Churnet Valley Railway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Churnet Valley Railway is a 5 and 1/4 mile long standard gauge heritage railway based at Cheddleton station to the East of Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire. The railway is host to many popular special events including the 1940s weekend, Thomas the tank engine week, Santa and steam specials plus many steam and diesel galas. The railway also runs a series of successful wine and dine trains recreating themes such as the last meal on the Titanic or the Vonn Trapp express.
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[edit] Early days
The North Staffordshire Railway Society was formed in the 1970s and bought the old goods yard at Cheddleton Station. Workshops were created there and the first locomotives were moved there in 1977, however British Rail were still using the adjacent railway to move industrial Sand from a quarry at Oakamoor. The line was finally closed in 1988 and the society began to arrange for the purchase of the stretch from Oakamoor to Leekbrook Junction.
The first trains ran on the preserved line in 1996.
[edit] The route
Typically, trains start from Cheddleton station and run along the valley of the river Churnet through beautiful and varied scenery, eventually bringing us to Consall station. Consall is sandwiched between the Caldon Canal and the river. This an ideal place to alight and partake in a walk along the canal.
Nearby, there is a nature reserve and the 'Black Lion' public house overlooking the railway, canal and river. This pub is unusual in that there are no public roads to it. Access is on foot via the canal towpath or the railway. The only "road access" is through farm property which is not owned by the pub and is not useable by the general public.
We then head southwards to Kingsley and Froghall station. At Froghall, a short walk away, is the canal wharf with picnic benches as well as historic lime kilns to be explored.
On the return journey, trains run non-stop through Cheddleton and on to Leek Brook station through one of the longest tunnels on a preserved railway. Here, they reverse and run back to Cheddleton. There is no passing loop or run-round loop at Cheddleton and although there is a run-round loop at Leekbrook station, there is no usable platform.
Beyond Kingsley and Froghall station, the line continues to Oakamoor sidings which are used for storage of equipment. This line is not yet open for passengers.
[edit] Stations
[edit] Locomotives
- Operational Steam locomotives
- BR 2-6-4T Class 4MT no. 80098 (current boiler ticket expires in 2008, on loan from Midland Railway Butterley for 12 months)
- GWR 4-6-0 Manor Class no. 7821 Ditcheat Manor
- Resident Steam locomotives Operating Elsewhere
- Lima 2-8-0 Class S160 no. 5197 ( On Loan to the North Norfolk Railway)
- LMS 0-6-0 Class 4F No. 44422 ( On Loan to the East Lancashire Railway)
- Hunslet 0-6-0ST No. 3777 ( Running In pseudo-BR Livery as 68030 ) ( On loan to Strathspey Railway )
- Stored Steam Locomotives
- Lima 2-8-0 Class S160 no. 6046 ( Kit of parts, located in Cheddleton Yard )
- Operational Diesel locomotives
- Diesel locomotives Undergoing Overhaul or Restoration
- Stored Diesel Locomotives
- Operational Diesel multiple units
- BR Class 104 no. 50455+50517
- UnOperational Diesel multiple units
- BR Class 104 nos. 53437, 53494, 54182 and 59137
- Electric multiple units ( Used as Coaching stock )
- BR Class 423 no. 3822
