Foxfield Light Railway
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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.
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.
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.
s in Staffordshire, all of which are of industrial origins.
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 November 2011.
s, of which two are operational.
. The locomotive is rendered in operable because of the lack of overhead lines on site.
Two Wagon underframes currently being coverted for use under the two NSR Coach bodies.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
line located south east of Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
. The line was built in 1893 to serve the colliery at Dilhorne
Dilhorne
Dilhorne is an ancient parish and village in Staffordshire, three miles from Cheadle and six miles from Stoke-on-Trent.The village is within the Staffordshire Moorlands area....
on the Cheadle Coalfield
Cheadle Coalfield
The Cheadle Coalfield is a coalfield in the United Kingdom. Centred around the town of Cheadle, Staffordshire and its outlying villages it lies to the east of Stoke-on-Trent and the much larger North Staffordshire Coalfield...
. It joined the North Staffordshire Railway
North Staffordshire Railway
The North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
line near Blythe Bridge
Blythe Bridge
Blythe Bridge is a village situated in the Staffordshire Moorlands District, although it is effectively a south-eastern suburb of the city of Stoke-on-Trent.-Etymology:...
.
History
The Foxfield Railway was built in 1892-1893 to provide a link to the North Staffordshire RailwayNorth Staffordshire Railway
The North Staffordshire Railway was a British railway company formed in 1845 to promote a number of lines in the Staffordshire Potteries and surrounding areas in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire....
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.
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
Blythe Bridge railway station
Blythe Bridge railway station is a railway station in the United Kingdom at Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire Moorlands. The station is served by trains on the Crewe to Derby Line which is also a Community rail line known as the North Staffordshire line. The station is owned by Network Rail and managed...
. 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.
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
Cranford (TV series)
Cranford is a British television series directed by Simon Curtis and Steve Hudson. The teleplay by Heidi Thomas was adapted from three novellas by Elizabeth Gaskell published between 1849 and 1858: Cranford, My Lady Ludlow, and Mr Harrison's Confessions...
, which is set in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. The railway featured in the two-part Christmas special that was first broadcast in December 2009. Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
, 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.
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.
Locomotive fleet
The Foxfield Railway has the largest collection of standard gauge steam locomotiveSteam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s in Staffordshire, all of which are of industrial origins.
Operational steam locomotives
- Hunslet Engine CompanyHunslet Engine CompanyThe Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
Austerity 0-6-0STHunslet Austerity 0-6-0STThe Hunslet Engine Company Austerity 0-6-0ST is a steam locomotive designed for shunting. The class became the standard British shunting locomotive during the Second World War, and production continued until 1964 at various locomotive manufacturers....
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 "BellerophonBellerophonBellerophon or Bellerophontes is a hero of Greek mythology. He was "the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, alongside of Cadmus and Perseus, before the days of Heracles", and his greatest feat was killing the Chimera, a monster that Homer depicted with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a...
" 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 CompanyDûbs and CompanyDübs & Co. was a locomotive works in Glasgow, Scotland, founded by Henry Dübs in 1863 and based at the Queens Park Works in Polmadie. In 1903 it became part of the North British Locomotive Company.-Preserved locomotives:...
crane tankCrane tankA crane tank is a steam locomotive with a crane fitted to it. The crane may be fitted at the front, centre or rear of the locomotive and gives it a rather "top heavy" appearance...
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.
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 RailwayChurnet Valley RailwayThe Churnet Valley Railway is a standard gauge heritage railway to the east of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. The CVR has two main operational headquarters - Cheddleton station, where the motive power department is based and where the first trains ran, and Kingsley and Froghall station, where...
- Hawthorn Leslie and CompanyHawthorn Leslie and CompanyR. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Limited, usually referred to as Hawthorn Leslie, was a shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturer. The Company was founded on Tyneside in 1886 and ceased building ships in 1982.-History:...
0-4-0ST "Marston, Thompson & Evershed No 3". (works number 3581 of 1924). 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 November 2011.
Stored steam locomotives
- Peckett and SonsPeckett and SonsPeckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use...
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 StuartKerr StuartKerr, Stuart and Company Ltd was a locomotive manufacturer from Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:It was founded in 1881 by James Kerr as James Kerr & Company, and became Kerr, Stuart & Company from 1883 when John Stuart was taken on as a partner...
0-4-0ST No. 4127 "Moss Bay". On static display in the museum building. - Kerr StuartKerr StuartKerr, Stuart and Company Ltd was a locomotive manufacturer from Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:It was founded in 1881 by James Kerr as James Kerr & Company, and became Kerr, Stuart & Company from 1883 when John Stuart was taken on as a partner...
