Churnet Valley Railway


The Churnet Valley Railway is a preserved standard gauge heritage railway to the east of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England, that operates along a part of the former North Staffordshire Railway's Churnet Valley Line. Regular services travel between the two main stations at Cheddleton and Kingsley and Froghall. There is an intermediate station at Consall. Some trains also head beyond Cheddleton to Leek Brook Junction and on to Ipstones, but Ipstones station is not in use.
The railway is roughly long from Kingsley & Froghall station to Ipstones. The land from Leek Brook Junction to Ipstones is owned by Moorland & City Railways, a company aiming to run freight trains from the quarries at Cauldon to the national network at Stoke-on-Trent, and to re-introduce a commuter service between Leek and Stoke.

Preservation history

Early days of preservation: Cheddleton station (1964–1977)

The Cheshire and Staffordshire Railway Society was formed in the 1970s by Ken Simpson and others to try to save something of the lines built by the old NSR, which first began to close in 1964. Their original target was the Biddulph Valley route which branched north from the Stoke-Leek line at Milton Junction, and headed north to Biddulph Wharf and Congleton, but Cheshire County Council showed only lukewarm interest. Leek station was also considered for a heritage line north to Rudyard Lake, but was demolished in 1973. The society then aimed to re-open the Oakamoor to Alton Towers section, using the former Oakamoor tunnel for stock storage.
The council intended to demolish the station at Cheddleton in April 1974, but local businessman and parish councillor Norman Hancock parked his car on the level crossing in front of the bulldozers, preventing the demolition. This delay allowed the building to be Grade II listed on 14 May 1974 after a campaign by the C&SRS, Sir John Betjeman and the Victorian Society. In 1976 the former station building was let to the C&SRS to use as a museum.
The C&SRS became the North Staffordshire Railway Society, Cheddleton station became Cheddleton Railway Centre, and the Churnet Valley Railway in effect began. The plans for the Oakamoor to Alton Towers track were put on hold, the old siding and goods yard at Cheddleton were purchased, and workshops were created with the first locomotives arriving in 1977. British Rail was at the time still using the adjacent railway to move industrial sand from the quarry at Oakamoor. This all resulted in the unusual sight of a Fowler tender being delivered to the NSRS at the rear of a sand train, arriving from Bescot, being uncoupled and then left for the NSRS volunteers to crane over from the mainline into the NSRS yard before the sand train returned.

Developments to first running: track bed acquisition (1978–1996)

In 1978 the NSRS became the "North Staffordshire Railway Co. Ltd", which gained charity status in 1983. The bay platform area at Cheddleton was acquired in 1984 and the former NSR signal box from Clifton was put into use at the site, allowing demonstration runs to operate around the former goods yard. A commemorative plaque at the restored station acknowledges Norman Hancock and his role in ensuring the survival of the Jacobean-style building.
British Rail ceased using the remains of the former Churnet Valley Line in 1988, and the NSRC sought to purchase the stretch from Oakamoor to Leek Brook Junction. In 1992, the charity NSRC incorporated a subsidiary company: Churnet Valley Railway plc. In 1996, the company was granted a Light Railway Order to run between Leek Brook Junction to Oakamoor Sand Sidings. The company was also responsible for applications for planning permission and other legal necessities. The first public share issue was launched in 1995, to fund the purchase of the land and track, following an agreement with the British Railways Board. Share Issue 1 was well supported, particularly by the local community, and raised over £120,000. The purchase was completed on 4 July 1996. The trading activities of the NSRC were subsequently transferred to the CVR following this initial success.
The track was then made ready for passenger trains, and on 24 August 1996 LMS Fowler Class 3F 47383 departed Cheddleton for Leek Brook Junction, a distance of roughly.

