A brief visit to Chasewater
Asbestos - in action again!
25 September 2005
I paid several visits to Chasewater in the early 70s - to see a
rake of antique 6-wheel coaches trundling slowly along the
somewhat shaky permanent way, usually hauled by
"Asbestos", a rather nice little Hawthorne-Leslie 0-4-0ST, no.
2780 of 1909. (I did once see the much more ancient Neilson
"Alfred Paget" in action, but that's another story). I renewed
my acquaintance with the line from the 1990s - inevitably, if
steam was working, it was the Sentinel. Not that I've anything
against those interesting little locos, but it would be nice to
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
see a real engine in action... "Asbestos" (he
used to work for Turner and Newall) in the
meantime was undergoing a prolonged
overhaul (the 6-wheelers are still undergoing
restoration).
The aforementioned Sentinel hauled the train
last time we visited - taking us to the then
eastern terminus at Chasewater Heaths. Soon
after that trip, the last stretch of line opened, to the new
terminus at Chasetown (Church Street) - and Asbestos
returned to steam. We would have to pay the line
another visit...
I'd thought of going a little further afield on this
particular day, but the weather was dull and overcast -
perhaps a shorter trip, on the penultimate Sunday of the
steam timetable - fingers crossed...
...sure enough, Asbestos was in action. We joined the
2.30pm train for the short ride, and, as on previous
occasions, decided to walk back (it's not far!) - returning
in time to see, and record, the departure of the next
train (and then, of course, tea and cake before the
drive home).
Link:
Chasewater Railway
The 3.45pm
Asbestos heads away from Brownhills West
with the next train to Chasetown (Church
Street)
