The churnet Valley Railway

After @Kimbo ’s visit last month on his trip to the UK and posting his smashing video of Froghall station, I made a promise after being asked if posting some photos of “the old days”

It will seem apt after that video to start at the south end of the line at Froghall (ok so back when I started in 1996 the line actually went to Oakamoor, I’ll try and cover that later as we haven’t really opened to there except on a special weekend and the track is now lifted.

These first photos come courtesy of a friend of mine, Ian Bowland aka rail37.
These will be around the 1998/1999 period after we had extended south to Consall from
Cheddleton…

I suppose I really want a map to show the line. I will dig one out for the next post.


so we start here at what is now the southern end of the line. This is Froghall Junction and it is gradually being turned back from a single track to a group of sidings (present day). however in 1999 we created a passing loop in the station platform site.

moving a 100 or so yards north we come to the river bridge - it could just be seen in the distance in picture 1 the loop is being laid and ballasted.

We now move in to the platform. The old up platform (which over hung the canal where it’s shown here as a very narrow section) remained in situe, where as the down platform was removed when closure. I refer the old up and down directions. Effectively now, they are the other way around as the way back to London now would be north to Leek Broom Junctionn and then on to Stoke on the WCML.


Ballasting the new line. The bank has been cleared back ready for the new build platform.

PWay train in the loop. Before the platform building, photo off the bridge.

I realise these two are slightly out of order as these are south of the station.

Class 25 D7672 Tamwoth Castle still in service back then in the two tone green livery (it was built new in Rail blue and painted in this scheme the depot where it lived prior to main line tours and the 25’s being retired before it came to the CVR and a few other railways on tour.
the station bridge. Taken from the old platform
Looking north. Just out of shot is the old Thomas Bolton Copper works where copper cable and ingots were made. I remember the first time I rode down here in mid 1996 through the middle of the site, an always open doorway showed a green flame always going inside the building. Sadly, most of the site is now flattened awaiting further development

the other side the bridge looking south back to the station site.


Looking north to the top of the run round loop, Boltons and the line back to Consall and Cheddleton.
Many thanks to Ian for allowing me to use his photos on this occasion to kick start it off.

 

going the wrong way… let’s take a trip back to Oakamoor by class 25. (Sorry about the Audio but was put on to cover the chit chat in the cab) this section has sadly been lifted but we intend to relay it in a few years.

and departing north during a gala (filmed same weekend I think?)

 

Apologies for some of this being diesel and not the probably more interesting steam loco, that will come later..

Oakamoor sand sidings run round loop.


and we return back to Froghall by class 47.

 

Now we will carry on North from
Froghall with a gentle uphill climb to Consall forge.


apologies for the quality. These were updated when the internet was still dial up and very low quality. I will have to see if I can find where the originals are and see if I can re upload.

 

All by road. although there is a main line connection still, its not in a fit state to take any traffic now.

 

Chassis and cylinder block for S160 6064

 

1) No idea, just worked on the original 1800's track bed, except I do know a new membrane was laid on one of the bridges a few years ago.
2) We have done, mostly it flows below rail height by a good few feet, but we did have some heavy rain a few years ago that washed away the trackbed leaving the rails in mid air and totally unsafe to pass. This was found on the day of a gala sadly.
3) Not at the moment. The sand quarry that kept the line open till 1988 has now closed and flattend. There was hope that Cauldon Lowe end could be used at the stone quarry, but alas, tarmac, Le Farge or the current owners have shown little to no interest to going back to rail transport - there would also be around 9 miles of track to the West coast main line that would also need bringing back up to standard for heavy freight last used in 1990.
4) Thank you -there is a lot more to tell over the next few weeks.

 

Nice new OO model coming soon of them!

 

Before we begin Consall station, I’m going to back track south down the line following the Cab 24 ride to Oakamoor. Unfortunately I have never taken many pictures down there, usually because I’d be working in some capacity, but I have sourced these I took one day when there were a few more of us on the ground.


Where I think the video ended. The north approach to the yard and single slip. The line originally went straight on here rather than curving left and this was where the old main line to Uttoxeter ended.

entering the yard we can see some of the stock that was once stored down there. Some were being restored and some were in service. This is al left over from when it was the Sidings for British Industrial Sand, the quarry being off to the left up the hill. It closed in 1988.

progressing further into the yard. It’s now all been lifted and returning to nature sadly the 4Vep seen here on the right has also been scrapped as it was targeted by metal thieves and made it uneconomical to restore all the copper electrics and brake pipes.

At the far end of the yard stood the sand hopper for loading in to the wagons.
This was demolished a few years before the lines were lifted.


