TRIPLE KNOT FOR FOXFIELD AS FULL NORTH STAFFS TRAIN IS LAUNCHED
A North Staffordshire Railway brake carriage is about to return to service, completing a selfcontained ‘Knotty’ train for the first time in nearly a century.
Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, four-wheeled coach No. 23 is set to be launched at the Foxfield Railway as the latest part of the Knotty Heritage Train project.
The 1880s coach was only discovered by volunteers from the Knotty Trust in 2014. The remnants of the now unique vehicle were located in woods close to Rudyard Lake where it had once been a holiday home before falling into dereliction.
Its restoration was supported by an £89,600 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant. Stanegate Restorations in Northumberland has carried out the work to the wooden body and converted it to provide disabled access.
It is the third NSR carriage to be restored for use at Foxfield. Four-wheeled pair Nos. 61 and 127 returned to traffic in 2014, but until now, the two four-compartment carriages have had to run with a BR brake van. The return of No. 23 will thus allow a full NSRliveried rake to be operated in passenger service for the first time since the 1923 Grouping.
A special Victorian-themed launch weekend, featuring all three carriages, is planned for May 4-6. Steam power will be in the form of Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST Keighley Corporation Gas Works No. 2, visiting from the Tanfield Railway.
North Staffordshire Railway ‘New L’ 0-6-2T No. 2 will be on static display on May 4 while Dübs crane tank Works No. 4101 will be in steam giving demonstrations.
The almost completed carriage left Stanegate on April 3 after being united with the 25ft chassis that was adapted to provide replacement running gear for the long grounded body. Final work is now under way at Foxfield to prepare No. 23 to carry passengers once more.