Celebrating ‘Made in Stoke’ at Foxfield
THE Foxfield Railway is to launch its autumn and winter programme on September 4 with a special event celebrating North Staffordshire’s railway history.
The event will focus specifically on the North Staffordshire Railway and locomotive builder Kerr Stuart of Stoke-on-Trent.
The Knotty Heritage Train will be running an hourly service from Caverswall Road station with two locomotives in steam working turn-and-turn-about. The Victorian atmosphere will be enhanced by volunteers in period costume. There will also be a chance to meet some of Queen Victoria’s Redcoats on leave, and visitors are encouraged to dress up to take part in the 19th century fun.
The event will also mark the return to traffic of Kerr Stuart 0-4-0ST No. 4388 of 1926, which has been out of action since 1999. It will be hauling the Knotty Heritage Train. Its restoration by Jack Dibnah has included the making and fitting of a new saddle tank.
Kerr Stuart 6wDM No. 4421 of 1929 Rom River, the first purpose-built standard gauge diesel locomotive to be built in the UK, will also be in operation.
On display in the refurbished Foxfield Museum will be NSR New L 0-6-2T No. 2, which was built in Stoke in 1923, and Kerr Stuart 0-4-0ST No. 4167 of 1920 Moss Bay, as well as displays telling the story of the FR and the NSR. The Knotty Coach Trust will also be launching its new book and model shop, housed in the 1884 Midland Railway first class family saloon, which has been repainted by Foxfield’s carriage and wagon team into its original livery. The Foxfield Miniature Railway may also be in operation.
➜ Booking for the event is available now via www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk