Telford Steam Railway

Telford Steam Railway
Locale	Horsehay, Shropshire, England
Terminus	Spring Village, Horsehay & Dawley
Commercial operations
Name	Wellington & Severn Junction Railway
Original gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Preserved operations
Operated by	Telford Horsehay Steam Trust
Stations	3
Length	1.0 mile (1.6 km)
Preserved gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened	1859
Closed	1964 (Ketley to Horsehay Summit) 1983 (Lightmoor to Horsehay)
Preservation history
1976	Telford Horsehay Steam Trust formed
1981	5619 steams for the 1st time in preservation
1983	Lightmoor to Horsehay leased to THST
1984	Opens to the public
2008	Work begins on Lawley Extension
2009	150th anniversary of opening of W&SJR
2015	Lawley Village opens
2016	Polar Express launched
2019	Work begins on relaying track south to Doseley road crossing

Telford Steam Railway
to Wellington Lawley Village Heath Hill tunnel 59 yd 54 m summit of W&SJR Spring Village Horsehay and Dawley Cheshire Cheese Bridge Doseley Halt Holly Road Lightmoor Road A4169 road Wolverhampton–Shrewsbury line to Madeley Junction Lightmoor Junction Brick Kiln Bank Coalbrookdale Viaduct Coalbrookdale Albert Edward Bridge over River Severn Severn Valley route to Bridgnorth Ironbridge Power Station Buildwas Severn Valley route to Shrewsbury to Craven Arms

The Telford Steam Railway (TSR) is a heritage railway located at Horsehay, Telford in Shropshire, England, formed in 1976.

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

History

Telford Steam Railway operates over a portion of the Wellington and Severn Junction railway (W&SJR). The line 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.

For most of its working life the line was operated by the Great Western Railway and subsequently the Western Region of British Railways.

The line directions between Buildwas and Lightmoor were counter-intuitive for a period when 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 then considered to be routed via the former Severn Valley line. Since the last change the up direction is now completely intuitive.

Passenger services between Buildwas and Wellington ended on 23 July 1962, pre-dating the publication of the 'Beeching Report' in March 1963.

Locations

• Spring Village station platform 52.6628°N 2.4826°W / 52.6628; -2.4826
• Horsehay & Dawley station platform 52.6630°N 2.4816°W / 52.6630; -2.4816
• Heath Hill tunnel southern entrance 52.6689°N 2.4799°W / 52.6689; -2.4799
• Lawley Village station platform 52.6716°N 2.4799°W / 52.6716; -2.4799

Current passenger operation

The preserved railway operates between three stations of the former W&SJR.

Horsehay & Dawley platform sits on a north–south through line, beneath Bridge Road. 150 yards (140 m) to the west, Spring Village platform is at the end of a short spur off the running line. In between the two station platforms are the sidings and yard used for storing the railway's stock. Beyond Spring Village platform is the former goods transhipment shed, built in 1860, which had originally permitted the transfer of goods from the W&SJR to the Coalbrookdale Company's narrow gauge plateway system. The building now serves as the railway's engine shed. At the north end of the line TSR's Lawley Village station is located south of the site of the original Lawley station. That site is now occupied by a commercial development.

TSR's regular passenger timetable consists of a departure from Spring Village north to Lawley Village and then back along the line to stop at Horsehay & Dawley. The train then repeats this journey in reverse, for a round trip taking 50 minutes.

In addition to the standard gauge running line, the railway also operates a short 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge line adjacent to Horsehay Pool. The Phoenix Model Engineering Society operates a 5 in (127 mm) miniature railway on the Spring Village site.

A large model railway and a cafe are situated at Horsehay & Dawley Station.