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. 0-4-0FFireless locomotiveA fireless locomotive is a type of locomotive designed for use under conditions restricted by either the presence of flammable material or the need for cleanliness...
No. 1. (works number 1984 of 1930). 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 WorksSentinel Waggon WorksSentinel Waggon Works Ltd was a British company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire that made steam-powered lorries, railway locomotives, and later, diesel engined lorries and locomotives.-Alley & MacLellan, Sentinel Works, Jessie Street Glasgow:...
4w No. 9535. On static display in the yard.
Operational diesel locomotives
The Foxfield Railway also has an extensive accumulation of industrial diesel locomotiveDiesel locomotive
A diesel locomotive is a type of railroad locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engine, a reciprocating engine operating on the Diesel cycle as invented by Dr. Rudolf Diesel...
s, of which two are operational.
- W. G. Bagnall 3150 0-6-0DM, Wolstanton No 3
- W. G. Bagnall 3207 0-4-0DH, Named Bagnall
Non-Operational diesel locomotives
- North BritishNorth British Locomotive CompanyThe North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
27097 0-4-0DH Coronation - 2010 arrival - Andrew Barclay 486 0-6-0DH Clive, ex Meaford Power StationMeaford Power StationMeaford Power Station was a coal-fired power station situated on the River Trent at Meaford near Stone in Staffordshire.-Meaford A:Work began on the new power station in 1945, and was completed in 1948. The station was to later be known as Meaford A power station...
Locomotive No 4 - Thomas HillThomas Hill (Rotherham) LtdThomas Hill Limited was a company which repaired and sold steam road vehicles, diesel and electric road vehicles and railway locomotives. It later made its name building and rebuilding diesel locomotives.-History:...
103C 4wDH (Rebuilt from Sentinel 4wVBT) - Thomas Hill 111C 4wDH (Rebuilt from Sentinel 4wVBT)
- English ElectricEnglish ElectricEnglish Electric was a British industrial manufacturer. Founded in 1918, it initially specialised in industrial electric motors and transformers...
/Drewry Cars WD820 (ex MOD A7 class number 70030) 0-4-0DM - Motor RailMotor RailMotor Rail was a British locomotive-building company, based in Bedford. Formed in 1911 as The Motor Rail & Tramcar Co Ltd, they built petrol and diesel engined locomotives, mainly narrow gauge. During World War I over 900 locos were supplied for use on temporary military supply railways...
Simplex 2262 4wDM Simplex Helen - Yorkshire Engine CompanyYorkshire Engine CompanyThe Yorkshire Engine Company was a small independent locomotive manufacturer in Sheffield, England. The Company was formed in 1865 and continued to produce locomotives and carry out general engineering work until 1965...
2868 0-6-0DE Ludstone - Kerr Stuart 4421 6wDM ('90hp' class)
- Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 8366/Bagnall 0-4-0DH. 530003, Myfanwy tube gauge.
- Ruston & Hornsby 242915 4wDM ('48DS') Hercules
- Ruston & Hornsby 408496 4wDM ('88DS')
- Ruston & Hornsby 424841 0-4-0DE ('165DE') Roman
Non-Operational electric locomotives
The Foxfield Railway also has one industrial electric locomotiveElectric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
. The locomotive is rendered in operable because of the lack of overhead lines on site.
- English Electric 1130 4wBE/WE (built 1939)
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
- Mk 1 Tourist Second Open (TSO) No. W4762.
- Mk 1 Corridor Second (SK) No. M25607.
- Mk 1 Brake Corridor Second (BSK) No. 34672.
- Passenger Carriages undergoing overhaul, restoration or light work
- Mk 2British Rail Mark 2The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975...
Brake Standard Open (BSO) No. 9410.
- Mk 2
Two Wagon underframes currently being coverted 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.
- MRMidland RailwayThe Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
6w Luggage/First/Third class compartment carriage no. unknown (body only). Awaiting restoration. - MRMidland RailwayThe Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
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 2British Rail Mark 2The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975...
Tourist Second Open (TSO) gangwayed carriage No. M5175. On loan to the Churnet Valley RailwayChurnet Valley RailwayThe Churnet Valley Railway is a standard gauge heritage railway to the east of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. The CVR has two main operational headquarters - Cheddleton station, where the motive power department is based and where the first trains ran, and Kingsley and Froghall station, where...
.
- Mk 2