New stations: Consall and Kingsley & Froghall (1998–2003)

Share issue 2 in 1998 aimed to raise £160,000 to upgrade the line south from Cheddleton to Consall for passenger services, which was successfully achieved on 11 July 1998.
Shortly after this, the next section south to Kingsley & Froghall station was rehabilitated to provide an alternative to Cheddleton for visitors' car parking, and thus allow the business to expand. The third share issue was launched in the summer of 2000 in order to raise £185,000, and on 14 October 2000 "top & tailed" diesel-hauled passenger specials ran. Floods in November 2000 damaged at least three sections along the extension, but by 11 August 2001 the section of line was restored sufficiently to allow CVR's passenger regular operations to extend over the line to Kingsley & Froghall, and on 19 July 2003 Kingsley & Froghall's re-constructed station building was opened by Pete Waterman.

Upgrades and extension (2008–2011)

This single platform at Kingsley & Froghall station was supplemented by the restoration of the second platform in 2008 using grant money. The wooden waiting shelter was re-built to the original 1849 design and incorporated the original brick foundations. A new foot crossing at the south of the platform replaced a previous foot crossing at the north end. The restoration project jointly won "The National Express East Coast Volunteers Award" at the National Railway Heritage Awards 2008.
In 2010, the of track from Leek Brook Junction to Cauldon Lowe were restored to passenger-carrying standards, allowing services to run by November. The signal box at Leek Brook Junction was restored externally, and the platform and surrounding area were cleared of vegetation. Planning permission for full restoration of the site was granted in November 2011.

Route

Most CVR trains run between Kingsley and Froghall station in Froghall village and Cheddleton via the intermediate station at Consall.
From Kingsley & Froghall the railway passes the historic Thomas Bolton Copperworks factory and meanders through the forested valley, through Hazles Wood and Booth's Wood and on towards Consall. The station here is sandwiched between the Caldon Canal and the River Churnet.
There is a nature park nearby, and the Black Lion public house sits on a bank overlooking the railway, canal and river. This pub is unusual in that there are no public roads leading to it. Access is by foot, via the canal towpath, or the railway. Consall station has been signalled with a passing loop that allows two trains to run on special events and during high season.
Trains leaving Consall face a slight gradient as they begin the section towards Cheddleton. This section of railway is also heavily forested, but after or so the trees fall away to reveal open farmland and moorland.
Trains pass the motive power depot as they arrive at Cheddleton station, where locomotives under repair may be glimpsed in the yard. The Grade II listed Victorian station building at Cheddleton houses a small relics museum, toilets, ticket office and waiting room.
In July 2011 a new catering facility the Goods Shed Tearoom was opened on the platform, marking the location of the original goods shed that once stood nearby. Continuing from Cheddleton, trains run past a caravan park and through the tunnel, emerging at Leekbrook Junction.
This was a four-way junction serving railways from Stoke, Leek, Alton and the quarries at Cauldon. The former platform for the old St Edwards Hospital tramway has been restored, as has the sole surviving NSR signal box. Normally CVR services terminate here, but on selected dates trains continue onto the steeply graded Cauldon Lowe Line for the to Ipstones.
The CVR also owns the trackbed between Kingsley & Froghall and Oakamoor. The railway is in situ as far as the Oakamoor sand sidings, which once served the now disused quarry, but the track is not up to standard for carrying passengers. In order to reach Oakamoor railway station the main line across the River Churnet and through Oakamoor tunnel needs to be rebuilt, which is one of the medium-term objectives of MCR as part of their plan to reopen the line to Alton.

Signalling

Signal boxes

Each station served by passengers has a signal box, although only one is fully operational:

Leek-Alton Towers section

The railway mostly runs the "one train staff" system, Consall box spending most of its time "switched out". The railway is split into three sections: Leekbrook Junction-Consall; Consall-Kingsley & Froghall; and Kingsley & Froghall-Oakamoor. The last of these, not being used for passenger trains, is protected by a stop board south of passenger operations at Froghall. Leek Brook-Ipstones is an additional fourth section as well, with its own separate signalling staff. Most running days see the Leekbrook Junction-Consall and Consall-Kingsley & Froghall staffs locked together with a single engine/train in service. On peak days they can be split, with Consall box opened, and a simple two-train service operated.

