Glancing Back Burntwood; Trains are still on track

Jun 11 2009 with Ron Bradbury

This is a milestone year for Chasewater Railway.

This month sees the Centenary of one of the kingpin engines of the society, ‘Asbestos’.

This charming little engine started life in 1909 shunting wagons around at a cement works with a sister engine called ‘Cement’.

Asbestos had the distinction of hauling the first steam train at Chasewater in 1968. It is pictured (above) when it had the red livery instead of the more recent green, that is seen today.

The Railway Preservation Society of West Midlands District, as it was then known, was formed and ran from a siding off the Rugeley-Walsall line at Hednesford.

It can be seen in the photograph below. In the background are empty wagons lined up along the line that ran up to Cannock Wood.

A new home was needed and with the development of Chasewater, by the then Aldridge-Brownhills Urban District Council, the society signed a 25 year lease at Brownhills West for part of the old Midland Railway line. By 1970 the Hednesford branch was closed and all stock brought to Brownhills West.

In 1973 the name was changed to Chasewater Light Railway. A museum was opened in a disused railway carriage and after the causeway was repaired in the 1990s the trains once more ran past Norton East Road.

The route of the M6 Toll ran straight over Brownhills West station and this enabled the fine new station building to be built.

With the line extended to Chasewater Heath and Church Street, Chasetown, and a new station at Chasewater Heath, the railway is as you see it today.

New engine sheds and a fine museum at Brownhills West (below) are the latest additions to the never-ending plans of the tireless volunteers of the railway.

Celebrations are taking place most weekends this month with a Bus Rally on June 14, and a Gala Weekend on June 20-21.

When you visit the railway – as I know you will – don’t forget to look in the well-stocked museum, where the Sankey’s Corner Arts Minder Project maquette is on display.

Check out www.chaserail.com and also the excellent http://chasewaterstuff.wordpress.com blog