Expansion

Horsehay & Dawley station. The signal in the middle distance marks the junction of the spur into Spring Village station and the yard, which is to the left

TSR intends to extend south beyond Horsehay & Dawley station to 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. South of Doseley half a mile (0.8 km) of trackbed and two missing level crossings separate TSR's current railhead from the A4169 and Lightmoor Junction. Permission was given in June 2014 by Telford and Wrekin Council for trains to operate south to Doseley once all trackworks and building works have been completed. It was expected for work to commence south from Horsehay & Dawley station to Doseley Halt in the summer of 2015.

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 confirmed that a modest increase in height will provide the necessary clearance without increasing the already steep gradient between Doseley station and Lightmoor Junction. Network Rail have donated a fabricated steel bridge that will be suitable to span the road which arrived at Spring Village in October 2010.

Class 104 53531, Ironbridge No3 and RB004 in Spring Village Yard

The extension south of Lightmoor is dependent upon TSR securing the redundant half of the former double track from Lightmoor to Buildwas and reinstating the missing portion of the bridge over Brick Kiln Bank. This bridge was previously reduced to a single track width when Network Rail replaced the original double track width brick arch with single track width concrete section.

In October 2006, with the abolition of Lightmoor Junction, Network Rail took the uphill line out of use; the former downhill line becoming a bi-directional extension of the existing single line from Madeley Junction. TSR plans to use the uphill line 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. TSR intends to reinstate Coalbrookdale station to serve the Ironbridge Gorge Trust's Museum of Iron, Coalbrookdale's original station buildings survive as part of the Green Wood Centre's Woodland Experience site.

In August 2008 Telford Steam Railway concluded negotiations with Network Rail for the lease and occupation of Lightmoor Junction Signal Box. 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.

On 16 July 2010 the Shropshire Star published a video interview with Regeneration chief Councillor Eric Carter of Telford and Wrekin Council, in which he discussed proposals by Telford Steam Railway to operate to the site of Ironbridge Power Station after its scheduled closure in 2015.

S160 standing at Spring Village awaiting the green flag to start the day pulling The Polar Express

In 2016, the Telford Steam Railway started their now flagship event of the year, The Polar Express, which is run throughout December. The train normally consisting of a hired S160 Steam locomotive from Churnet Valley Railway, 4 Mk2 Coaches plus a banker locomotive (Normally a Class 08), The event has been a runaway success for the TSR, bringing in the much needed funds for the extensions and to upgrade and improve their current site and rolling stock.

Prior to The Polar Express of 2017, extensive work was carried out on both Horsehay and Dawley station and Spring Village to extend the platforms to take the longer 4 coach train along with a new station building being erected on Horsehay and Dawley platform, this will also help with train lengths when the trains run through from Lawley to Ironbridge which are foreseen to consist of a locomotive and 4 coaches.

As of the beginning of 2019, the track between the station Horsehay and Dawley to the level crossing at Doseley had been removed prior to relaying to passenger carrying standards. In 2019, the Telford Steam Railway had also published its website for "Steaming to Ironbridge" outlining the proposed extension plans for the line into the power station site in Ironbridge, which is very well backed by both Telford and Wrekin and the owners of the power station site, Harworth. The site proposals for the site do include a railway station using the existing railway line.

Stock list

Operational steam locomotives

5619 at The Flour Mill, Feb 2008

• 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, it moved to the Avon Valley Railway for two weeks' running-in in February 2008. After attending TSR's Steam Gala in May 2008, it spent 2 years on hire at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, moving to the North Norfolk Railway in March 2010. Was on hire to the Midland Railway - Butterley from October 2016 until late 2017 and then went on hire to the Nene Valley Railway from February 2018. Was then on hire to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway from 2019 to late 2020. It spent its next hire period until late 2021 at the Epping Ongar Railway, before returning to the Telford Steam Railway to operate the Polar Express trains for that year. Following this, it went out on hire once more to the Llangollen Railway for their 2022 season, after having maintenance carried out at their MPD. Currently operating regular services at Telford until the end of 2025.

