[Sep 24, 2016] Foxfield Steam Railway Autumn Gala Saturday... (Blythe Bridge, Staffordshire)

Foxfield Railway’s Autumn Steam-up

The Foxfield Railway Steam Gala’s is always an extremely popular event growing year on year as people watch with amazement to see our little steam engines working hard on the heavily graded railway. This year will, once again, feature a number of road steam vehicles that will be on display at Caverswall Road and also travelling to Foxfield Colliery throughout the day. The Dubs crane tank will also be giving lifting demonstrations at both Caverswall Road and Foxfield Colliery at set times during the day.

Saturday & Sunday

Our Caverswall Road Station will be open from early morning for visitors to view the locomotive preparations as well as sampling the excellent Full English Breakfast’s served in the station buffet.

The event will start with locomotives leaving Caverswall Road at round 9:00am for Dilhorne Park which in preparation for the first freight train from Foxfield colliery. The first passenger train will depart Caverswall Road at 10am

Throughout the day a passenger service will connect Caverswall Road with Dilhorne Park from where visitors will be able to alight and make the short walk to Foxfield Colliery using the paths provided (Subject to ground conditions - please follow signs and keep to the designated rout).

For those who fancy travelling the easy way to the colliery then a connecting bus service will run frequently throughout the which call at Blythe Bridge mainline railway station en-route.

At Foxfield colliery you will be able to view the start of the notorious Foxfield Bank where engines of all sizes will take their turn on hauling the heavy trains up the ruling gradient averaging 1:25!

Also open will be the original paint stores where you will be able to grab a cup of tea or coffee and try some the homemade cakes on offer.

Throughout the day all engines will take their turn on passenger and freight trains. Your ticket will allow travel on all passenger trains as well as entry to Foxfield Colliery. Please note if you are visiting to take and decide not to travel on the railway but wish to into the fields adjacent to Foxfield Bank a standard day rover will be required.

The ‘One Legged Shunter’ Foxfield’s very own real ale pub will be open from 12 each day through until late and have a variety of ales on the pumps to cater for everyone’s different tastes – we are sure you won’t be disappointed.

 

For anyone contemplating a visit to North Staffordshire this weekend here is the timetable for the Foxfield Railway Autumn gala

 

For anyone heading to the Severn Valley to see FS and Tornado, we are only an hour away from Bridgnorth if you get bored

 

Any chance of doing brake van rides with the Dubs Crane Tank? I believe it did brake van rides when it went to the Welland Steam Rally and has also done so once before at Foxfield.

 

Unfortunately we only have two serviceable brakevans, one will be on the Knotty train and one on the coal trains.

 

A video from another wonderful day at the Foxfield. Thanks to all involved.

 

Spent a very enjoyable couple of hours first visit at the end of the day coming home from somewhere else. The knotty carriages were superb, and I was delighted I managed to get a ride in them. The loco viewing shed was great too. Sadly I didn't have time to see the freight or the colliery.

However, those Mk1s! All they need is a lick of paint, but they really don't create a good impression. If I lived a bit closer I'd be delighted to come and help myself, but surely a couple of volunteers and a tin of paint over the winter would probably see it done.

 

Don't know which Mk1 you travelled in yesterday (presumably none of them, given your limited time there), but the one I travelled in appeared to have a rather well restored interior - so much so, my Father commented on how good it was compared to that on offer at some other railways. Can't comment on the maroon brake coach interior as we didn't travel in it, but certainly nothing wrong internally or externally (other than an odd shade of red/carmine (or was it supposed to be brown?) paint) with the other one.

 

The inside looked perfectly fine (you're right, I didn't have time to travel in them) but the outside of both looked a bit tatty to my eye, and rather messy.

 

Thanks for your comments on the coaching stock, we have two retired chaps who do the carriage restoration and the facilities aren't conducive to a showroom paint finish, particularly in the winter. We are looking at improving the facilities which should aid restorations/overhauls. The interior of the brake is in need of serious work as the seat squabs are rather worn but the open has recently been reintroduced into traffic after an extensive rebuild of the ends. I'm not sure why the open ended up the colour it did, but I suspect it was donated.

Anyway we hope everyone enjoyed the weekend, it certainly appeared busy over the weekend. Next year we should be able to field double the number of steam locos with the anticipated return to steam of 'Hawarden', Beyer Peacock 1827, 'Wimblebury' and 'Eustace Forth'.

Also next year sees the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Society and lots of events are being planned so, as they say, watch this space.

 

Come on and volunteer! You're not that far away really, only down the M6/M5 - our steam loco superintendent comes from further away than that. We offer excellent rates of pay (i.e. nothing), climatically controlled workshops (i.e. it's just the same inside as whatever it's doing oustside), near limitless quantities of tea (if you can find a mug that hasn't got an old paintbush and some thinners in it), and outstanding level's of banter and camaraderie (which usually more than make up for the foregoing). We also have one of the most varied and challenging fairly short bit of railway track in the country and an interesting and eccentric bunch of old crocks to work it (and that's just the drivers).

I'm not really sure quite what colour the bottom half of the TSO is meant to be (I'd guess brown, but it rather varies depending on the light) - as said above, someone probably donated it - but it has actually grown on me as a livery. It's not like the MK1's are 'authentic' for Foxfield, or any of it's engines, so to my mind any colour that looks good is fine (although intercity blue and grey would probably look rather out of place!).
A plan is being formed to give the BSK a much needed overhaul shortly - to this end, I understand we are currently searching for a usable BSK to buy as a spare coach and cover for the current BSK while it's under overhaul. I've no idea if it will be outshopped in a matching cream and brown to the TSO, or something different - I'm sure if someone want's to sponsor the paint, they can have it any colour they like!

 

Alas for a humble student 'tis thousands of miles away! univrrsity choices may take me a tad closer in a year or two though. And the climate control of the GWSR is rather appealing, especially in the winter! I wasn't hugely bothered about the funny colour, as you say, can anything on a Mk1 really be authentic on the railway anyway so is it a moot point? It was more the fact it all looked rather bitty with patches painted over rather messily to my eye. I didn't want to make a huge deal out of it.

 

Just out of intrest is the Bass Belle coach still there? Always wondered what sort of coach it is!

 

Bass belle is still around, although looking a little the worse for wear.

I think it was a LMS theatre van when built - there are three or four of them around the railway.

(The VCT online database gives fairly accurate details of what we've got if you search on location)

The main chassis of the bass belle is wooden, and not in particularly good condition, so I wouldn't anticipate it reappearing in traffic in the near future, but never say never...

There are a few other interesting bits of passenger rolling stock around the place - an LMS inspection saloon, a late LMS bogie coach, as well as the mortal remains of several midland and north staffs wooden vehicles...

 

Caught up on the details on the VCT database, have to say you have some intresting stock there! Wasn't there something from the BR Test centre there too?

 

Yes, DW150192 - Test Car 4 was first preserved at Foxfield in 1983 was but was subsequently sold on to the Duke of Gloucester group. Apparently it is currently languishing at Carnforth.
See here for more information. http://www.traintesting.com/test_car_4.htm

 

Always wondered what happened to the Dukes Dynamometer(?) Car, thanks for that