TELFORD STEAM RAILWAY

The 'Telford Steam Railway' (TSR) is a heritage railway located at Horsehay, Telford in Shropshire, UK. Formed in 1976, it is based at Horsehay's goods transhipment shed, built in 1860, which had originally permitted the transfer of goods from the Severn Junction Railway to the Coalbrook Company's narrow gauge plateway system.
TSR currently operates on a 3/4 mile inverted-'Y' -shaped section of line with the southern entrance to Heath Hill tunnel at the base of the 'Y', to the north, and stations at Spring Village and Horsehay & Dawley at the ends of the two arms, to the south. In the near future the first extension of the railway's regular operations will be through Heath Hill Tunnel to a new station at Lawley Common. This is to be built as part of Telford and Wrekin Council's redevelopment of the Lawley area.
The railway is operated by volunteers on Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter to the end of September, and at Christmas. Its business name is the ''Telford Horsehay Steam Trust''.

Contents

The Future

Stock List

Operational Steam Locomotives

Steam Locomotives undergoing restoration

Stored Steam Locomotives

Operational Diesel Locomotives

Operational Diesel Multiple Units

Diesel Multiple Units undergoing Overhaul

Notable Rolling Stock

External links

The Future

When the extension north to Lawley Common is complete, TSR intends to extend south beyond Doseley, build a new bridge over the A4169 road and continue to the Ironbridge Gorge passing through Coalbrookdale. Crossing the A4169 will require the road level to be lowered, the railway formation to be raised, or a combination of both, to achieve the statutory headroom below the bridge. The railway formation cannot be raised too far at this point as this would further steepen the already harsh gradient between the site of the bridge and Lightmoor Junction. This extension is dependent upon the eventual closure of Ironbridge Power Station, and the rationalisation of Network Rail's line between Lightmoor Junction and Buildwas which took place in October 2006 resulting in the (uphill) down line being taken out of use; the remaining (downhill) up line becoming a bi-directional extension of the existing single line from Madeley Junction. Network Rail have left the down line in place which TSR plans to use as its route into the Ironbridge Gorge including extension across the Albert Edward Bridge onto the power station site when it closes. A further obstacle exists, in that the bridge carrying the railway formation over Brick Kiln Bank adjacent to the former Lightmoor Junction signal box was reduced to a single track width several years ago and now is only wide enough to carry the Network Rail line. It is possible that the railway will eventually seek to enter the Ironbridge Gorge proper with a further extension towards the former site of Ironbridge and Broseley railway station. This extension would result in a run of about 5 miles but would require either a reversal at the site of Buildwas Junction or the construction of a tight chord between the southern side of Albert Edward Bridge and the continuation of the Severn Valley Line towards Ironbridge. Although this would involve running on a short section of the former Severn Valley route, Telford Steam Railway has no connections with the Severn Valley Railway.

Stock List

Operational Steam Locomotives

★ Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No 1722 "Rocket" built in 1926, current boiler ticket expires in 2012. In regular use on the railway's passenger trains.

Steam Locomotives undergoing restoration

★ GWR 5600 Class 0-6-2T No 5619 built in 1925. This is the largest and only ex-main line steam locomotive on the line. Its boiler has recently been sent to the Flour Mill workshop at Lydney for the completion of its restoration. The overhaul of the frames and fitting of the wheels, cylinders, side tanks and bunker were completed at Telford and the final boilerwork and reassembly of the locomotive will take place at Lydney. It is hoped to return to traffic on the Telford Steam Railway in 2007, afterwards it will be loaned/hired out to other railways.

★ Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No 3240 "Beatty" built in 1917. Undergoing restoration in the works where good progress is being made.

Stored Steam Locomotives

★ Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST No 1990, 'Ironbridge No3', 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.

Operational Diesel Locomotives

★ BR English Electric Class 08 D3429/08 359, built at Crewe in March 1958. Arrived at Horsehay in January of 2007 in operational condition, it underwent minor work on the vacuum system and a full repaint to restore it to full working order. D3429 returned to full service at TSR's Gala on 27th of May 2007.

Operational Diesel Multiple Units

★ Leyland Railbus No RB004 built in 1984. In regular use on diesel services following overhaul and repaint.

Diesel Multiple Units undergoing Overhaul

★ British Rail Class 104 No 53479 DMU Motor brake DMBS. The interior is complete and bodywork restoration is nearing completion, when working it will work with 53531 as a two car set.

★ British Rail Class 104 No 53531 DMU Motor Composite DMCL. Nearing completion of a long overhaul, when finished it will operate with 53479 in a two car formation.

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. Since arriving at TSR, the coach has undergone extensive refurbishment and restoration to bring it up to its current serviceable condition. Although originally carrying BR blue and grey after conversion, it is now painted in maroon.

External links

★ Telford Steam Railway – official website