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.
The line is approximately in length, contained entirely within Chasewater Country Park. The route, which forms a horseshoe shape around the lake, passes through heathland, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and passes over a long causeway.
WWW chasewaterrailway.co.uk

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 north of the current Brownhills West station.
Significant changes happened in 2002/2003 caused by the closure of the original Brownhills West station due to the building of the M6 Toll motorway. This led to the rebuilding of Brownhills West slightly north of the old station with significantly improved facilities, including a new carriage shed and heritage centre, and completion of the Chasetown section of the line.
In 2016 the Railway was awarded The Queen's 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.
Chasewater is also home to only preserved rake of MGR wagons in the UK. Currently there are 10 examples of various types at the railway.
All locomotives listed below have been confirmed via the cited source.

Locomotives

Steam Locomotives

Narrow gauge railway

There is a gauge narrow gauge railway behind the heritage centre, where there are a few shed buildings, and a line that stretches along the heritage centre close to the steam shed.