Inside the bottom of the hopper. I believe these were heater elements at the side of the valve. No idea what the mirror was for..

this is the basis for my own Oakamoor layout.


looking back north where my colleagues were shunting. The suburban and both brake down cranes have left the railway.

on a different note. Over the years I have written, or rather rehashed others work to produce a number of publications for the railway, starting off as a stock and guide book, running to 4 different versions republished, the stock book became a separate book with the new souvenir guides and the publication of Sand in my shoes.


I have had a long association assisting in looking after one of the class 33’s 33102 “Sophie”.

I was also there to assist when the Super D was first restored and arrived on our line for running in.


seen here being unloaded.. I recall it was very heavy rain!!

finally, here is a shot of the waiting shelter on the platform at Froghall, replica built on site.

 

Consall!!!
Heading north as seen in the video approx 2 miles, we have climbed to Consall. The Cauldon canal has joined us and crosses under the track just north of the station.


no, it’s not the flying Scotsman but Green Arrow visiting.



Consall station building is a replica built on the original floor plan, although there are a few minor changes, it looks as the original building when went again in the 1970’s.

from the front apron side - that’s me dressed as the pilot during station at war event.. I was young and didn’t have grey hair!! Not sure if this was the same year or a year or two later.?
Me with Alex.. he’s now 16!


Central TV covered the opening of the new building.

we shall have a look at the line nearby.. just to explain, the waiting shelter actually overhangs the canal below, boats pass under it. Here is the line approaching from the North looking South.

approaching the signal. Left when two train running and right hand side of single train running.
The signal came from the GC.

foot crossing outside the Black Lion Pub, once only served by rail! (Yes the line delivered the beer here rolling down out a van.. mind you, if it had come down the cart track back then it would have had a great head on it!)

running in to the platform (must have been a closed day and maybe a stick movement.)

this scene hasn’t changed much, however, there was no signal box back in BR days, that is a pure CVR addition to control the passing loop before we extended to Froghall. It covers the passing of two or more service trains here with the exchange of the tokens.

the box is ex Clifton from near Ashbourne. It stood on a very tall but thin brick base. The front and end being cantilevered. The current brick base is the full depth of the floor plan with the locking room below ground. running out the station we come to London Road Bridge, which actually gained its name from the company that worked a site nearby and used it to access their premises, the London company. So it became London Road bridge. Out of shot immediately to the right was the former station masters house, which is a private residence. It has been kept however, in railway related appearance.

 

I’ll leave you with some random pics of Consall.. must find that map!



Driver Frank Dale departing Consall with the visiting N7



Class 104 DMU sits in the loop at Consall before the platform was reinstated. You can see here how the shelter overhung the canal.. great idea for those modelling in a confined space.



unseen is the river on the left and canal on the right, the river runs between the two, there is a weir just after the end of the platform where the river and canal meet/split



the rebuilt platform. Not sure what’s happening here as it looks like the dmu is running wrong road.. it may be a splitting of the token at the start of the day on a two train running service.



At first this looks like Captain mainwaring and the guard… well it is, but… in the background can be seen the early foundations of the station building before the wooden upper structure was constructed.



a platform trolley



one of the replica lamps



Looking back north as arriving from Froghall



Our late friend,Nick, signalman, guard, Driver, a genuine multi tasking volunteer sadly taken far too soon in December 2019.



The N7 arrives from Froghall.

 

Here are some films to have a laugh and giggle at. Filmed by my friend Mick Ashmore, we filmed the first in May 98.

volume 1
As we were - a Video by Mick Ashmore and Andrew Sollis as the guide as we take a look at the CVR in 1998 when it was still Push Pull between Cheddleton and Leek Brook Junction

Part 1

Part 2

volume 2 6th April 2002.

A video by Michael John Ashmore In part 2 we see the 150 Gala on the 11th July 1999 with visiting Black 5 from the East Lancs Railway 45407, with Standard 4 80136 anf 4F 44422 that are based here. On the 19th March 2000 we see 80136 at work again and film the run round loop at Leek Brook. With special thanks to Andy Sollis in helping and presenting of this film.

Part 1

Part 2
After a 2 year break we return with our guide Andy Sollis explaining what has been happening at Cheddleton yard. Then on 6th April 2002 we see visiting loco B1 61264 from the GCR, Pete Watermans' Great Western tank 5224, newly restored J94 68030 and S160 5197 based here in their Gala and film the extension to Kingsley & Froghall, also the new station building at Consall and Clifton signal box. We end with a heavy freight through Kingsley & Froghall station.