Telford Steam Railway

Heritage Railway
name =
Telford Steam Railway



locale = Horsehay, Shropshire, England
terminus = Spring Village
linename = Severn Junction Railway
originalgauge = RailGauge|ussg
preservedgauge = RailGauge|ussg
operator = Telford Horsehay Steam Trust
|
stations = 2
length = convert|0.75|mi|km|0
originalopen =1859
closed = 1964 (Ketley to Horsehay Summit)1983 (Lightmoor to Horsehay)
stageyears = 1976
stage = Telford Horsehay Steam Trust formed
years = 1981
events = 5619 steams for the 1st time
years1 = 1983
events1 = Lightmoor to Horsehay leased to THST
years2 = 1984
events2 = Opens to the public
years3 = 2008
events3 = Work begins on Lawley Common Extension

The Telford Steam Railway (TSR) is a heritage railway located at Horsehay, Telford in Shropshire, UK. Formed in 1976, it is based at Horsehay's goods transhipment shed, built in 1860, which had originally permitted the transfer of goods from the Wellington and Severn Junction railway, (W&SJR), to the Coalbrook Company's narrow gauge plateway system.

The railway is operated by volunteers on Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter to the end of September, and at Christmas. Its business name is the "Telford Horsehay Steam Trust", (THST).

Route

TSR currently operates on a 3/4 mile inverted-'Y' -shaped section of line with the southern entrance to Heath Hill tunnel at the base of the 'Y', to the north, and stations at Spring Village and Horsehay & Dawley at the ends of the two arms, to the south. Work began on the first extension of the railway's regular operations in early February 2008 when contractors moved onto site north of Heath Hill tunnel to start earthworks for a new station at Lawley Common [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQXcuJbP7wA] , being built as part of Telford and Wrekin Council's redevelopment of the Lawley area. Earthworks were completed and the site handed back to TSR in early April 2008.

The Future - Steaming to Ironbridge

When the extension north to Lawley Common is complete, TSR intends to extend south beyond Doseley Halt, build a new bridge over the A4169 and continue to the Ironbridge Gorge passing through Coalbrookdale and eventually onto the power station site at Buildwas. TSR will seek a derogation to the current RSSB regulations to allow trains to stop at Coalbrookdale station as the gradient through it exceeds that allowed for new station sites. Coalbrookdale station buildings are now part of the Greenwood Centre's [http://www.greenwoodcentre.org.uk/] woodland experience site.

Although from the road it appears the formation would have to be raised by a prohibitive amount to achieve the statutory headroom below the bridge over the A4169, surveying by THST has revealed that a modest increase in height will provide the necessary clearance without increasing the already steep gradient between Doseley station and Lightmoor Junction. A further obstacle exists at the bridge carrying the railway formation over Brick Kiln Bank, adjacent to the former Lightmoor Junction signal box. Reduced to a single track width several years ago by partially replacing the original arch with concrete sections, parallel running with Network rail over the bridge will require the replacement of the remaining width of original brick arch.

The extension south of Lightmoor is dependent upon the eventual closure of Ironbridge Power Station, and the rationalisation of Network Rail's line between Lightmoor Junction and Buildwas. This rationalisation took place in October 2006 resulting in the (uphill) up line being taken out of use; the remaining (downhill) down line becoming a bi-directional extension of the existing single line from Madeley Junction.

Network Rail have left the up line in place which TSR plans to use as its route into the Ironbridge Gorge including extension over Coalbrookdale Viaduct and across the Albert Edward Bridge onto the power station site, at Buildwas, when it closes.

As an important part of this plan, Telford Steam Railway has concluded negotiations with Network Rail for the lease and occupation of Lightmoor Junction Signal Box, keys were handed over by Network Rail officials on 8 August 2008. Substantially intact, TSR has begun work to replace components removed by NR and plans to return the box to 1950s conditions. Until it comes into operational use TSR will make it available for group visits and a limited number of open days during the year.

A recent railtour operated by Vintage Trains proved the viability of operating 5 coach trains on the steep incline between Lightmoor and Buildwas with an ex-GWR 9400 Class pannier tank locomotive.

