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  I
hadn't planned for this trip - but an old (in the sense of
long-established) friend suggested a visit to the line's Autumn Gala might
be in order. He'd never been to Chasewater - amazing! "We'd better have a
day out then..."
  Star
attraction would be the ex-Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0ST, GWR no 813,
normally resident on the Severn Valley Railway, supported by the
Chasewater Railway's "Asbestos" and Sentinel steamers, plus an assortment
of diesels (the nice black Baguley, above left, is an "old friend" -
I met in when it was in industrial service at Western Fuels' Filton depot
more than 23 years ago - see
Industrials - Bucks to Bristol). "If we get there reasonably early we can probably get a bite
to eat".
  The
railway is barely 2 miles long - but was able to provide a wide variety of
railway operation while we were there. The Sentinel stuck to its "auto
trailer" in the form of a single DMU driving car, and shuttled between
Brownhills West and Chasetown Heaths; in the meantime a passenger train
and a freight train ran the full length of the line (admittedly only a few
more yards) to Chasetown (Church Street), where loop enabled one train to
run round, then await the arrival of the other before setting off back
along the line. To add to the fun, locomotives changed at regular
intervals, so that no two trips along the line seemed the same.
 If
813 was the notional "star", the loads provided gave it little trouble,
and while it appeared to do everything asked of it, it never really seemed
to have to exert itself, and it must be said that the real honours lay
with "Asbestos". The 96-year-old Hawthorn Leslie (2780 of 1909) made a
splendid sight as it worked hard to ensure it was not upstaged!
Little more needs to be said - we
thoroughly enjoyed our visit (the "bite to eat" in the fine cafe at
Chasetown Heaths was pretty good too...). Keep an eye on the railway press
for next year's event...
Video Clips:
All 360 x 288, Windows Media
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813 The Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0ST
in action on passenger and freight workings
3,895k; 3 minutes |
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Asbestos The Hawthorn Leslie in
action - two coaches, a brake van and a cattle truck are sufficient
load to ensure a fine display
3,065k; 2m 21s |
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Chasewater diesels Ruston
diesel-electric no 11517 takes out the freight, which is brought
back again by electro-diesel no 73 128 (not quite at home with this
duty...)
2,073k; 1m 35s |
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Sentinel Product of Shrewsbury, the
Sentinel bustles back and forth with its push-pull shuttle
2,140k; 1m 38s |
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