Telford Steam Railway
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| Location | |
| Place | Horsehay, Shropshire, England |
| Terminus | Spring Village |
| Commercial Operations | |
| Name | Severn Junction Railway |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved Operations | |
| Operated by | Telford Horsehay Steam Trust |
| Stations | 2 |
| Length | 0.75 miles (1 km) |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) |
| 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 |
| 1983 | Lightmoor to Horsehay leased to THST |
| 1984 | Opens to the public |
| 2008 | Work begins on Lawley Common Extension |
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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, (SJR), to the Coalbrook Company's narrow gauge plateway system.
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, (THST).
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[edit] Route
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. Work began on the first extension of the railway's regular operations in early February 2008 when contractors moved onto site north of Heath Hill tunnel to start earthworks for a new station at Lawley Common[1], being built as part of Telford and Wrekin Council's redevelopment of the Lawley area. Earthworks were completed and the site handed back to TSR in early April 2008.
[edit] The Future - Steaming to Ironbridge
When the extension north to Lawley Common is complete, TSR intends to extend south beyond 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.
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 has revealed that a modest increase in height will provide the necessary clearance without increasing the already steep gradient between Doseley station and Lightmoor Junction. A further obstacle exists at the bridge carrying the railway formation over Brick Kiln Bank, adjacent to the former Lightmoor Junction signal box. Reduced to a single track width several years ago by partially replacing the original arch with concrete sections, parallel running with Network rail over the bridge would require the replacement of the remaining width of original brick arch.
The extension south of Lightmoor is dependent upon the eventual closure of Ironbridge Power Station, and the rationalisation of Network Rail's line between Lightmoor Junction and Buildwas. This rationalisation 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 over Coalbrookdale Viaduct and across the Albert Edward Bridge onto the power station site, at Buildwas, when it closes.
A recent railtour operated by Vintage Trains has proved the viability of operating 5 coach trains on the steep incline between Lightmoor and Buildwas with an ex-GWR 9400 Class pannier tank locomotive.
[edit] Stock List
[edit] 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.
- 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[2], it moved to the Avon Valley Railway for two week's running-in on February 20th 2008, including hauling service trains on Sundays February 24th and March 2nd. After attending TSR's Steam Gala on the 4th and 5th of May it began a period on hire at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.
[edit] Steam Locomotives undergoing restoration
- Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No 3240 "Beatty" built in 1917. Undergoing restoration in the works where good progress is being made.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Operational Diesel Multiple Units
- Leyland Railbus No RB004 built in 1984. In regular use on diesel services following overhaul and repaint.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
