Express & Star

New arrivals at heritage railway ahead of peak season

Two new arrivals have been drawing in visitors at a heritage railway.

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A Darfield Number 1 locomotive dating back to 1953 is now at Chasewater Railway near Burntwood.

And a horse drawn carriage from 1881 is also now an added attraction at the railway.

Financial administrator Dan Weekes said both had arrived just in time for one of the site's busiest times of the year - Halloween and Christmas.

He said: "It's great that we've got the locomotive and the horse drawn carriage.

"We've got Halloween tours and Santa tours coming up."

The Darfield 1 was purchased using a legacy left to the railway. Renamed Hollybank, it was built by Leeds based Hunslet Engine Company in 1953 and weighs 38 tons.

It was built for the North Eastern Division of the National Coal Board and it was used at Darfield Main Colliery near Barnsley.

The Hunslet from 1953.
The horse-drawn dray from 1881 which used to be used for parcels.

Mr Weekes added: "There were a couple of issues with the boiler which we need to check on but we're hoping it will be ready in time for the Santa tours.

"It will be able to pull three coaches which can fit around 150 people on.

"It used to pull 100 coal trucks so it's a beast."

The Midland Horse Drawn Midland Railway Carriage was donated to Chasewater in the 1960s.

For years it was loaned to Shugborough Estate near Stafford. It is now on display at Chasewater in the heritage centre.

Mr Weekes added: "It's in very good condition for its age.

"It was with us when we were based in Hednesford and when we moved to Chasewater we loaned it to Shugborough.

"Now we've got it back again. It is now on display to the public."

A Halloween Special event is taking place on October 31.

Trains will be running down the old colliery line and volunteers will be dressed up in scary costumes.

Then the Santa Special tours run through December from December 2.

The railway, which features a four mile track, is run by a team of around 40 volunteers.

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