Foxfield Light Railway
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| Wimblebury seen working a train at Dilhorn Park | |
| Locale | Staffordshire |
| Terminus | Caverswall Road |
| Coordinates | 52°58′33″N 2°03′52″W / 52.97570°N 2.06454°WCoordinates: 52°58′33″N 2°03′52″W / 52.97570°N 2.06454°W |
| Commercial operations | |
| Original gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Stations | 2 |
| Length | 2.25 miles (3.62 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Commercial history | |
| 1893 | Opened |
| 1965 | Colliery closed |
| Preservation history | |
| 1965 | Railway preserved |
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The Foxfield Light Railway is a preserved standard gauge line located south east of Stoke-on-Trent. The line was built in 1893 to serve the colliery at Dilhorne on the Cheadle Coalfield. It joined the North Staffordshire Railway line near Blythe Bridge.
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[edit] History
The Foxfield Railway was built in 1892-1893 to provide a link to the North Staffordshire Railway for the Foxfield Colliery. The railway was built by local labour provided by North Staffordshire Railway employees at weekends and supervised by the North Staffordshire Railway foreman plate layer Noah Stanier, using second hand material, again obtained from the North Staffordshire Railway.[1]
[edit] Preservation
When the colliery closed in 1965, local volunteers formed the Foxfield Light Railway Society to preserve the line. At first, passengers were taken in converted trucks up the formidable 1:19 to 1:26 gradient out of the colliery site at Dilhorne, accompanied by a tank engine.
Eventually, new coaches were purchased and a station was built at Caverswall Road, Blythe Bridge, half a mile from Blythe Bridge station. The service runs for 2.5 miles from there to the top of Foxfield Bank. The last half mile into the colliery is currently being relaid to suitable standards for passenger trains to be re-introduced.
[edit] Location
The original line left the Crewe to Derby Line a little west of the station. The link has been lifted, but several abandoned wagons can be seen in the old sidings from passing trains. A station and depot have been built at Caverswall Road, half a mile north of Blythe Bridge railway station along Blythe Bridge Road.
Although located in Staffordshire, the railway has recently been used for the filming of sequences for the BBC Television series Cranford, which is set in Cheshire. The railway featured in the two-part Christmas special that was first broadcast in December 2009. Judi Dench, who played the part of Matilda 'Matty' Jenkyns, invited several of the main characters to ride on the train in an attempt to alter their opinions about the benefits of the railway being extended into the town of Cranford.[2]
The station at Caverswall offers visitor facilities such as a Buffet serving hot and cold food and drinks and a Real Ale bar "The One Legged Shunter". Also a museum building displaying a variety of artifacts relating to local railways and locomotives currently out of service.
The railway operates Sundays and Bank Holidays from April to October and Santa Special trains during December.
[edit] Locomotive fleet
The Foxfield Railway has the largest collection of standard gauge steam locomotives in Staffordshire, all of which are of industrial origins.
[edit] Operational steam locomotives
- Hunslet Engine Company Austerity 0-6-0ST No 3839 "Wimblebury" built in 1956. In regular service, restored to NCB dark blue livery.
- Hunslet Engine Company Austerity 0-6-0ST No. 3694 "Whiston" built in 1950. Overhaul complete apart from some small bore lubrication pipework matters. Re-entered traffic in Summer 2010.
- W. G. Bagnall 0-6-0ST No. 2 "Florence". In regular service following an extensive overhaul, painted in unlined red.
- Haydock Foundry 0-6-0WT No C "Bellerophon" built in 1874. The oldest Locomotive in the collection, in regular service, painted chocolate brown.
- W. G. Bagnall 0-4-0ST No 2842. Entered service in July 2010 following extensive overhaul
- Dübs and Company crane tank 0-4-0T No. 4101 "Dubs". Major rebuild finished in September 2010. 2010 winner of the Heritage Railway Association John Coiley awarde for Locomotive restoration.
[edit] Steam locomotives undergoing overhaul or restoration
- Robert Heath & Sons Ltd. 0-4-0ST No 6 built in 1885, rebuilt in 1934. Undergoing overhaul.
- Beyer, Peacock & Co. 0-4-0ST No 1827, built in 1879. Withdrawn - Boiler Ticket Expired - December 2009. Now at the Churnet Valley Railway[3]
- Hawthorn Leslie and Company 0-4-0ST "Marston, Thompson & Evershed No 3". (works number 3581 of 1924).[4] Undergoing overhaul.
W. G. Bagnall 0-4-0ST No 2623 "Hawarden" built in 1940 undergoing overhaul as of September 2011. Strip down going well, boiler due to be removed in 2012.
