The Ashover Light Railway

rogerfarnworth · 15 Jan 2019

This is another thread prompted by reading old copies of "The Railway Magazine" from 1950. The September 1950 magazine carried a short article about the Ashover Light Railway which had finally closed over the majority of its length to freight traffic in March 1950.

The post below is the first of at least two.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/01/15/the-ashover-light-railway-part-1

I hope you enjoy it. Much of the information comes from three sources ... The Railway Magazine, Wikipedia, and the website of the Ashover Light Railway Society. The Society's website is well worth a visit.

http://www.alrs.org.uk

RailUK Forums

Calthrop · 17 Jan 2019

Apprehensive that I can be a bore about funny narrow-gauge lines, I've held off for a while; however -- with no other responses for a day and a half... I've long had a soft spot for the Ashover Light Railway. I feel that it, and the Rye & Camber, are -- even if for understandable reasons -- Great Britain's two most overlooked "genuine-public" narrow-gauge railways.

The fourth photograph in your first linked item (Joan at Stretton LC) has some poignancy for me. I'm certain that I've seen it before: in a book (title forgotten) on British Isles narrow gauge (a prose-and-photographs extended "vignette" for each line), I think by P.B. Whitehouse, though I might be wrong -- published I think late 1950s, nothing about it seeming findable per search engine; but I owned a copy long ago. The picture shows -- as surmised in the caption -- an enthusiasts' special over the Ashover, hauled by Baldwin 4-6-0T Joan -- I'm sure, on a beautiful summer day in 1947 -- which turned out to be the last-ever such special on the line, at any rate with steam traction. The "Ashover" chapter in the book referred to, was essentially a recounting of that day's trip, by the author who was a participant; with odd snippets re the line's origins and history, and a number of pictures, both of that trip, and "other doings at other times".

rogerfarnworth · 17 Jan 2019

Dear Calthrop

I do not find your responses boring. I have always found them poignant and interesting. Usually you have acloser and more intimate knowledge of things than I do and I appreciate that greatly. Thank you for your comments.

Roger

Skipness · 17 Jan 2019

As the publicity officer for the ALRS and also the webmaster, I welcome your interest in the Ashover Light Railway.
Although a restoration on the original track bed is an aspiration, in the short term we are in the process of recreating the scene and ambience of the Ashover Butts terminus at Peak Rail's Rowsley site. We have already constructed a workshop and storage building, and track/sidings 99% by voluntary labour. Any further help would be gratefully received!!

Calthrop · 17 Jan 2019

rogerfarnworth said:
Dear Calthrop

I do not find your responses boring. I have always found them poignant and interesting. Usually you have acloser and more intimate knowledge of things than I do and I appreciate that greatly. Thank you for your comments.

Roger

Roger -- thanks ! I just have it in mind that a vocal enthusiast for anything -- however interesting the material -- sometimes invites the irresistible request of "please -- give it a rest for a while !".

In 1962 I attempted to explore part of the route of the ALR, starting from the line's top end. In course of same, was amazed and pleased to discover the remnant of the line at Fallgate -- mentioned in your first linked item -- retained until 1969 for the getting-out of fluorspar; with a fair number of wagons, and a tiny diesel loco. Had had absolutely no inkling that this little bit of the ALR had continued in existence and operational, beyond 1950.

Skipness · 17 Jan 2019

The ALRS has published a series of walking leaflets covering most of the route (except for the section currently submerged by Ogston Reservoir) available via the merchandise section of our website or our eBay outlet alrs_sales

rogerfarnworth · 17 Jan 2019

Hi Skipness

Thank you for the responses and the photo.

I have purchased the walks leaflets.

At present I plan at least one more post which will follow the length of the line. It is beginning to look like there will be enough material for two such posts. Please feel free to link these posts to your website if you wish to do so in the future.

