Chasewater Railway
The Chasewater Railway is a standard-gauge heritage line running through Chasewater Country Park in Staffordshire, between Brownhills West and Chasetown (Church Street). The line is descended from one of the very earliest railway preservation projects in Britain, the Railway Preservation Society, formed in 1959, and now operates roughly two miles of track over former mineral railway and colliery sidings.
The line passes alongside Chasewater Reservoir, an artificial lake originally built to supply water to the Wyrley & Essington Canal, and the route gives passengers extensive views over the country park. The railway has a strongly industrial character, in keeping with its origin as part of the dense Cannock Chase coalfield network worked jointly by the Midland Railway and the LNWR.
History
The Railway Preservation Society was formed in 1959 with the aim of saving small industrial locomotives and rolling stock that were rapidly disappearing under British Railways modernisation. After several relocations, the society settled at the former Midland Railway Brownhills branch in 1973, and the present line opened progressively from the late 1980s.
Since the 1990s, the railway has steadily extended toward Chasetown and rebuilt much of its infrastructure, including the headquarters at Brownhills West and the museum building housing its early-acquired collection.
Original line history
The line is part of the former Cannock Mineral Railway, opened in 1856 to serve the dense network of pits on Cannock Chase. The branch from Anglesey Sidings to Chasetown and beyond was worked jointly by the Midland Railway and LNWR, and later the LMS and BR. Passenger services had ended decades before closure, but mineral traffic continued into the 1960s.
Stations and infrastructure
Brownhills West is the headquarters, with the museum, signal box and locomotive shed. Norton Lakeside Halt serves Chasewater Country Park, and Chasetown (Church Street) is the southern terminus.
Route and stations
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors
Special events and operations
The railway runs steam galas, 1940s weekends, beer festivals, dining trains and Santa Specials. Industrial steam galas often draw visiting saddle tanks from sister preservation lines.
Visitor information
Brownhills West is reached from junction 10 of the M6 via the A5. The country park provides extensive free parking, walking trails and picnic areas alongside the railway.