford – Cannock line having been completely stripped of paint. Over half of this has been primed. Quite o lot of the panelling had to be replaced, particularly at one of the corners where to our dismay, we found that not only had the panels gone rotten, but also the framework. Fortunately this has now been repaired and new panels fitted.
Work has not yet begun on restoring the Maryport & Carlisle coach, and it may have to be next spring before a start is made. Continual appeals are still being made for more members to come and lend a hand, especially the more local people. Working parties are held every Saturday from 3.00pm to 6.00pm and on Sundays from 2.30pm to 6.00pm.
Visit to Oakamoor Station
Twenty-four members and friends of the WMD visited Oakamoor Station on the ex-North Staffordshire line in the Churnet Valley on June 18th.
Rail37.com Churnet Valley Railway Oakamoor Station
The Stationmaster, Mr. Lister, took members on a conducted tour of the station buildings and adjacent copper works sidings. Much interest was shown in an ex-NSR battery electric locomotive, a relic of prime importance, being built at Stoke works in 1916. Still in excellent working condition and used for shunting work in the siding, Mr. Lister demonstrated the vehicle by giving members a short trip up and down.
Rail37.com Oakamoor Station – same view as previous.
Returning to the station, members were shown several items of interest including an old print of Oakamoor station in North Stafford days, and two lovely old NS office chairs with the Staffordshire Knot carved on each back-rest. Each member of the party was presented with a sealing wax impression of the NS Railway Oakamoor seal.
Finally members went by train to Alton Towers, a local beauty spot – not without noticing the magnificent NSR stove at Alton station.
Above: This is Alton station in Staffordshire, which was renamed Alton Towers in 1954 – only to close ten years later. (Surely the line might still be busy with a modern theme park en route?) The station was designed by Augustus Pugin (1812-1852), an English architect of the Gothic revival who is better known for his church designs and his work on the interior of the Houses of Parliament. However, Pugin did accept some more modest commissions, including this one for the North Staffordshire Railway, and the railway cottages at Windermere, Cumbria. Alton station is now owned by The Landmark Trust and can be rented for self-catering holidays. The trackbed is used as a railway path linking Oakamoor to the north and Denstone to the south. 10 November 2007. (Bob Prigg)
Posted in Chasewater Railway Museum, Chasewater Railway Museum Bits and Pieces
Tagged Alton, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway, Chasewater Railway Museum, Churnet Valley Railway, CVR, GER Brake, Hednesford, Oakamoor, Old Railway Lines, Railway Preservation Society, Staffordshire, Steam Trains, WMD depot.
Chasewater Railway Museum 