Best wishes

Roger

341o2 · 17 Jan 2019

Calthrop said:
Apprehensive that I can be a bore about funny narrow-gauge lines, I've held off for a while; however -- with no other responses for a day and a half... I've long had a soft spot for the Ashover Light Railway. I feel that it, and the Rye & Camber, are -- even if for understandable reasons -- Great Britain's two most overlooked "genuine-public" narrow-gauge railways.

The fourth photograph in your first linked item (Joan at Stretton LC) has some poignancy for me. I'm certain that I've seen it before: in a book (title forgotten) on British Isles narrow gauge (a prose-and-photographs extended "vignette" for each line), I think by P.B. Whitehouse, though I might be wrong -- published I think late 1950s, nothing about it seeming findable per search engine; but I owned a copy long ago. The picture shows -- as surmised in the caption -- an enthusiasts' special over the Ashover, hauled by Baldwin 4-6-0T Joan -- I'm sure, on a beautiful summer day in 1947 -- which turned out to be the last-ever such special on the line, at any rate with steam traction. The "Ashover" chapter in the book referred to, was essentially a recounting of that day's trip, by the author who was a participant; with odd snippets re the line's origins and history, and a number of pictures, both of that trip, and "other doings at other times".

I believe the book in question is P B Whitehouse On the Narrow Gauge Nelson 1964 Photographs, Peggy facing p21, Joan and "Train at Ashover Butts" facing p28 There also the account of an attempt to use one of the Leek and Manifold transporter wagons, which never got beyond a trial as the reduction in gauge made it top heavy. A highly entertaining read, especially a trip on the Tralee and Dinge and to the Reseau Breton, one of my favourite lines

Calthrop · 17 Jan 2019

Title of book as I remember it, certainly included the words "narrow gauge"; but much in the Whitehouse output, has had those words in its title ! Maybe re-issued in 1964: I recall with certainty, that I had the book circa 1957 (parental birthday or Christmas present) -- its section on the Welshpool & Llanfair told either of that line's being shortly to close; or of its late-1956 closure and the events marking that sad happening.

Merthyr Imp · 17 Jan 2019

Calthrop - the book is 'Narrow Gauge Album' by P. B. Whitehouse, published by Ian Allan in 1957. The photo of Joan on the Ashover Light Railway appears on page 110 and the chapter on the line (entitled 'Last of the Baldwins') is as you describe.

Calthrop · 18 Jan 2019

Merthyr Imp, thanks. I knew it was "... Narrow Gauge... something ! "; but, as above... I much regret no longer having the book in my possession; but company was plainly parted, at some time during the past half-century.

Said book filled me with a great desire to become acquainted with a World War I "two-foot gauge" Baldwin 4-6-0T at first hand; was delighted many years later, to see and travel behind the one recovered from India, on the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway.

rogerfarnworth · 18 Jan 2019

I've long had a soft spot for the Ashover Light Railway. I feel that it, and the Rye & Camber, are -- even if for understandable reasons -- Great Britain's two most overlooked "genuine-public" narrow-gauge railways.

Hi Calthrop

I noted your incidental reference to the Rye and Camber Tramway and was surprised to find, reading the December 1950 copy of 'The Railway Magazine' this morning, a short news item about the dismantling of the railway. I have scanned the page using my mobile. It is a little fuzzy but may well be of interest to you.

Best wishes

Roger

Calthrop · 18 Jan 2019

Thanks for the link -- most interesting. Though not mentioned in this RM item, I think it's generally reckoned that it was highly-hard usage by the military during World War II -- when the line was turned over to them, with all public services suspended -- which sealed the R & CT's fate. I notice that the submitter of the item comes across as an "eternal optimist" in -- even as late as 1950 -- propounding as still possible, the oft-brought-out idea of extending the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch westward to join up with, and absorb, the R & CT.