[edit] Stored steam locomotives
- Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 933 "Henry Cort". On static display in the Museum building awaiting overhaul.
- Avonside Engine Co. 0-4-0ST No. 1563 "John Paton". Partly dismantled, undergoing long term restoration.
- Kerr Stuart 0-4-0ST No. 4127 "Moss Bay". On static display in the museum building.
- Kerr Stuart 0-4-0ST No. 4388. Stored in the yard awaiting overhaul.
- W. G. Bagnall 0-6-0ST No. 2221 "Lewisham". Stored awaiting overhaul after its boiler ticket expired in late 2007.
- Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 0-4-0F No. 1. (works number 1984 of 1930).[4] Awaiting a cosmetic restoration for display in the museum.
- Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No. 1803 "Ironbridge No. 1". Awaiting overhaul and is on display in the museum.
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-4-0CT No. 7006 "Roker". On static display in the museum building awaiting overhaul.
- Peckett and Sons OY Class 0-4-0ST No. 11. Awaiting overhaul which is planned shortly now Florence is done.
- Sentinel Waggon Works 4w No. 9535. On static display in the yard.
[edit] Operational diesel locomotives
The Foxfield Railway also has an extensive accumulation of industrial diesel locomotives, of which two are operational.
[edit] Non-Operational diesel locomotives
- North British 27097 0-4-0DH Coronation - 2010 arrival
- Andrew Barclay 486 0-6-0DH Clive,[4] ex Meaford Power Station Locomotive No 4
- Thomas Hill 103C 4wDH (Rebuilt from Sentinel 4wVBT)
- Thomas Hill 111C 4wDH (Rebuilt from Sentinel 4wVBT)[4]
- English Electric/Drewry Cars WD820 (ex MOD A7 class number 70030) 0-4-0DM[4]
- Motor Rail Simplex 2262 4wDM Simplex Helen[4]
- Yorkshire Engine Company 2868 0-6-0DE Ludstone[4]
- Kerr Stuart 4421 6wDM ('90 hp' class)[4]
- Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 8366/Bagnall 0-4-0DH. 530003, Myfanwy tube gauge.[4]
- Ruston & Hornsby 242915 4wDM ('48DS') Hercules[4]
- Ruston & Hornsby 408496 4wDM ('88DS')[4]
- Ruston & Hornsby 424841 0-4-0DE ('165DE') Roman[4]
[edit] Non-Operational electric locomotives
The Foxfield Railway also has one industrial electric locomotive. The locomotive is rendered in operable because of the lack of overhead lines on site.
- English Electric 1130 4wBE/WE (built 1939)[4]
[edit] Passenger carriages
The railway has a collection of carriages from a wide range of years which are used to take passengers up and down the line.
- Operational passenger carriages
- Passenger Carriages undergoing overhaul, restoration or light work
- Mk 2 Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9410.
Two Wagon underframes currently being converted for use under the two NSR Coach bodies.
- Stored passenger carriages
- NSR 4w third class compartment carriage No. 61 (body only).
- LMS third class gangwayed vestibule coach No. 27249. Resides in platform 2, static use.
- NSR 4w third class compartment carriage No. 127 (body only). Awaiting restoration which is planned once 61 is complete.
- MR 6w Luggage/First/Third class compartment carriage no. unknown (body only). Awaiting restoration.
- MR bogie third class compartment carriage No. 01101 (body only). Stored awaiting restoration.
- Mk 1 Corridor Second (SK) gangwayed carriage No. M25225. Stored at Dilhorne Park awaiting major restoration. Unlikely to be restored.
- LMS Theatrical Scenery Van No. 37519 (converted to the passenger carrying Bass Belle Observation Bar Car). On static display but eventually planned to be overhauled to working order.
- Passenger carriages on loan elsewhere
- Mk 2 Tourist Second Open (TSO) gangwayed carriage No. M5175. On loan to the Churnet Valley Railway.
[edit] Freight Wagons
The railway also has a selection of freight wagons, in order to preserve what remains of Britain's industrial history.
[edit] References
- ^ "Foxfield Railway - HISTORY OF THE FOXFIELD RAILWAY". http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk/therailway.htm. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ This is Staffordshire - June 3, 2009
- ^ "Preserved Railway Stocklist". http://www.uklocos.com/preservedrailwaystocklist/final-results.asp?action=display&Id=6013. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Industrial Railway Society (2009). Industrial Locomotives (15EL). Industrial Railway Society. ISBN 978 1 901556 53 7.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Foxfield Light Railway |
