View source for Chasewater Railway

{{Short description|Heritage railway in Staffordshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Heritage Railway |
| name             = Chasewater Railway
| other_name       =
| image_name       = ChasewaterHeathStation.jpg
| caption          = The Chasewater Heaths station, with the new signal box rebuilt at the station in 2007
| locale           = [[Brownhills West]]
| map              =
| mapsize          =
| terminus         = [[Chasetown (Church Street) railway station|Chasetown (Church Street)]] (north)<br />[[Brownhills West railway station|Brownhills West]] (south)
| linename         =
| builtby          =
| originalgauge    = {{Track gauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}} 
| originalrack     =
| originalelec     =
| preservedgauge   = {{Track gauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}} 
| preservedrack    =
| preservedelec    =
| era              =
| owned            =
| operator         = Chasewater Light Railway & Museum Company
| stations         = 4
| length           = {{convert|2|mi|km}}
| originalopen     =
| closed           =
| stageyears       =
| stage            =
| years            =
| events           =
| years1           =
| headquarters     =
}}
{{Chasewater Railway}}
The '''Chasewater Railway''' is a former [[Mineral railway|colliery railway]] running round the shores of [[Chasewater]] in [[Staffordshire]], England. It is now operated as a [[heritage railway]].

The line is approximately {{convert|2|mi|km}} 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 {{convert|1/4|mi|km|adj=on}} long [[causeway]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kelman |first1=Leanne |editor1-last=Brailsford |editor1-first=Martyn |title=Railway track diagrams 4: Midlands and North West |date=2022 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Frome |isbn=978-1-9996271-5-7 |edition=5|at=22D}}</ref>

==History==
Prior to preservation, the line was part of the network operated by the [[National Coal Board|NCB]] to serve the coalfields of the [[Cannock Chase]] area.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Christiansen |first1=Rex |title=The West Midlands |date=1973 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=0-7153-6093-0 |page=132}}</ref> The exchange sidings, where the colliery line connected with the [[Midland Railway]], were situated about {{convert|1/4|mi|km}} north of the current [[Brownhills West railway station|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 (the 'Chasetown Extension Railway' between Chasewater Heaths and Chasetown Church Street).

In 2016 the Railway was awarded The Queen's Award for Voluntary Services.

== Stations ==
* [[Brownhills West railway station|Brownhills West]]
* [[Norton Lakeside Halt railway station|Norton Lakeside Halt]]
* [[Chasewater Heaths railway station|Chasewater Heaths]] (adjacent to [[Burntwood]] bypass)
* [[Chasetown (Church Street) railway station|Chasetown Church Street]]<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Butcher |editor1-first=Alan C. |title=Railways restored 2010 |date=2010 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton |isbn=978-0-7110-3465-5 |page=40}}</ref>

{{anchor|Museum}}The buildings at Brownhills West house '''Chasewater Railway Museum'''.

==Rolling stock==
The railway is home to a collection of [[steam locomotive|steam]] and [[diesel locomotive]]s of mostly industrial origin, many with local industrial connections.  Passengers are conveyed in ex-[[Diesel multiple unit|DMU cars]] and [[British Railways Mark 1]] coaches, as well as [[brake van]]s 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 [[Merry-go-round train|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-07 |title=SpotLog - Loco List for Chasewater Railway |url=https://spotlog.org/LocoList/LocoList/Site?country=UK&site=Chasewater%20Railway |access-date= |website=Spotlog}}</ref>

