Chasewater Railway & Museum News – May 16th

It seems that a very successful weekend was enjoyed by members who went to Snibston with AB 1964.

This elderly tank wagon was seen on the site:and upon closer inspection, the following signature was spotted:Was this painted by our long-established member before he joined Chasewater or was he moonlighting?!

Meanwhile, at Chasewater, ‘Linda’ decided that she didn’t want to play and refused to steam properly.  Out came Class 08 to take over for a time, until ‘Linda’ was eventually taught the error of her ways and got moving – taking an insurance policy with her!As for the museum this Sunday, well, I have been saying for some time now that I would like to get out and see some trains – if only for a short while.  I certainly got my wish – I couldn’t even get in!!  The lock was stuck. It wasn’t just stuck for me, at least 4 others had a try at unlocking it with no success.

Today, Monday 16th, the museum team have been on a course run by the Staffordshire Museum Network and Renaissance West Midlands at the County Museum, Shugborough, the subject ” Sustainable Collections: Principles and Practice of Collections Management” .  What does this mean in a climate of reduced public funding, ecological concerns and rapidly accelerating technological change?  How long should we be aiming to preserve our collections for?  Is there a time limit on sustainabilty?  All in all, it was one of the more interesting courses and demonstrated that we cannot just stand still, we have to keep on learning.  Mike Guthrie from the Claymills Pumping Engine Trust gave an interesting short talk on “Collections with Working Objects” – of particular interest to us if it is decided to include some items of rolling stock in the collection.  Incidentally, their next steaming is Bank Holiday Weekend, May 29th & 30th.Inside Claymills Pumping Station.

Going back to the locked museum – the last time we had trouble with this lock, Adrian managed to sort it out.  Well, obviously he was at Shugborough and was told of the problem.  He was thrilled to bits to be going back to Chasewater to fix it again (especially as he was having trouble with his back!), but, gritting his teeth, he set off with Barry Bull to see what he could do. Not too long later, I received a text message of four words:  “Got into museum straightaway”

“Golly” said I – well there were two ‘ll’s in the word anyway!!!

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!!

Chasewater Railway Museum and Other News

Friday 4th March.

The Headteacher, Alan Dean from the CCMHS and one of the sponsors.

Members of the School Council

Some members of Chasewater Railway joined the Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society at the unveiling of two Information Signs at Littleton Green Community School this morning to commemorate Littleton Colliery. These signs have been sponsored by local Funeral Directors Faragher Maguire of Hednesford.

The sign on the other side of the school was unveiled by a local Councillor.

The school is on the former colliery site in Stafford Road, Huntington, Cannock. The short ceremony took place at 11.00am followed by a tour of the school by the Head Teacher and light refreshments in the new community cafe.

The school is an excellent facility for the local community, and not just during school hours – there are lots of after-school activities and the school is open 364 days per year.  Everyone we spoke to were proud to be associated with the school, and justifiably so.

Class 08 getting ‘Linda’ ready for bed!

Bagnall engine ‘Linda’ returned to Chasewater Railway on Wednesday, March 2nd after a weekend on duty at the Ribble Steam Railway.‘Linda’ at Riverside – One of Bob Anderson’s excellent photographs

Also on Wednesday, the items in the only display case not catalogued were numbered and photographed.  The majority of these items were from the Hornby companies.Hornby Dublo 3 rail 0-6-2 tank No.69567Hornby ‘0’ gauge LMS brake vanHornby ‘0’ gauge 0-4-0 Tank.

My thanks to Godfrey for pointing out that I don’t know where I am on which day!!  We were in the Museum last Wednesday, not Tuesday, when I was at New Cross Hospital having my eyes looked at  – not my brain! Honest!

Class 08 Diesel Loco at Chasewater Railway

Class 08 diesel loco at Chasewater Railway

Today, Tuesday 27^th July 2010, saw the first of the Chasewater Railway School Summer Holiday midweek specials.  Although advertised as a steam service, in fact Class 08 diesel locomotive No. D3429 was the engine in charge today.  This loco is at Chasewater Railway on a short-term loan.

This latest arrival at Chasewater (20-7-2010) is a product of Crewe Works – one of 135 such locomotives built there.

The first allocation was Bristol St. Phillips Marsh, but 3429 had moved to Swansea Danygraig Depot by January 1960, followed by spells at other South Wales depots.

D3429 is credited with working the last train over the Cymmer-Glyncorrwg section of the South Wales Mineral Railway on May 22^nd 1970, to collect empties from the closed Glyncarrwg Colliery.

By now renumbered 08359, the loco was withdrawn by British Rail in March 1984 but subsequently sold into preservation, going to the North Staffs Railway at Cheddleton.  Several such moves have taken place since, and D3429 comes to Chasewater on a short term loan via the Telford Steam Railway.

Since withdrawal the loco has been seen at Cheddleton, Peak Rail (Buxton), Peak Rail (Darley Dale), Shackerstone, Tyseley, Northampton & Lamport then Telford Steam Railway.

BR Class 08 at Chasewater Railway

BR English Electric Class 08 Nº D3429 / 08359

The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes.

As the standard general-purpose diesel shunter on BR, almost any duty requiring shunting would involve a Class 08. The class became a familiar sight at many major stations and freight yards; however, since their introduction, the nature of rail traffic in Britain has changed considerably. Freight trains are now mostly fixed rakes of wagons, and passenger trains are mostly multiple units; neither requiring the attention of a shunting locomotive. Consequently a large proportion of the class has been withdrawn from mainline use and stored, scrapped, exported, or sold to industrial or heritage railways.

As of 2008 around 100 locomotives remain working on industrial sidings and on the main British network. On heritage railways they have become common, appearing on many of the preserved standard-gauge lines in Britain, with over 60 preserved.

It will be at Chasewater Railway for the next few months.