Steam on the Staffs. colliery line
Littleton
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© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2011
Littleton colliery was situated on the western edge of Cannock Chase, at the village of Huntington. It was linked to the Wolverhampton - Stafford line at Penkridge by a branch line about 4 miles in length - downhill for empties, but with a significant gradient on the last mile or so to the pit. The locomotive stock in the mid-70s consisted of a number of Hunslet and Yorkshire diesels - and an "Austerity"
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
0-6-0ST, "No 7", Hudswell Clarke 1752 of 1944. In 1976,  events were staged for enthusiasts, when a couple of extra brakevans would be attached to a train of coal wagons, and a number of runs would be performed up and down the line. No 7 later became better known as "Robert" at Bold Colliery, and survived into preservation. Robert now lives at "The Railway Age" at Crewe. Link: Industrial Railway Society Photographic notes
22 February, 10 April (and August) 1976
At the colliery At Penkridge At Penkridge At Penkridge Shunting at Penkridge Shunting at Penkridge Riding back to Littleton Green Bus Co 521 CTF passes, between trains Storming the bank Storming the bank Storming the bank Drifting down the branch Drifting down the branch Drifting down the branch Under the M6, over the canal and on to Penkridge Under the M6, over the canal and on to Penkridge Under the M6, over the canal and on to Penkridge At Penkridge At Penkridge The sidings beside the M6 (former canal wharf?) The sidings beside the M6 (former canal wharf?) Storming the bank - again Storming the bank - again Storming the bank - again Crossing the canal Last ascent to Littleton
22 February 1976
24 April 1976
August 1976
No 7 heads for Littleton Colliery with a rake of brake vans, August 1976
One last look... I have no recollection whatever of taking this photo. It was there, in the archives, amongst lots of other photos taken in summer 1976 - on its own. No others taken at the same time... Until I found it, I’d assumed there were just the two “open days” at Littleton, but clearly (judging by all the heads in brakevans) there was at least one more enthusiasts’ event. Does anyone out there have any information on just how many events there were (or simply the exact date of this event)? This was my last visit to Littleton. Yes, I should have gone to record diesel-hauled coal trains on the branch - but I didn’t. There were other places to visit.