Concerning the book Narrow Gauge Album as described above: though in the main covering with something approaching fullness, the British Isles' public narrow-gauge railways, it has a few -- seemingly rather capricious -- omissions. I think I can say with certainty that it makes no mention whatever of the Rye & Camber (and that can't be for any "blanket" policy of ignoring tramways -- it gives the Glyn Valley a full chapter). Also; though every n / g line there ever was in the Irish Republic, gets a chapter -- the Clogher Valley, and Castlederg & Victoria Bridge, receive cursory mentions in the introductory section; but neither rates a chapter of its own. I wonder whether Whitehouse was perhaps not very keen on the "Six Counties"? And, if I recall rightly, no chapter dedicated to anything on the Isle of Man. Well, it was his book, to do what he would with.

Merthyr Imp · 18 Jan 2019

Hi Calthrop

The book has the following chapters on railways at least partly in Northern Ireland:

The Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway is covered in 'The tail that wagged the dog'.
Belfast & Northern Counties Railway and successors - 'Narrow Gauge Compounds'.
Ballymena & Larne Railway and successors - 'The Boat Express'.
There is also a brief chapter combining the Isle of Man and Ballymena & Larne railways - mainly to do with their locomotives ('The Beyer Beauties').

Calthrop · 18 Jan 2019

Thanks MI

I recalled coverage of the Swilly, and the "NCC empire"; but Whitehouse does basically pass over N.I.'s "independent" n / g lines. I'd forgotten the "Beyer Beauties" chapter -- at least a nod to the IOMR. It would seem that anything electric was outside his mandate; so nothing about Giants' Causeway, Bessbrook & Newry, or Manx Electric. Nonetheless, the book was a great introduction to these islands' narrow gauge, for me aged nine, and never having spent time near any of the then present or past, scenes of such action.

rogerfarnworth · 19 Jan 2019

This is the second post in a short series about the Ashover Light Railway. It covers the length of the line from the Clay Cross Works to Stretton Halt. ...

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/01/19/the-ashover-light-railway-part-2

Calthrop · 21 Jan 2019

Interesting material -- thanks.

Brings home, the way that the Ashover was something of an oddity "shape-wise" -- local topography dictating that it took seven and a quarter miles to cover the "crow-flight" distance of not quite three miles from Clay Cross to Ashover Butts. Related to this: the majority of British-Isles narrow-gauge lines made physical connection with the (respective per island) standard gauge, at one or both ends of their route. The Ashover, not so -- its Clay Cross station was at an appreciable distance from its s/g counterpart; passenger interchange with the standard gauge was closest and most convenient at Stretton, about halfway along the line's route. Can be seen as analogous to the Ffestiniog Railway at its "seaward" end: stations at Porthmadog of the FR, and the standard gauge (Cambrian Coast route) are at opposite ends of the town from each other -- physical connection, a couple of miles eastward at Minffordd.

rogerfarnworth · 28 Jan 2019

And finally ...........

This is the third of three planned posts about the Ashover Light Railway. I hope you enjoy the final installment. ....

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/01/19/the-ashover-light-railway-part-3.

theageofthetra · 29 Jan 2019

rogerfarnworth said:
And finally ...........

This is the third of three planned posts about the Ashover Light Railway. I hope you enjoy the final installment. ....

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2019/01/19/the-ashover-light-railway-part-3.

What a fascinating read. Thanks for sharing.

The lines turning triangles must have been a rare feature in the UK. They were common abroad but I didn't know a line here used them.

Calthrop · 30 Jan 2019

rogerfarnworth said:
This is the third of three planned posts about the Ashover Light Railway. I hope you enjoy the final installment. ....

Thoroughly fascinating, and wistfulness-inspiring, material -- thank you.

A silly "aside", nothing to do with the railway content; but, the reproduced article includes an instance of wrong choice out of two similar-sounding words -- whether from a moment of distraction for the author, or vocabulary-type "challenged-ness" on their part. It is stated that Ogston Reservoir -- created after the railway's closure, and having obliterated part of its route -- "has become a magnate for birds". Giving rise to diverting mental pictures of a body of water in the role of a wealthy entrepreneur with far-reaching business interests involving illegal trafficking in rare and endangered avifauna...

The Ashover Light Railway

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