New Arrival at Chasewater Railway for the Spring Gala March 17-18

Bagnall 2842/1946 0-4-0ST at Chasewater – Pic by oakparkrunner

 No. 2  2842 1946 0-4-0ST 4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) built for the Kent Electric Power Company at Littlebrook Power Station, near Dartford.

One of the firm’s 14″ saddle tanks, weighing 27 tons in working order, it was delivered new to the Kent Electric Power Company at Littlebrook Power Station, near Dartford on 31 July 1946. Number 2 was later moved to Croydon “A” Power Station during the mid 1950s. There it shunted coal wagons until purchased privately for preservation in November 1972. During July 1973 it was moved by road to Alresford, becoming the first locomotive to arrive at the new Mid Hants Railway preservation scheme. It received minor repairs, but with boiler repairs also needed it remained a static exhibit. In May 1980 number 2 was named “Hampshire” immediately prior to a period of loan to Tucktonia, a model village in Christchurch, Dorset. The locomotive returned to the Mid Hants Railway in autumn 1982 and later moved on to spend several years at the Avon Valley Railway at Bitton, latterly on display at Warmley. It is basically complete but suffered some vandalism, and was eventually purchased privately by three members of the same family for restoration to working order at the Foxfield Railway. Number 2 arrived at Foxfield, complete with a graffiti livery, on 23 September 2003.

At Chasewater Railway for the Spring Gala March 17-18 2012.

Info – Foxfield Railway  http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.ukPic by oakparkrunner – with many thanks.

Chasewater Railway Spring Gala

The North British diesel loco preparing to shunt the coal train in the morning sun.

The weekend of March 19th & 20th saw the long-awaited Spring Gala of Chasewater Railway.  Lots of people in the Saturday morning sunshine got the Gala off to a good start.The Narrow Gauge was kept busy on both days – proving very popular.

I didn’t get the chance to leave Brownhills West this year but from what I was able to see, there was plenty going on all day, both days.

Barclay Colin McAndrew heading passed Baguley Bass No.5 into the bay platform.

With the back gate open and the Narrow Gauge running, our visitors got round to the Heritage Centre and Museum without crossing the track and in large numbers.

The Hunslet No.6678 on the front of the coal train.

The Museum has a great day in the Saturday sunshine, breaking the attendance record.  Sunday morning started more slowly, not to mention colder with more cloud, but as the day went on more and more visitors found their way over and we broke the attendance reacord again!!  Por old Mick had to change clicking action fron his thumb to his finger!!  Good to have him back.The Baguley Loco, Bass No.5 ready for action – with what’shisname looking out!

The Hunslet with the 08 in the background

Asbestos coming into Brownhills West.

A busy scene in Brownhills West station – the passenger train has just been brought in by Asbestos and the coal train is moving out past the Hunslet, pulled by the 08.

Bagnall Loco Linda running round between the Hunslet and the Baguley.

Barclay 1964 bringing a passenger train into Brownhills West.

Popular ride!

Like a caged lion!!  He’s the only one who can get in and out comfortably!

Gets everywhere!  Like a rash!!

Florence No.2 arrives from Foxfield for the Gala 11th 12th September.

If you haven’t been to Chasewater Railway for a while, you won’t have seen either of these locos in action.  They will both be running this weekend, 11th & 12th September, at our Industrial Gala – come and see!

The Bagnall Engine 0-6-0ST 3059/1954 Florence No.2 arrived at Chasewater Railway today, Tuesday 7th September at lunchtime from Foxfield Railway.

Lowering the trailer ready for off-loading.

Nearly ready!

Almost down

Easy when you know how!

Looks smart!

The Narrow gauge is getting ready too!Trains running from 10.00am Saturday and Sunday.

Museum: Information wanted, please.

The Chasewater Railway Museum has recently taken possession of this plate.

It is cast iron, marked W.G.Bagnall Ltd., Stafford England.

Normally it would be taken as a works plate, but this one has not been drilled.

We are wondering if it had some special use or if it was just one which was never used.

If anyone can help, we would be most grateful.

Snibston Weekend

Snibston Weekend

Last weekend, the 22^nd and 23^rd of May, a number of Chasewater Railway members attended an event at Snibston in Leicestershire.  Also there was the Bagnall engine ‘Linda’ (2648/1941).

It seems that a good time was had by all and a lot of good photographs were taken.  Some are included in this post and there is a link to more on the blogroll on my home page. (‘Linda’ at Snibston)Pics with permission of

http://paulgildersleve.fotopic.net/

May 9th Chat

May 9^th Chat

Bagnall loco Linda out on her second trial session, following her first runs on Saturday seemed to be behaving well – ready for next weekend’s trip to Snibston.  I hope that it goes well for all those attending.

In the Museum this Sunday we were busy with more preparations for next Sunday’s Accreditation inspection. More information was put in the stands in the Heritage Centre, and more information in the Museum too.  Considering the cold breeze today we had a good number of visitors – 170 in all.

As you can see in the picture, we kept Godfrey busy, cleaning and polishing the stands as well as adding more info.  It’s nice to know that we have found another job for him and, thinking about it, with Linda being out in the steam and smoke, she could probably do with a polish.  Note the firm hold with the left hand and the swift polishing movement with the right – too fast for the camera to keep up with!  A first class operator for the loco, and I’m sure that Jean will take note as well!