== Locomotives ==
[[File:Chasewater Heaths Station - Chasewater Light Railway (geograph 4367493).jpg|thumb|right|Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-6-0T No. 7684 "Nechells No. 4" operating a demonstration freight train.]]
[[File:ChasewaterDiesels.jpg|thumb|right|A selection of diesel locomotives participating in the 2007 Diesel Gala.]]
* '''Steam Locomotives'''
** [[Hawthorn Leslie]] {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}} No. 2780 "Asbestos" built in 1909 (On display/awaiting overhaul).<ref>{{cite web|title=Asbestos Special 1st January 2012|url=http://www.chasewaterrailway.co.uk/news.php|access-date=12 February 2012}}</ref>
** [[W.G. Bagnall]] {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}} No. 2648 "Dunlop No. 6" built in 1940. (Operational)
** [[Sentinel Waggon Works|Sentinel]] {{whyte|0-4-0|VBT}} No. 9632 built in 1957. (Under repairs/overhaul)
** [[Sentinel Waggon Works|Sentinel]] {{whyte|0-4-0|VBT}} No. 9366 built in 1945. (Operational)
** [[Neilson and Company|Neilson]] {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}} No. 2937 "No.11" built in 1882. (Operational).
** [[Peckett and Sons]] {{whyte|0-4-0|ST}} No. 917 built in 1902. (In storage).
** [[Hudswell Clarke]] {{whyte|0-6-0|ST}}, No. 431 "Sheepbridge No. 15" built in 1895. (In storage)
** [[Hunslet Engine Co.|Hunslet]] {{whyte|0-6-0|ST}} No. 3783 "Darfield No. 1/Hollybank No.3" built in 1953. (Operational, returned to service in 2021)
*'''Diesel Locomotives'''
** BR Class 08 {{whyte|0-6-0|DH}} 08472 (Operational).
** North British {{whyte|0-4-0|DH}} No. D2911 built in 1958. (In storage/under repairs).
** Baguley {{whyte|0-4-0|DM}} No. 3590 "Bass No. 11" built in 1962. (In storage).
** [[John Fowler & Co.|Fowler]] {{whyte|0-4-0|DM}} No. 4100013 built in 1948. (In storage).
** [[Hunslet Engine Co.|Hunslet]] {{whyte|0-4-0|DH}} No. 6678 built in 1968. (Under overhaul).
** Andrew Barclay & Sons. {{whyte|0-6-0|DH}} No.659 'Sam' (Operational).
** [[Hunslet Engine Co.|Hunslet]] {{whyte|0-6-0|DH}} No. 9000 built in 1983. (Operational - donated from Sellafield Ltd.).
** Brush [[W. G. Bagnall|Bagnall]] {{whyte|0-4-0|DE}} No. 3097 built in 1956. (Under overhaul).
** [[Kent Construction and Eng Co.]] {{whyte|4w|DM}} No. 1612/21 Planet built in 1929. (In storage).
** [[Ruston (engine builder)|Ruston]] 48 {{whyte|4w|DM}} No. 305306 "Ryan" built in 1952. (Under restoration).
** [[Ruston (engine builder)|Ruston]] 165 {{whyte|6w|DM}} No. 313394 "Jammo" (Operational, on loan from [[Telford Steam Railway]]).
** [[Hudswell Clarke]] {{whyte|0-6-0DM}} No. D615 built in 1938. (In storage).
** Bagnall {{whyte|0-6-0|DM}} No. 3119 "Hem Heath" built in 1956. (In storage).
** Bagnall {{whyte|4w|DH}} No. 3208 built in 1961. (In storage).
** Bagnall {{whyte|4w|DH}} No. 3097 (In storage).
** Kent Construction and Eng Co. {{whyte|4w|DM}}  No. 20 Planet built in 1926. (On long term loan to the National Brewery Museum).
** [[Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns]] 8366/Bagnall {{whyte|0-4-0|DH}} No. 530003, "Myfanwy" built in 1962. (Operational, on loan to [[Foxfield Railway]]).<ref>{{irs-el |el=15}}</ref>
** Thomas Hill {{whyte|4w|DH}} No. 01568 "Helen" built in 1976. (Operational).
** [[Motor Rail|Simplex]] {{whyte|0-4-0|PM}} No. 15097 (works number 1930) "Ubique" built in 1919. (Operational/Storage).
** Simplex {{whyte|0-4-0|PM}} No. 15099 (works number 2028) "Morris" built in 1920. (Operational/Storage).
** GEC Traction 5383/306 (Storage)
** GEC Traction 5414/251` (Storage)
** GEC Traction 5454/267 (Storage)
** FC Hibberd Co Ltd {{whyte|4w|DH}} No. 1612 (In storage)
* '''Diesel Multiple Units'''
** BR [[British Rail Class 127|Class 127]] Centre coach no. 59603. (Operational, used as hauled coaching stock).
** BR [[British Rail Class 116|Class 116]] Centre coach no. 59444. (Under overhaul).
** Northern Rail [[British Rail Class 142|Class 142]] no. 142 029. (Under overhaul)
** Northern Rail [[British Rail Class 142|Class 142]] no. 142 030. (Operational)
** Northern Rail [[British Rail Class 142|Class 142]] no. 142 027. (Storage/spares)

==Narrow gauge railway==
[[File:Chasewater Light Railway - narrow gauge railway (geograph 4366915).jpg|thumb|Chasewater Light Railway – narrow gauge railway]]
There is a {{RailGauge|2ft|lk=on}} 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.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://chasewaterrailwaymuseum.blog/ Chasewater Railway Museum]
* [http://www.enjoychasewater.co.uk/ Chasewater Country Park]

{{Heritage railways in England}}

{{Coord|52.6761|-1.9467|type:landmark_region:GB-STS|display=title}}

[[Category:Heritage railways in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Lichfield District]]
[[Category:Burntwood]]
[[Category:Brownhills]]
[[Category:Norton Canes]]