Between September 2000 and September 2001 an enormous amount of work was done on the Chasewater Railway, from the old station being closed and demolished to make way for the M6 Toll Road to the new station being open for business!
Well done everyone involved, especially, as far as this blog is concerned, photographer Jim Higgins.
Posted in Photograph Collection
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, New Brownhills West Station, Old Railway Lines, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
A joke… I think…..
A very nice addition to the Museum collection was this 7-lever signal frame.
The frame came to Chasewater from the National Railway Museum in 2012.
For more details about Hemyock on the Culm Valley Light Railway, Great Western Region, click on the link below.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Cheslyn Hay, Culm Valley Light Railway, Great Wyrley, GWR, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Hemyock Station, Lichfield, Museum Collection, Norton Canes, NRM, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Signal Lever Frame, Steam Trains, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
This label came to the Museum from Robert Ives, the son of David Ives, a founder member of the Railway Preservation Society (West Midland Branch).
No.1054, which started life in preservation in a temporary home at the Railway Preservation Society, West Midlands branch at Hednesford, Staffs. This was, of course, the forerunner of today’s Chasewater Light Railway and Museum.
The label can be seen on the end of the buffer beam
Under cover at Hednesford
The LNWR Coal Tank was completed at the LNWR’s Crewe Works in 1888. Withdrawn from service in 1939 the engine was returned to traffic following the outbreak of the Second World War, and was the last example of the 300-strong class, finally withdrawn in 1959.
The engine was saved by a group of enthusiasts headed by J M Dunn, former shedmaster of Bangor MPD, and was the first steam locomotive to be preserved in the UK by public subscription.
The engine was subsequently presented to the National Trust for display at Penrhyn Castle in North Wales.
Since 1973, the engine has been in the care of the Bahamas Locomotive Society, based at their Ingrow Loco Museum on the 5JR Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in Yorkshire.
Seen working at the Severn Valley Gala in Spring 2015.
For further information, go to:
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged 1054, Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Coal Tank, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Museum Collection, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Railway Preservation Society, Staffordshire, Steam Trains, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
This first one is a map of the London Midland & Scottish Railway from Aldridge to Brownhills, via Walsall Wood, showing the chamge to a single line in 1934. Somehow it had evaded the camera for some time, after being donated to the museum!
This Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns worksplate has also been with us for some time, since purchased by our curator. It was very nicely painted by Jason Busby.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Chase, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Map, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
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
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
Chasewater Railway Museum 