Stations

Passengers may join the railway at only three stations: Cheddleton, Consall and Kingsley and Froghall. Cheddleton is the operational headquarters and site of the motive power depot, engine shed and the carriage and wagon restoration workshops. The original Victorian station building houses the North Staffordshire Railway museum. There is also a refreshment room and booking office. Consall is a small rural station with Victorian buildings and waiting room. There is also a passing loop. Kingsley and Froghall station is newly built in the style of the old North Staffordshire Railway. There is a run-round loop of track and a watering column.
The CVR's current track boundary at Leek Brook is in passenger use, but there is no access to the platform other than the railway.
Given the various nearby former railway tracks, the CVR has various plans for expansion. Extension north to Leek is the current priority, where a platform has been granted outline planning permission. The former quarry at Oakamoor is planned to be converted into a holiday, for which the CVR hopes to re-open its line to connect with at the former sand sidings where a new platform will be built. South of the sidings is another bridge crossing over the River Churnet and the "Oakamoor Tunnel" and Oakamoor railway station, which might be rehabilitated if a southern extension of the line is built to Alton Towers, despite the former station buildings being a Landmark Trust-owned holiday property.

Leek Brook-Waterhouses section

Whitebridge Lane cottage (2008–2010)

A landslip immediately south of the station at Cheddleton dating back to BR days has previously prevented the installation of a passing loop, and therefore the development of the original "down" platform. Various projects have looked at remedying this over the years. As part of the CVLLP scheme stage 1 of the bank stabilisation has been undertaken. This has proved a success and phase 2 will commence when funds and traffic demand it.
In November 2008 an investigation was undertaken for the proposed relocation of Whitebridge Lane Crossing cottage from its present location next to the West Coast Main Line at Stone to the "down" platform at Cheddleton. Empty since the last crossing keeper left in 1998, the building has been left derelict and vandalised as because of the building's current close proximity to the running line at Stone, it cannot be sold or put to any other use in its present location.
The portacabins located on the proposed site at Cheddleton were moved in early 2010 in anticipation for the move, and the ground cleared ready for the relocation works to start.
However, in 2011 increased costs from Network Rail resulted in the cancellation of the move, and a new tea room was constructed on the "up"

Cheddleton Station (2014–present)

As part of the Churnet Valley Living Landscape Project, following the completion of phase 1 at Leek Brook the NSRC has devised phases 2, 3 & 4 that will see heritage items be restored to Cheddleton Station. It has been a long-held ambition to restore Cheddleton to its former glory, and in-turn create a living museum for visitors to enjoy. Phase 2 saw the re-erection of the former Hanley Water column on the "down" platform at the north end  This also included the erection of the Braithwaite Tank from Bolton's Works in the car park behind the "down" platform,
Also, separate from the CV LLP, a grant has been obtained to replace a number of the metal fences around Cheddleton with similar to the original NSR-style.

Involvement with Moorland & City Railways – Share issue 4

In November 2010 the Churnet Valley Railway was hired to operate a series of events by "Moorlands & City Railways" to celebrate the re-opening of the Cauldon Branch to the public for the first time since 1935. The branch is noteworthy for its severe gradients, with roughly 5 miles of 1in45/1in59 in one direction and 2 miles of 1in61 on the return journey. The summit of the line is at Ipstones, being 1063 feet above sea level.
In 2011 an agreement was reached between CVR and MCR that allowed the CVR to operate services themselves over this branch, and since this date such trains have been run on the first weekend of every month between April and October plus additional special events such as Enthusiast Galas and Private Charters. This agreement required the CVR PLC to purchase shares in MCR, and so in February 2011 publicity trains were run with 5199 and 33021 over the Cauldon line to launch this latest scheme first to current shareholders and then to the public. The overall target was £450,000 much higher than previous share issues, and the vast majority of this was raised which allowed the initial investment in MCR to go ahead.
In Summer 2014, CVR then re-opened Share Issue 4 under the "Ipstones Track Appeal" banner as following further discussions it had been decided to accept an offer from MCR to purchase the track work of the remaining 4 1⁄2 miles from Leek Brook to Ipstones from MCR. Track from the little-used section between Froghall & Oakamoor Quarry was lifted to make the first instalment, with a previous loan from CVR to MCR being converted into a second instalment.
The third payment was proposed to come from the re-launched share issue, and at first only current shareholders were invited to support. This brought in over half the required amount, and so in October 2014 the Ipstones Track Appeal was made public. The offer period was then extended at Christmas to Spring 2015 following which the full amount of shares were successfully sold.