History

The present span of operation is over a portion of the Wellington and Severn Junction railway. The planned extension to Lightmoor and beyond to Buildwas was constructed by the Wenlock, Craven Arms and Lightmoor Extension railway. Both of these became a part of the Wellington to Craven Arms Railway.

Interestingly, the line directions between Buildwas and Lightmoor were, at one time, counter-intuitive inasmuch as, for a period, the line going down the hill was the Up Line (towards London) and the line going up the hill was the Down Line (away from London) as the direction towards London from Lightmoor Junction was, for that period, considered to be routed via the former Severn Valley line. Since the last change the up direction is now completely intuitive.

A comprehensive history of the line, entitled "The Wenlock Branch", was written by Ken Jones, a former fireman at Wellington, and was published on 30 November 1998 by The Oakwood Press. [ Oakwood Library of Railway History:105. Wenlock Branch, The - Wellington to Craven Arms, Ken Jones. ISBN 9780853615002 ]

tock List

Operational Steam Locomotives

*0-4-0ST "Rocket", mainstay of TSR's passenger operations. Built by Peckett and Sons Ltd of Bristol in 1926 to works order no. 1722, Rocket was employed by the Courtaulds Company at Coventry. It remained there throughout its working life and eventually found itself as part of the private 'Shropshire Collection', near Shrewsbury. This collection was sold "en mass" to the S & D Co. Ltd, who had Rocket restored to its current status by 2003. It's current boiler ticket expires in 2012.

*GWR 5600 Class 0-6-2T No 5619 built in 1925. The largest and only ex-main line steam locomotive on the line, 5619 was originally purchased by the Telford Development Corporation from Barry scrapyard for static display at Horsehay goods shed. THST restored the loco to operational condition and it ran at Horsehay and many other preserved lines until its boiler certificate expired in 1991. In 1998 lottery funding was obtained to allow a full overhaul to begin; refurbishment of the frames and fitting of the wheels, cylinders, side tanks and bunker were completed at Horsehay. Boilerwork and final reassembly of the locomotive took place at the Flour Mill workshop, Lydney after further funding was provided by Alan Moore CBE. Returning to traffic after passing its final steam tests [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBkaoVuJydI&feature=related] , it moved to the Avon Valley Railway for two week's running-in in February 2008. After attending TSR's Steam Gala in May 2008, it began a period on hire at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.

tored Steam Locomotives

*Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No 3240 "Beatty" built in 1917. Partially dismantled for restoration.

*Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No 1990, 'Ironbridge No3', built in 1940. Employed by the West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority's power station at Ironbridge, it remained there throughout its working life until retired in 1980, when it was sold to the Steamport Museum at Southport. Purchased by TSR in 1984 and restored to working order at Horsehay, it now requires a new firebox and boiler overhaul.

Operational Diesel Locomotives

*BR English Electric Class 08 D3429/08 359, built at Crewe in March 1958. Arriving at Horsehay in January 2007 in operational condition, after some minor work and a full repaint D3429 returned to full service at TSR's Gala on 27th of May 2007.The demise of D3420 for scrap in September 2008 means that D3429 is now the oldest surviving diesel loco built at Crewe.

Operational Diesel Multiple Units

*Leyland Railbus No RB004 built in 1984. In regular use on diesel services following overhaul and repaint.

*British Rail Class 104 No 53479 DMU Motor brake DMBS and No 53531 Motor Composite DMCL. In regular use both as self propelled and hauled stock.

Notable Rolling Stock

*1961 BR Mk 1 coach No. SC 14901. Originally built at Swindon as a standard compartment first, it was converted by BR into a prototype 1st Class Lounge Car as part of a project to produce stock to specifications formerly associated with Pullman services. Four of the conventional compartments were removed and replaced by two comfortable lounges, each seating ten passengers. Since arriving at TSR, the coach has undergone extensive refurbishment and restoration to bring it up to its current serviceable condition. Although originally carrying BR blue and grey after conversion, it is now painted in maroon.

External links

* [http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/ Telford Steam Railway – official website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBkaoVuJydI 5619 returns to steam – Youtube clip]

References