Chasewater Railway

The Chasewater Railway is a former colliery railway running round the shores of Chasewater in Staffordshire, England. It is now operated as a heritage railway.

Chasewater Railway
The Chasewater Heaths station, with the new signal box rebuilt at the station in 2007
LocaleBrownhills West
TerminusChasetown (Church Street) (north)
Brownhills West (south)
Commercial operations
Original gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated byChasewater Light Railway & Museum Company
Stations4
Length2 miles (3.2 km)
Preserved gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Chasewater Railway
 Chasetown
(Church Street)
 Chasewater Heaths
 Norton Lakeside Halt
causeway
 Brownhills West

The line is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) 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 1⁄4-mile (0.40 km) long causeway.

History

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 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) north of the current Brownhills West Station.

Significant changes happened in 2002/2003 caused by the closure of the old Brownhills station, due to the building of the M6 Toll motorway. This led to the rebuilding of Brownhills West with significantly improved facilities, including a new carriage shed and heritage centre, and completion of the Chasetown section of the line (the 'Chasetown Extension Railway' between Chasewater Heaths and Chasetown Church Street).

In 2016 the Railway was awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Services.

Stations

The buildings at Brownhills West house Chasewater Railway Museum.

Rolling stock

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 British Railways Mark 1 coaches, as well as brake vans on gala days. The railway has also played host to various guest steam locomotives from other lines.

The railway also owns various vintage carriages, some dating back over a century. These, as well as other rolling stock, are accommodated in the Heritage Centre.

Locomotives
Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-6-0T No. 7684 "Nechells No. 4" operating a demonstration freight train.
A selection of diesel locomotives participating in the 2007 Diesel Gala.
  • Diesel Multiple Units
    • BR Class 127 Centre coach no. 59603. (Operational, used as hauled coaching stock).
    • BR Class 116 Centre coach no. 59444. (Operational, used as hauled coaching stock).
    • Northern Rail Class 142 no. 142 029. (Currently under driver training)

Narrow gauge railway
Chasewater Light Railway - narrow gauge railway

Volunteers are working to establish a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge narrow gauge railway close to the heritage centre.

References
  1. "Asbestos Special 1st January 2012". Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  2. "Steam locomotive 2012 'Teddy' is up for sale". Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  3. Industrial Locomotives: including preserved and minor railway locomotives. 15EL. Melton Mowbray: Industrial Railway Society. 2009. ISBN 978-1-901556-53-7.

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