Chasewater Railway

v t e Chasewater Railway
Legend
Chasetown (Church Street) Chasewater Heaths Norton Lakeside Halt Chasewater causeway Brownhills West  M6 Toll  Midland Railway to Brownhills Watling Street

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 2 miles (3.2 km) in length, contained entirely within Chasewater Country Park. The route, which forms a horse-shoe shape around the lake, passes through heathland, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and passes over a 1⁄4-mile (0.40 km) long causeway.

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 1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) 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 (the 'Chasetown Extension Railway' between Chasewater Heaths and Chasetown Church Street).

In 2016 the Railway was awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Services.

Stations

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

The buildings at Brownhills West house Chasewater Railway Museum.

Narrow gauge railway

Volunteers are working to establish a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge narrow gauge railway close to the heritage centre.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chasewater Railway.