Future extensions

Northwards — Leek

Also see "Leek railway station" about the future of the proposed station.
It has always been the CVR long-term aim to re-open the line back into the market town of Leek, and after the Froghall extension of 2001 the railway made it clear that the extension into Leek was the next priority in terms of physical expansion.
The CVR have taken on the Leek project themselves, and after much dialogue with the Council received outline planning permission for their own proposal in May 2018. They then launched their own project publicly on 1st February 2020.
A separate company are proposing redevelopments of the Barnfields estate in Leek, which is the mooted location for the new station. These plans were given Outline Planning Permission in December 2014, and include the construction of a new platform for the railway, new Marina connecting into the Leek branch of the Caldon Canal as well as a new restaurant and potentially a dedicated North Staffordshire Museum.

Southwards

To the south, from Froghall, the line is under the ownership of the CVR as far as the former sand sidings at Oakamoor even though as of 2014 the trackwork has been lifted. After this the line crossed over the River Churnet straight into a tunnel before Oakamoor station is reached. The track to the sidings requires upgrading for passenger use, and work on the tunnel and the rebuilding of the station site would be necessary to extend further than the former quarry, although it is considered viable. Whilst the railway owns the track as far as the sand sidings, the bridge, tunnel and trackbed beyond this is in the hands of Staffordshire County Council.
A new station platform called "Moneystone" has been mooted at the site of the former sand sidings by the CVR to connect to a new Holiday Camp that has been proposed for the former quarry itself
Further south is Oakamoor itself, and then onto Alton Towers, where the station building has been restored although it is owned by the Landmark Trust. The prospect of running trains as far as Alton is potentially lucrative given the tourist potential provided by the popular Alton Towers which is located nearby. This is something of a long-term prospect, however, especially as this section of track now forms part of the National Cycle Network "National Route 54".
This section is in principle regarded as commercially viable to reopen, and has been stated as a longer-term expansion aim of Moorland & City Railways.
The next station on the route south of Alton is Denstone, and the trackbed is clear of as far as the former platforms then a house has encroached on the former level crossing making expansion beyond Denstone back towards the mainline at Uttoxeter improbable without significant financial outlay.

Westwards

West of Leek Brook Junction is the Stoke–Leek line. The line is part of the planned Moorland & City network and is mothballed by Network Rail pending work to return it to a usable condition. As the Churnet Valley Railway has certain running rights on the Moorland & City network, it is feasible that heritage steam trains could use the line once more.
Any possible extension towards Stoke-on-Trent railway station could see the Churnet Valley Railway interchange with commuter rail services on the West Coast Main Line once time, money and finances allow.
In January 2012 the CVR publicly announced they were involved in the restoration of the from Leek Brook Junction to Endon Station in collaboration with Moorlands & City Railways. In 2011 vegetation was cleared on the section to allow a comprehensive survey of the track to be undertaken, and in 2012 extensive sleeper replacement began in order to bring the route up to passenger carrying standards. This was being completed by Churnet Valley Railway volunteers, in partnership with Moorland & City Railways, and supported by contractors where necessary.
Work stopped when a local resident made a Village Green Application for the trackbed, claiming that the line had become a public footpath through its lack of use as a railway for a number of years and that many locals used it as a footpath already. This was eventually rejected by Staffordshire County Council, as none of the criteria for village green status were met. Meanwhile, negotiations continued between MCR and Network Rail to instate a Heritage service on a restricted number of dates to Endon. In early 2013 it was announced that the CVR would be looking to take a tenancy out on part of the former station building to open a tea room, in order to create a presence within the village and signal its commitment to returning trains to the station. This tea room was subsequently opened on 13 January 2015 by a local couple and named 'The Station Kitchen'.

