The previous post took care of lines to the left from Hednesford to Rugeley, now to sort the right hand ones out! This first photo is a busy one…..
From the front, view of half a coal wagon on the line to West Cannock, then the double track main line Hednesford to Rugeley and then, the first home of the Railway Preservation Society (West Midlands Branch), with the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway loco now No.9 ‘Cannock Wood’ 0-6-0T. The next line is up to Cannock & Rugeley Colliery’s Cannock Wood pit and somewhere between that line and the pit in the background is the line to the CRC Valley pit. The buildings to the rear of the photo are those of the Valley pit, and in between the two sets of head-gear is the old corn stores which now houses the Museum of Cannock Chase.The line to Cannock Wood crossed the Hednesford-Rugeley Road at Bates’ Corner.
It’s a bit different now
No bridge, no general stores! And as for the Paddy train….
But now….
It carries on in a similar vein – the track bed completely overgrown. From the sidings to the bridge, the Council have put down a cycle/footpath,which
turns sharp left at the bridge and passes the former West Cannock 5s site instead of crossing the road and following the trackbed. I think there were some objections from residents about a high level path at the bottom of their gardens – quite understandable, I think.
Further up the line, approaching the level crossing, is ‘Rawnsley’ Lilleshall built No.4 0-6-0ST, formerly 2-2-2 built fot the Paris Exhibition.
A similar view showing just how overgrown it has become. Moving on towards Cannock Wood pit there is a level crossing at Hazel Slade.
Well overgrown now
One more level crossing, in Cannock Wood Street
Then the train carries on into Cannock Wood pit
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