• 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. The complete collection was sold to the S & D Co. Ltd, who had Rocket restored to operational status by 2003. Rocket left Horsehay for overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works in March 2012, returning to public service in April 2014.

Stored steam locomotives

Ironbridge No3 at Horsehay, May 2007

• Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No 1990, Ironbridge No 3, 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.
• Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No 3240 Beatty built in 1917. Partially dismantled for restoration.

Operational diesel multiple units

• British Rail Class 142 No. 142004 (DMS 55545 and DMSL 55595), both in unbranded Northern Rail livery. Privately owned and currently awaiting an announcement of future plans. The unit arrived in April 2021.
• British Rail Class 142 No. 142058 (DMS 55708 and DMSL 55754), both in unbranded Northern Rail livery. The unit arrived in April 2021.
• British Rail Class 144 No. 144013 (DMS 55817 and DMSL 55836), both in unbranded Northern Rail livery. From Porterbrook leasing, the unit arrived in July 2020.

Operational diesel locomotives

• British Rail Class 08 No 08757 Eagle Built by British Railways at their Horwich Works in 1961. It entered service numbered D3926 and was initially allocated to Cockerhill for a number of years before moving south via the Midlands to Cambridge where she was named "Eagle CURC" (Cambridge University Railway Circle). Fitted with remote control equipment in 2004 for use in Westbury Quarry where 08757 remained until moving to Didcot around 2010. Moving to Crewe in 2016, she was made available for sale and bought by Telford Steam Railway. She arrived here on 16 January 2017. Now fully repainted in RES red and grey livery, 08757 is mainly used on our diesel passenger services. .
• British Rail Class 37 (Privately owned) No 37263 Built by the English Electric Vulcan Foundry in 1965 for British Railways, carrying the Pre-tops number D6963, and was allocated to Darnall. Originally allocated to many Eastern Region depots, the loco then moved to Scotland, before moving to Cardiff and then more locally to Toton and Bescot. Her last passenger train was worked in 1998 under Trainload Freight West, transferring to EWS ownership in 1998 where 37263 was stored in late 1999 before being withdrawn. Initially she went to the Dean Forest Railway but then moved to Tyseley Locomotive Works for a number of years before coming to Telford in 2017. Now fully operational and looking very smart in Departmental Grey livery

• North British 0-4-0DH (Privately owned) No. 27414 Tom In BR Black livery. Tom has been at the TSR since the 1980s where it was donated from GKN Sankey in Hadley and is now in private ownership.
• Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0DH (Privately owned) Class 165DS No. 313394 Jammo in BR Green livery. This locomotive upon arrival at the TSR has been fitted with Vacuum brake system so that she can be used for passenger service.
• Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0DH (Privately owned)Class 88DS Hector Now having in depth restoration/mechanical overhual after a change in ownership, Hector has been outshopped in a Prussian blue livery with yellow lining.
• Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0DH No. 525947 Rusty Arriving at the TSR in 1995, 'Rusty' was bought from Blue Circle Industrials Ltd at Kirton Lindsey, Lincolnshire. Now carrying BR Blue livery. This locomotive is used for shunting stock around in the yard, p-way trains and can also be found on passenger services.

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. As of April 2014 the coach is undergoing refurbishment for further passenger use. Currently, the newly arrived Mk2 stock has taken priority to be restored to use.

Operational 2' narrow gauge locomotives

Main article: Telford steam tram

Telford steam tram

• Alan Keef Ltd 0-4-0 Steam Tram. The Telford Steam Railway's steam tram once ran along the side of the lake in Telford Town Park. Starting from the amphitheatre, the railway did not last very long and was relocated to the Telford Steam Railway in the mid-1980s, where it is still running today around a circular track around the railway's yard near Horsehay Pool.

Further reading

• The Wenlock Branch – Wellington to Craven Arms, Ken Jones, Oakwood Press 1998, ISBN 978-0-85361-500-2

External links

• Telford Steam Railway – official website
• Phoenix Model Engineering Society Website