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 third nameplate, following those of ‘McClean’ and ‘Marquis’, is that of Beaudesert from the little 0-6-0 saddle tank built by Fox Walker, works number 266 of 1875 supplied new to Cannock and Rugeley Collieries as their number 5. Beaudesert was the ancestral home of the Paget family who became Earls of Uxbridge before being given the title and Estate Marquis of Anglesey. Finally cut up in 1964 the other nameplate of the loco survives and is on display in Kidderminster Railway Museum.
‘Beaudesert’ 0-6-0ST Built by Fox Walker No. 266 – 1875
No.5 at Cannock & Rugeley Colliery
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged 0-6-0ST 266-1875, Beaudesert, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock & Rugeley Collieries, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Fox Walker, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Mining Heritage, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Steam Locomotives, Walsall, Wolverhampton
After ‘McClean’, the second of the three locomotive nameplates to arrive is Marquis. The name originates from the first Marquis of Anglesey, a title awarded to the Earl of Uxbridge who fought along side Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo. Carried by the Lilleshall Company built 0-6-0 saddle tank new to the Cannock and Rugeley Collieries as their first loco in 1867, she, or is it he, lasted until cut up at the NCB Cannock Central Workshops during May 1964.
Lilleshall locomotive 0-6-0ST No.116 of 1867 ‘Marquis’ Cannock & Rugeley Collieries’ No.1
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock & Rugeley Collieries, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Lilleshall, Marquis, Mining Heritage, No.1 Marquis 0-6-0ST Lilleshall 116-1867, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
An opportunity presented itself in 2013 to acquire by way of private purchase half a dozen items of local colliery railway interest. Not since the 1960s and early 1970s, when in that period a good relationship existed between the Railway Preservation Society and local National Coal Board management and which resulted in several donations of interest has the chance to obtain in bulk such star items for the museum collection. First and arguably the finest piece from the Chasewater Railway point of view is the nameplate McClean from the 1856 built Beyer Peacock, the first of five similar locomotives delivered between 1856 and 1872. McClean lasted one hundred years before scrapping and in her later years was considered to be the oldest loco in the country still at work. The name McClean was bestowed in honour of John Robinson McClean who first came on the local scene as engineer in the construction of the South Staffordshire Railway before later, together with Richard Chawner leased land to mine coal forming the Cannock Chase Colliery.
‘McClean’ Beyer Peacock 0-4-0ST No.28 of 1856
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Tagged Beyer Peacock 0-4-0ST, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Lichfield, McClean, Museum Collection, No.28 of 1856, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Steam Locomotives, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
Paycheck from the railway which once served the coal and iron industry, notably Round Oak Steel Works, Brierley Hill. Known also as the Earl of Dudley railway as most of the eventual 40 miles of track was situated in the Dudley Estate, and at one time linked Old Hill, Cradley, Dudley, Himley, Wall Heath, Dawley Brook and Ashwood. By the 1960s the only portions in use were the line to Baggeridge Colliery and the tracks around Round Oak Steel Works linking scrap bays, ancillary factories and works stores.
Built entirely for the movement of coal, etc. the only times a passenger service operated was on odd occasions when the Earl of Dudley took invited guests on a ‘jolly’ and on the few days per year of the annual Himley Fete and this only during the period 1928 to 1937.
Destination ticket for an empty coal wagon.
Card with instructions for repairs to coal wagon.
Our Curator has been out and about again, this time coming back with another very nice worksplate.
Neilson 3789-1888
A worksplate, NEILSON, 3789, 1888, from a standard gauge 0-4-0T which was new to the Gas Light & Coal Company (later the North Thames Gas Board) at Beckton Gas Works, their No 19. It remained there all its working life and was scrapped in 1962. Engraved brass, 9″x 5½”, the engraving picked out in red, the back stamped 19.
No.3789 was one of the heavier Neilson engines with extended tanks, it is seen here as No.19 inside the Beckton Roundhouse on 9 July, 1927. Photo: H.C.Casserley.
Beckton Gasworks was a major London gasworks built to manufacture coal gas and other products including coke from coal. It has been variously described as ‘the largest such plant in the world’ and ‘the largest gas works in Europe’. It operated from 1870 to 1969, with an associated by-products works that operated from 1879 to 1970. The works were located on East Ham Level, on the north bank of the Thames at Gallions Reach, to the west of Barking Creek.
Neilson No.3789 was an 1888 arrival at Beckton and is seen here with a coke train on 22 April, 1959. Photo: Sydney A.Leleux.
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged 3789-1888, Aldridge, Beckton Gasworks, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Museum Collection, Neilson, Neilson Worksplate, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Steam Locos, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
This enamelled sign came from Stafford No.5 signal box, and was given to the Museum by Network Rail – our thanks to the Company.
Photo: tillyweb.biz
The sign can be seen set into the signal box. On one end is a white patch with a red arrow, and on the other, a clear white patch to balance up the sign.
It may be of interest to Chasewater Railway members that the Station Hotel, Stafford, where the inaugural meeting of the Railway Preservation Society, fore-runner of Chasewater Railway, was held in 1959, was approximately 150 yards from the signal box!
Posted in Museum Exhibits, News
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, BR LMR, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Museum Collection, Network Rail, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Stafford, Stafford No.5 Signal Box, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
As can be seen from this series of photographs, Derrick is a very good man to have on your side if you need something restoring from rotten to as good as new.
These 2 Tyer’s Electric Train Tablet Cases were in an awful state when Derrick started work on them, but when he had finished they looked brand new.
They will be put to work in signal boxes on Chasewater Railway
Tyer’s Instruments
An instrument was placed at each end of the single-track section that they were to control. They were connected together electrically in such a way that operation of one would depend on operations carried out using the other.
There were various incarnations of instruments developed by Tyer & Co.
In 1981, Derrick was in charge of the restoration of our Pump Trolley while at the West Bromwich College of Commerce &Technology.
There have been times, however, when perhaps Derrick wanted more involvement with the running of the Railway! Maybe getting ideas above his station!!Posted in News
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock Wood, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hand Pump Trolley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Tyer’s Electric Train Tablet Cases, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
Chasewater Railway Museum 