Aged Sentinel at Chasewater Gervase Back Contact Geoff
© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2014
Apparently it’s the only working conversion, by Sentinel. of a conventional steam locomotive (a 1900-built Manning Wardle, no. 1472). A side-rod steam Sentinel! We’d better go and see Gervase in action, at the Chasewater Industrial Gala. Gervase is Sentinel 6807 of 1928, and has been in preservation for many years, but was out of action for fifty years before its restoration to working order in 2012. In recent years, Chasewater galas have seen a short brake van shuttle in action between the bay platforms at Brownhills West and Chasewater Heaths, and I guess this would have been the plan for Gervase and similar- sized resident Barclay Colin McAndrew - but over-running track work at the former meant the bay was unavailable, so Gervase and Colin were in action coupled together, running the full length of the line, on passenger and freight. Others operating the full-line service were the big Nechells RSH, the little red Bagnall and D3429, with the blue Hunslet diesel assisting with shunting. The steam crane was in action too - until its fire went out...
Geoff’s Rail Diaries 30 March 2014
This was only a short visit - we rode out to Chasewater Heaths, and walked back, in time to record the departure of Gervase and Colin on their freight train. The RSH was due to follow shortly afterwards on the passenger - when that had gone, so did we. Link: Chasewater Railway
Bagnall 2842 of 1946 - ready for action Chasewater Heaths departure Nechells No 4 (RSH7684 of 1951) on the coal train The Bagnall returns - a sylvan scene D3429 takes its turn on the passenger Coal train on the causeway Returning D3429 Gervase and Colin head for the heath Gervase No 4 departs with the passenger Last look at Colin and Gervase