Chasewater Railway - Definition and Overview

Chasewater Railway is a former colliery railway running round the shores of Chasewater in Staffordshire, England.

Significant change has happend 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 imporved facilities and completion of the Burntwood section of the line.

The railway is home to a collection of steam and diesel locomotives of mostly industrial origin. Currently in use are steam locomotives 'Asbestos', a Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0 saddle tank built in 1909, and a Sentinel vertical boilered 0-4-0 built in 1957. Diesels are used for maintainence trains and some passenger services. Passengers are conveyed in ex-DMU carriages, 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 accomodated in the newly completed carriage shed/ heritage centre.

Stations

• Brownhills West
• Norton Terrace
• Chasewater Heaths (adjacent to Burntwood bypass)
• Chasetown Church Street

Locomotives

• Steam Locomotives
  • Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST 'Asbestos' (currently in use)
  • Sentinel 0-4-0VBT (currently in use)
  • Neilson 0-4-0ST, built 1882. (Currently under overhaul)
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0T No.S100. (currently under overhaul)
  • Peckett 0-4-0ST, built 1902 (currently stored)
  • Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST, No.431. (currently stored)

• Diesel Locomotives
  • BR A1A-A1A Class 31 no. 31203
  • BR Bo-Bo Class 73 no. 73128
  • Ruston 0-4-0 diesel-electric

• Diesel Mutiple Units
  • BR Class 116 no. 59444
  • BR Class 117 nos. 51370, 51372 and 51412
  • BR Class 127 no. 59603

External Links

Official web site (http://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/)