Locomotives

Steam locomotives

Former residents
NumberTypeLiveryStatusNotesImage
801364MT BR Lined BlackOperationalBuilt in 1956. After leaving Cheddleton, the locomotive operated on the West Somerset Railway until its boiler ticket expired. Was stored at Crewe Heritage Centre for several years. Now operational at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
No 2NSR New L Class NSR Lined MaroonOn DisplayBuilt in 1923, NSR no. 2 was one of five "New L" locos sold to Manchester Collieries in Walkden by the LMS in October 1937 under its LMS identity of 2271. The loco was named "Princess" in 1938, and was eventually rebuilt with a new saturated boiler and new tanks, bunker and cylinders in 1946.
In 1960 the locomotive was repainted as NSR No 2 for the "North Staffordshire Railway Centenary" exhibition in Stoke-on-Trent. Following the loco's appearance at this event it kept its identity as NSR no. 2 upon its return to industrial service at Walkden.
In 1964 the boiler, tanks and cab from "Princess" were fitted onto the chassis of another former NSR New L loco. The NSR no. 2 identity was maintained, however, and upon the end of service at Walkden the loco passed into the National Collection. This has created a high level of debate over the loco's identity though, as traditionally locomotives took their numbers from their frames which would make the surviving loco NSR no. 72. As 'New L' class all had superheated boilers, the fact the loco survives with a saturated boiler takes the discussion much further as to whether it can even be classed as a NSR loco.
No. 2 original chassis received a new boiler plus the bunker and tanks from NSR no. 69 in 1965, before this locomotive was scrapped in 1969 despite attempts to preserve it.
The surviving loco was owned by the National Railway Museum and spent a period on display at the CVR in the late 1990s. Following some time on display at Shildon Locomotion Museum it was delisted from the National Collection, and donated to the Foxfield Railway where it is now on display in their museum at Caverswall Road. Its identity as NSR no. 2 has been maintained throughout its life in preservation.
NSR No. 1 / BEL2Battery Electric NSR Lined MaroonOn DisplayBuilt in 1917. Former Oakamoor Shunter, was the last NSR locomotive of any kind to remain in operational service on the "mainline", being withdrawn in March 1963. Owned by the National Railway Museum and on display at York.
7821GWR Manor Class BR BlackOn Display – Awaiting OverhaulNamed 'Ditcheat Manor' and built in 1950. Operated on the railway from 2005 to 2007 before expiry of her boiler ticket. On display at Museum of the Great Western Railway following purchase by the West Somerset Railway Association in 2008 from Ken Ryder.
3777 / 68030Hunslet BR BlackAwaiting overhaulBuilt in 1952. Ran the first demonstration trains operated at the Cheddleton Railway Centre in 1977, where it was named Josiah Wedgewood. The locomotive was painted into pseudo BR Livery as 68030 and spent many years out on hire at various railways after leaving the CVR in 2006. 68030 returned to the CVR in May 2016 following ten years away but left again in early 2017, this time for the Llangollen Railway.
69621LNER Class N7 BR BlackOn Display – Awaiting OverhaulOwned by the East Anglian Railway Museum. It was the last engine built by the Great Eastern Railway's Stratford Works in 1924 and was preserved in 1962. It was also named in honour of its designer A J Hill in 1989. Arrived on the CVR in June 2012, and became the mainstay of services until withdrawal in April 2015 for overhaul.

