Rail contractor Centrac, Tarmac’s track renewal company, came to the rescue when it heard that Chasewater Railway at Burntwood, Staffordshire, was struggling to extend its line due to a shortage of sleepers.
Birmingham-based Centrac offered to supply 600 sleepers from its main recycling depot at Northampton.
The Donated sleepers mean that Chasewater Railway’s volunteer workforce can extend its line to a planned new station near the proposed Burntwood by-pass entrance to the Chasewater Country Park.
The line currently serves the Brownhills West end of the park, carrying passengers around Chasewater Lake – and across the lake on a recently rebuilt causeway – to a station opened 18 months ago in the Norton wildfowl reserve.
The track represents the only remaining mineral line from the vast Cannock Chase coalfield network, and runs small tank locomotives retrieved from industrial locations, including a steam shunting engine from Pleck gasworks, providing scenic leisure trips for passengers.
Chasewater Railway general manager Steve Organ welcomed the donation of the sleepers saying “We are absolutely delighted with Centrac’s generous help – quite simply we could not have achieved so much without them. This shows the value of recycling materials.”
Lorne Gray, who is in charge of Centrac’s recycling operations, commented: “The particular type of sleeper we have donated would normally be stripped down to the bare components. The baseplates and fixings would be sold off by the tonne to scrap merchants and the sleepers sold for use in heavy industry and agriculture.
“The fact that they will now be used for their intended purpose, albeit on a reduced specification basis, is very satisfying.”
The Duke of Gloucester was in his element as he took control of ‘Asbestos’ – Chasewater Railway’s flagship steam locomotive.
With a blast on the whistle the Duke shifted the regulator and the steam engine edged forward.
For the next ten minutes the Duke indulged one of his greatest passions – steam trains – oblivious to the wired-up security agent positioned half-way along the section of track.
The royal visit to Chasewater Railway was the third stop on the Duke of Gloucester’s tour of the area last Thursday (4-11-2004).
Accompanying the Duke in the engine’s cab were Driver Mark Sealey and Fireman Steve Williams.
Steve said ” He knew exactly where all the controls were, we didn’t really have to help him. I think he would have liked to have gone a bit further down the track.”
Mark added “We talked about the engine and where it had come from and he asked us about the length of the track.”
The Duke also toured the newly constructed Heritage Centre where restoration work on Chasewater’s collection of railway carriages takes place.
And while in the Centre he unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit.
Restoration engineers Jim Twigge and Don Mitchell chatted with the Duke.
“He is the kind of person you can speak with easily,” said Jim.
Don added ” We knew he was a train enthusiast and former architect.
Architecture and railways are his two passions.”
Before leaving, the Duke took an impromptu trip on a modern engine – the Parry People Mover – and the clockwork coordination of the event suddenly seemed at risk!
Station Master Eric Balaam remarked ” The Duke said it is nice to see people restoring the carriages for future generations to appreciate.”
As the bespectacled Duke in dark grey suit and beige overcoat climbed into his Jaguar, Chasewater Railway’s general manager Steve Organ reflected on the Royal visit.
“I think it has gone really well with this our first Royal visit.
This is a very significant milestone, giving credibility to the railway and enabling members to take a pride in it.”
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!
Chasewater Railway Museum 