Tag Archives: Staffordshire

Colour photos of Cannock Chase Loco ‘Foggo’

Posted on December 12, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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.

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Chasewater Railway Museum – One for the Archive

Posted on November 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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

 

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Talon – The Best Of Eagles

Posted on November 18, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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

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Another picture of Brereton Sidings Signal Box

Posted on November 13, 2013 by | 2 comments

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).

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Chasewater Railway Museum Collection – Horseshoe shaped wagon plate

Posted on November 3, 2013 by | 3 comments

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.

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2 Centenarians at Chasewater Railway

Posted on October 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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

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New Museum Aquisition, August 27th 2013.

Posted on August 27, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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.

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

Posted on August 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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.

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Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces No.61 – RPS Newsletter No.2 – May 1973

Posted on August 6, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces No.61

 DMU Transport 3

RPS Newsletter No.2 – May 1973

 Since the last newsletter (March) we have been pleased to see a few members turn up at Chasewater as a result of the appeal for more support.  We would like to see a few more however.  There is an interesting variety of jobs, i.e. trackwork, platform building, locomotive and carriage restoration, installation of signals and signalling equipment. (Sounds familiar!!)

There was a successful Easter Weekend Steaming in spite of awful weather, and a thank you to the members who stayed overnight to light up, and those who operated the service in such vile weather.

DMU Trailer Unit

DMU Transport 7

This vehicle has now arrived at Walsall from March, Cambs. And is now awaiting collection and transportation by low-loader from Walsall to Chasewater.  This should prove a spectacular operation (albeit a costly one). We deserve to get maximum publicity from this enterprise.  As most members will realise, this carriage has been purchased to give maximum seating capacity for the summer season’s running, also to replace our vintage Maryport & Carlisle coach now in service.  The M & C now needs some restoration work, new panelling and a complete repaint.

Stop Press – 3rd May!!

This vehicle is now safely in the compound at Chasewater, after a hectic day by a small party of members and being filmed going through the streets of Walsall by ‘ATV Today’

DMU Transport 17

North-Eastern Box Van

 NER 8 Ton Box Van

Due to the efforts of our Hon. Sec. Barry Bull, the Society has acquired the last wooden bodied Box Van used by Messrs. Cadbury of Bournville.  Messrs. Cadbury have very kindly donated the vehicle to the Society, arrangements have now been made for collection of this vehicle on May 5th.  Our grateful thanks to both Messrs. Cadbury for donating this vehicle and to Barry for negotiating the deal.

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The Railway Preservation Society produced a newsletter, starting in March 1973 – Here are extracts from the first one.

Posted on August 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The Railway Preservation Society produced a newsletter, starting in March 1973 – Here are extracts from the first one.

There doesn’t appear to have been another ‘Mercian’ for some time.

‘This newsletter is not intended to replace our Society journal ‘Mercian’, we (the Committee) must apologise for the non-appearance of ‘Mercian’, but this has been due to technical hitches, etc.  We shall endeavour to maintain a newsletter at least every two months, and may we all hope that ‘Mercian’ will put in an appearance before too long.’

 5512 - Neilson with 4-plank wagon Chasewater

The remainder of the newsletter covers various on-going renovation work, including the overhaul of the Neilson, in the very capable hands of the General Manager, Derek Luker, ably assisted by Keith Sargeant and Colin Thomas – repairs to the smokebox and fire box – further expense is envisaged for retubing the engine.

MSL at Easingwold

MSL at Easingwold

Restoration of the MSLR carriage was continuing, with one compartment beautifully restored, fitted with new seats and original GC pictures re-hung.  This vehicle has been completely re-roofed and original ventilators and gas lamps refurbished and fitted.  A lot of work still has to be done to complete the vehicle and more volunteers were needed.

Brownhills West Station June 1978 

Other work included the relaying of track to the crossing from the Hednesford Road, another 300 yards needs to be done.  Work was progressing on the new platform at the Chasewater Terminus (now under the M6 Toll!).  Work had been started on tidying up the site, ready for the 1973 running season.  The Worthington Diesel No.20 (now on loan at Coors Museum, Burton-on-Trent) was having an overhauled replacement engine fitted and should be ready by the end of March 1973.

 The final piece of news was regarding  a Railway Exhibition to be held at the Forum Theatre, Cannock, on the weekend of 30th June and 1st July.  It will consist of Model Railway Layouts, our own ‘Railwayana’ display, plus other preservation stands, Model Engineering Society stands refreshments and bar.  As usual, more help was needed. 

Compiled by D.A.Ives (Chairman)

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