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.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
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 first one is a wagon label from the Burton-on-Trent Glanville Colliery, dated 1913. It has been in our collection for some years now and has always been discoloured – and obviously kept on a spike in an office somewhere!
The other one is a colliery token from Granville Colliery in Shropshire. Granville Pit closed in 1979, bringing to an end more than 700 years of coal mining in the area which became Telford New Town in the 1960s. This was purchased by the Museum in 2012.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Burton-on-Trent, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Colliery Token, Granville Colliery Burton-on-Trent, Granville Colliery Shropshire, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Museum Collection, National Coal Board (NCB), Norton Canes, Pelsall, Shropshire, Wagon Label, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
A small addition to the Museum collection of coal miners’ pit checks is a pre-nationalisation of the coal industry example from the Granville Colliery Ltd.
The unusual thing about this particular item is, along with the Company name, it shows the location of Burton-on-Trent, whereas the real site of the Colliery was a few miles away at Swadlincote.
The first shaft was sunk in 1823/4 with number 2 shaft sunk in 1887. The earliest locomotives were six 0-4-0 saddle tanks of Hudswell Clark manufacture from the period 1890-1914.
On Nationalisation 1/1/1947, Granville became part of the NCB East Midlands Division No.7 Area and by then only two of the original locomotives remained. For short periods and at different times these two were supplemented/replaced by four Manning Wardle 0-4-0 saddle tanks, a Peckett 0-4-0 saddle tank, and finally a Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 diesel of 165 horsepower.
Rail traffic ceased in January, 1962 and workings were merged with Rawdon Colliery. Final closure came in August, 1968.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Burton-on-Trent, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Coal Mining, Colliery Token, Granville Colliery, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, National Coal Board (NCB), Norton Canes, Pelsall, Swadlincote, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
Originally posted on oakparkrunners railway & other snippets.:
Did you or any one in your family work at one of the many Coal mines in the Cannock and Rugeley Coalfield. If so why not purchase one of the Mining History Books published by the Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society.
These informative books, with numerous photographs, of which there are 18 books in total, have been written about mining, by the miners who worked at them. Each Book covers one or more of the local Collieries, and are available from Chasewater Railway Museum. please contact me if you need any further information. These books are about our Mining Heritage.
Posted in Museum & Artefacts
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, Cannock Wood, CCMHS, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Coal Mining, Coal Mining History, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Mining Heritage, National Coal Board (NCB), Norton Canes, Pelsall, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
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
One of the early, local, nameplates in the collection. Part of the history of the loco follows.
No.9 Cannock Wood (The third and best-known ‘Cannock Wood’) 0-6-0T Built by the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway at Brighton in 1877 (LBSCR 110). Bought from the Southern Railway (SR 110) in 1927. Still working at Rawnsley in 1957, continued to work for the NCB into the mid 1960s then preserved by the Railway Preservation Society, originally at Hednesford and later at Chasewater. Subsequently sold to members of the East Somerset Railway at Cranmore. Was steamed there, but is now homed on the Isle of Wight for further renovation work.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, LBSCR, Lichfield, London Brighton & South Coast Railway, National Coal Board (NCB), Norton Canes, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Steam Trains, Walsall, Walsall Wood
A locomotive worksplate, Neilson, 2937, 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 6¼”, the front of the plate has been repainted.
The Neilson loco pre-Chasewater days.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, National Coal Board (NCB), Neilson, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Steam Trains, Walsall Wood, Worksplate
This book of photographs, by J.B.Bucknall, includes many pictures of local interest, and it was thought it would be a good addition to our collection.
One photo is of particular interest to Chasewater Railway members as it shows a coal train leaving West Cannock 5s pit, heading for the Hednesford Yard, and in front of the engine can be seen the first headquarters of the Railway Preservation Society (West Midlands Division), where the Society stayed rent-free for 10 years Courtesy of Charles Ives, Penkridge Engineering) before moving to Chasewater, and changing its name to the Chasewater Light Railway Society and later to the Chasewater Light Railway and Museum Company.
The building (between the 2 telegraph poles), which is still standing, consisted of brick pillars and a roof, but now the spaces between the pillars have been bricked up.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, An Age of Kings, Bloxwich, Book, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Chase, Chasewater Railway, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, J.B.Bucknall, Lichfield, National Coal Board (NCB), Norton Canes, Pelsall, Penkridge Engineering, Staffordshire, Steam Trains, Walsall, Walsall Wood, West Cannock Fives, Wolverhampton
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