Рет қаралды 2,050
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 She spent the majority of her working life on industrial lines, before being withdrawn.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
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