More Chat – School Visit plus Bagnall ‘Linda’

School Visit plus Linda

I’ve been to Chasewater Railway this morning with Godfrey (he’s still speaking to me after the trolley bus episode!) to show our visitors round.  There were 51 children with 6 adults from Westfield Junior School, St. Ives, Cambridge – all well behaved – even the teachers!   They had a look around the Heritage Centre and the Museum and the hour or so that they were with us went very quickly.  As I said before, they did not have time for a train ride – maybe another time.

While there, I took the opportunity to take a photograph or two of the Bagnall locomotive ‘Linda’ now the paint job has been finished – a first class job by Chris, Jason and Dave.  It seems a shame that she will have to go out in the rain!Sunday 9th May, Asbestos brings a train in and Linda takes a run down the line.

A Bit of Chat – May Day

A Bit of Chat

The May Day Bank Holiday was a fairly quiet affair – the weather was cold for the time of year and a stiff breeze didn’t help.  After the recent good numbers through the museum, the best we could manage over the weekend was 208 on Monday.

We have an important museum inspection coming up on May 16^th and we are asking for help in keeping the Heritage Centre neat and tidy – it would be very much appreciated.

This Friday, 7^th May, we have a party of children from Cambridgeshire paying us a fleeting visit, just a tour of the museum and heritage centre – sadly not enough time for a train ride!

I’m told that the paint job on Linda the Bagnall loco is now complete ready for her trip to Snibston.  I haven’t seen her now that Dave has worked his magic but she was looking very well in her new colours.Looking smart even before Dave got to work!

Cannock Chase Miners and Chasewater Stuff

Off to the Museum of Cannock Chase this morning to attend the AGM of the Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society – it’s nice to know what’s going on and, let’s face it, without coal mines there would be no Chasewater Railway.  There are some interesting talks coming up in the months ahead – on April 13th, our old friend Ron Bradbury is giving a talk about John Robinson McClean – one time owner of the Cannock Chase Colliery Company and the South Staffordshire Railway (not a lot of coal went down the cut for a while!).  In July there will be a talk about the War Camps, I’m afraid that I missed the details about this one, and in October, Alan Dean is giving a talk about West Cannock (the book on this subject should be out well before then).  On Saturday, 17th July there is a 50th Anniversary Commemoration of the closing of Brereton Colliery and the opening of Lea Hall Colliery at Brereton Parish Hall.  Together with school visits, etc., the new committee will have a very busy year ahead – good luck gentlemen.

At the end of the AGM it was off to Chasewater to do a bit of office work (I call it work, anyway!!) and on the way into the park, the latest evidence of Dave’s handiwork.This was erected by two of our young lads – Albert and Ray!!  First class job all round.

As people probably know by now, Linda will not be in action at the Winter Gala.Something definitely missing……Ah – there they are!!

After a frustrating couple of hours on the PC I was off home before I threw the thing into the pool!  Mind you, the way it’s going down now. I don’t think I could reach!I reckon it’s going to be a long couple of years before it’s back to it’s former glory.

Hednesford Railways 1

The view in 2009, looking towards Rugeley from Hednesford Station bridge.As it was in the late 1950s, a very busy railway location, with pits sending coal into the sidings from all directions.

Looking forward and to the left, the line leads to West Cannock Colliery No.5 and to the right, to Cannock & Rugeley Collieries at Cannock Wood and the Valley Pit.

From the rear, coal comes in from West Cannock Collierys Nos. 1, 3 and 4 – situated in the  Pye Green Valley.

The picture shows the site of West Cannock No.1 and No.4 Plants circa 1920s, it looks north east towards the top end of Green Heath Road.  No.4 Plant is just above the top of the chimney and steam can be seen coming from its winder stack.  The brickworks is the furthest building centre/right at the base of the mound.  A fourth shaft to the north of the brickworks has been covered by the mound.  The picture shows the enormity of the West Cannock Company’s operation in the middle of Pye Green Valley.

From here, the railway ran down to Hednesford Station via a bridge under the road by the ‘Bridge’ public house.  It then went through the left-hand arch (looking towards Rugeley) and into the sidings.With the closure of West Cannock Collieries 1-4, lines to the left found little usage.  The old station building, imposingly symetrical on the overbridge, castle-like dominated the access to the platforms.  One of  Bescot’s 0-8-0s, 49373, sorted out the empties to transfer to the collieries.

On the other side of the bridge, the sidings opened out into the marshalling yard.William Stanier designed 2-cylinder 2-6-4T no.2579, built by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow in 1936 and withdrawn in June 1962, runs in with a Rugeley Trent Valley to Walsall local passenger.  The station was demolished after the passenger service was withdrawn in January 1965 and the sidings were removed following the closure of almost all local collieries in the 1970s.  The signal box (formerly No.1), seen behind the water tower remains in operation. No.2 signal box closed on January 14th 1973 and No.3 from 18th December 1977.  Passenger services were reinstated from Walsall to Hednesford in 1989, using newly built platforms.  The service was later extended to Rugeley and Stafford, although, by 2009, it terminated at Rugeley Trent Valley.This is a cold view of West Cannock No.5, which continued producing coal until 1982.  The locomotive in the photo is Bagnall 0-6-0ST  ‘Topham’ 2193/1922.