Chasewater Railway
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The Chasewater Railway is a former colliery railway running round the shores of Chasewater in Staffordshire, England.
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[edit] Overview
The line is approximately two miles in length, contained entirely within Chasewater Country Park. The route, which forms a horse-shoe shape around the lake, passes through heathland, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and passes over a one-quarter mile long causeway.
Prior to preservation, the line was part of the network operated by the NCB to serve the coalfields of the Cannock Chase area. The exchange sidings, where the colliery line connected with the Midland Railway, were situated about a quarter of a mile north of the current Brownhills West Station.
Significant change has happened in 2002/2003 caused by the closure of the old Brownhills station, due to the building of the M6 Toll motorway. This lead to the rebuilding of Brownhills West with significantly improved facilities and completion of the Chasetown section of the line (the 'Chasetown Extension Railway' between Chasewater Heaths and Chasetown Church Street).
The railway is home to a collection of steam and diesel locomotives of mostly industrial origin, many with local industrial connections. Passengers are conveyed in ex-DMU cars and BR Mk 1 coaches, as well as brake vans on gala days.
The railway also owns various vintage carriages, some dating back over a century. These, as well as other rolling stock, is accommodated in the newly completed carriage shed/ heritage centre.
Work is ongoing to establish a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge narrow gauge railway close to the heritage centre.
[edit] Stations
- Brownhills West
- Norton Lakeside
- Chasewater Heaths (adjacent to Burntwood bypass)
- Chasetown Church Street
[edit] Locomotives
- Steam Locomotives
- Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST "Asbestos" (Currently in use)
- W.G. Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2648 "Linda" (Currently in use)
- Sentinel 0-4-0VBT (Currently out of use)
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST G.W.R. No. 701 (Currently in use)
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 1223 "Colin McAndrew (Expected to return to traffic in 2008 following overhaul)
- Neilson 0-4-0ST, built 1882. (Currently under overhaul)
- Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No. S100. (Currently under overhaul)
- Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST, built 1902 (Currently stored)
- Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST, No.431. (Currently stored)
- Hunslet Engine Co. 0-6-0ST "Rhos". (Currently stored)
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 2343. (Currently stored)
- Diesel Locomotives
Many other ex-industrial diesel and petrol locomotives, in various stages of restoration, are also present at Brownhills West.
- Diesel Multiple Units
