Churnet Valley Railway Day Out
We have a day out at the Churnet Valley Railway in North Staffordshire for a ride on a steam train.
As well as seeing the steam engines in action, we can have a look at some of the beautiful stations on the line. We start our journey at Cheddleton. Built in 1849, Cheddleton was the only remaining original station that survived demolition when the line closed in 1965. As the blue plaque told the story, in 1974 parish councillor Norman Hancock parked his car across the level crossing to block the bulldozers from getting access to the station to begin the demolition. This delay was enough time for the station buildings to be grade 2 listed and still standi.ng for everyone to enjoy today.
The preservation and restoration of the railway began In 1996 when the first train ran between Cheddleton and Leek Brook. In 1998 the line made it to Consall and in 2001 all the way the Kingsley and Froghall. In 2010 the railway obtained rights to run on this section of the former Cauldon Lowe branch. The current day tracks stop just short of the site of the former Ipstone station.
The railway are ploughing on with expanding further. We discuss the Reconnect Leek project where the line will make the short trip into Leek from the very recently relaid Leed Brook Triangle.
The total return journey at the moment is around 22 miles and we complete the roundtrip via Leek Brook, Consall and Kingsley and Froghall. Froghall station was demolished but was recently rebuilt.
Also at Cheddleton take time to walk up to the loco shed where you will see class 25, class 33, class 20, class 47 and other engines.
The engine pulling us today was class S160 number 6046. 6046 was built as works no.70280 by the Baldwin Locomotive Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, and the locomotive was exported straight to France in 1945 to help with the war effort. Once her use with the French SNCF came to an end many S160s were scrapped though 6046 found her way to Hungary. She spent the majority of her working life on industrial lines, before being withdrawn. She was formally preserved in the Hungarian National Collection, however due to an administrative error she was sent for scrap
Fortunately though she saved from the cutters torch after a UK Preservationist learnt of her plight, being purchased by Martin Haines, a pilot, who brought her to the UK with the intention of restoring her. She arrived into the UK complete and was sent to Tyseley where she was positioned around the turntable and restoration began.
Eventually though she was sold to Greg Wilson who moved her kit of parts to the Churnet Valley Railway, who then restarted her restoration in 2006. On 29th June 2012, 6046 was steamed and moved under own power for the first ever time on UK metals. Since then she has proved to be a reliable performer, working at both the CVR and North Yorkshire Moors Railway with a visit to the West Somerset in 2013. Sadly in 2014 whilst on hire to the Nene Valley she suffered a damaged cylinder block, that required a full replacement. Repairs were completed at Tyseley, and the locomotive returned to traffic in February 2016 before a succesful return to service that culminated in her starring at Telford Steam Centre hauling their Polar Express specials.
CVR
www.churnetvalleyrailway.co.uk/
@churnetvalleyrailway4497
Пікірлер: 33
That engine is quite the survivor. Loved how loud it was 😂
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
😄 it was quite the shock when the valve opened.
Quality as always top man always a pleasure to watch your videos just keep them coming 👍
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
Cheers Andrew
Very good Something different with the steam engine to. Those good old mk1 coaches nice tidy railway thanx for sharing again.
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
Cheers Chris 👍. What a beast that engine is. Really enjoyed watching it. You could feel the power too.
Thanks Paul. Playing catch up...again. Cheers cobber.
@WobblyRunner
7 ай бұрын
👍🙂
Hi Paul, what a gorgeous heritage railway. The station building is beautiful so glad it's got grade 2 listing. So many railway buildings have been k locked down over the years. Looked like you were having a great time despite the wind! Great job. ❤😊
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
Cheers Carol. It was a brilliant day out. Really loved getting close to the steam engine.
@Carolb66
8 ай бұрын
@@WobblyRunner yes , you can't beat the noise & smell of the soot! 🥰👍
I think that was your best heritage video yet! I need get out on that railway soon. Good to see the progress on the triangle and towards Leek. That loco was something else! Awesome!
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
Nice one Jon. I'm going to go back and look at Leek in more detail
@psychicspies673
8 ай бұрын
Let me know if you need a tour guide!
great video
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
Thank you 😊
Never seen this line before but it seems lovely! Also loving the locomotive, one of the USATC S160 class built in America to serve in the second world war. Really cool that quite a few have been brought back all over the UK in running order
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
A lovely looking and sounding loco. I didn't realise there were so many knocking around. I always remember the one at Keighley when I was growing up.
@terrier_productions
8 ай бұрын
The CVR has 3 of the 6 S160s preserved in the UK. The third one is currently under restoration with the other two - 5197 & 6046 operational
I used to love the CVR.. shame they haven’t done any galas or any special events since before Lockdown. The last one was their Super Power Weekend in Feb 2020
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
I didn't realise that
Nice trip out Paul. That's a long train for what looked like not many passengers
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
It was lovely and empty :) Seems to be a regular thing recently to be fighting over seats every time I get a train.
Norman Hancock out there like a Staffordshire Moorlands Che Guevara. The old Cauldon line was pretty intact when I visited ten years or so ago, worth a mooch if you're in the area again. 👍
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
👍 Good shout Ian. I wondered about that. I assume you mean Ipstones to Cauldon?
@iancaveney7464
8 ай бұрын
@@WobblyRunner It's the freight line that served Cauldon Low quarry, you can see it on Google maps just to the NW. There was an old weighbridge and building just over the bridge from the works.
This railway has such a bright future ahead, I volunteered here briefly and the people are fantastic, top blokes.
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
That's good to hear. I look forward to seeing the leek section progress 👍
Shame you didn't get off at Consall; there's a cracking pub, The Black Lion, on the side of the line. I've been to a few "rail ale" fests there in the past: a bar at each station, a bar on the train & The Black Lion has additional casks beside the bar to augment their usual good selection. I'd stay near Cheddleton (b&b sadly no more) & walk across country to the station, take the train to Froghall & walk back (when the fest wasn't on) calling at the pub & depending how I felt, if either walk or ride back to Cheddleton for another swift 'un in The Boathouse (I think that's what it was called) between the station & the canal. Happy days!
@WobblyRunner
4 ай бұрын
Great stuff Nick. Our biggest thing we said on the day was that it was a shame we couldn't get off at Consall. Not even for a quick photo. Gives me a chance to go back though when more trains are running to have a proper look at each station.
That was an excellent representation of the day, I can't believe how much we crammed in!!! The more I look at the video, the more I'm convinced that we did spot the Stationmaster's House at Consall, the brickwork gives it away. The film also does a cracking job of showing the power of the engine, especially on the climb up to Ipstones. Nice sandwich too👍
@WobblyRunner
8 ай бұрын
😄 it was a very enjoyable day. The amount of footage I left out, could easily have filled over an hour.
@seamusmcevoy2011
8 ай бұрын
@@WobblyRunner Yep, we were certainly busy.