Diesel locomotives

Rolling stock

Coaching stock

in use on passenger trains consists entirely of ex-BR Mark 1 vehicles, with four or five forming a typical rake. These vehicles run in BR maroon livery which is historically correct for the railway's 1950s/1960s image. Only one rake is required for normal services.
Two Mark 1 vehicles are also used for the railway's Moorlander dining services. One is an authentic Kitchen Car, the other being a Second Open converted into a dining coach. Both coaches were overhauled and repainted between November 2009 & March 2010 into Pullman Umber/Cream following a vandal attack in 2009, but were repainted once more in 2015 into a mock Northern Belle Plum & Cream livery.
Designed ForNumberTypeLiveryStatusNotes
NSR228First NSR MaroonAwaiting RestorationOwned by the NSRC. Going on a 99-year loan to the Knotty Coach Trust based at Foxfield Railway.
BRE3809Tourist Second OpenMaroonAwaiting RestorationPurchased from Midland Railway Centre in 2020, expected to be next vehicle to be overhauled.
BR4046Tourist Second OpenMaroonAwaiting RestorationPurchased from Pontypool & Blaenavon in 2020, To be overhauled after 3809.
BRE4354Tourist Second OpenMaroonOperationalBodywork repairs completed August 2014
BRM4366Second OpenWhite washAwaiting restorationGutted shell, purchased from Midland Railway Centre in 2020. Planned to be rebuilt as a second dining vehicle.
BRS4392Tourist Second OpenMaroonOperationalFirst restoration completed 1996 – Bodywork repairs & repaint completed for Santa 2014 services.
BR4779Second OpenPlum/CreamOperationalConverted dining coach for "Moorlander" Dining Set. Overhauled & Repainted in pseudo Northern Belle livery, and named Diana after long serving volunteer.
BRW4786Second OpenMaroonOperationalArrived on loan from North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 2016. Was eventually swapped for RMB E1878, and is now part of the CVR running fleet.
BRM4795Second OpenBlue/GreyStoredAwaiting Restoration
BR9390Mk2 Brake Second OpenGreenStoredAwaiting restoration – Planned for conversion to Brake / Bar Car for "Moorlander" Dining Train
BRE13236First OpenPlum/CreamOperationalOwned by NSRC. Restoration completed 2010. As of 2020, in service as second dining vehicle "Nicholas" until 4366 is overhauled.
BRM16155Composite CorridorMaroonOperationalOverhauled & Repainted 2014. In service.
LMS32994Brake GangwayedMaroonAwaiting RestorationPrivately owned. Restoration started 2013, but now on hold whilst running maintenance is undertaken.
BRE35094Brake Corridor SecondCarmine & CreamStaticFormer departmental vehicle, being transformed into an exhibition coach at Consall.
BRM35343Brake Corridor SecondMaroonOperationalOverhauled & Repainted 2007. Main Brake Coach 2007–2015. Second overhaul include improvements for wheelchair access completed 2016. Now reserve brake coach.
BRM35473Brake Corridor SecondMaroonOperationalRestoration completed 1996 – Entered for repairs October 2015, with Accessibility improvements made. Subsequently nominated for HRA Carriage Award.
BR80030Restaurant CorridorPlumOperationalKitchen Car used in "Moorlander" dining train. Overhauled & Repainted 2019.
BR80960Gangwayed Full BrakeMaroonStores VehiclesRepainted 2019.

Freight vehicles

Typically for a railway of this size, the CVR does not yet have a dedicated wagon restoration group, maintenance of a nucleus of essential vehicles being undertaken by the more established Coach Works. Operational wagons tend to be examples which have an essential function rather than historical importance alone.
Because of this, the operational fleet of freight vehicles is relatively small. They can be summarised as follows:
Restoration of wagons is done sporadically. The Coach Works directed its full resources towards eight wagons for a significant part of 2007, the majority of the vehicles which formed a demonstration freight set. The ballast rake was restored in 2001, while all other vehicles have been restored by individual owners at various times.
There are no times when any freight stock is advertised as operating; however, the demonstration freight set sees occasional use during photographic charters.

Supporting groups