MGR donation boosts Chasewater fleet
THE Fire Service Training College (FSC) has donated its Merry-go-Round (MGR) hopper wagon, No. HAA 351207, to the Chasewater Railway, in partnership with National Wagon Preservation Group (NWPG). Just 20 of the 11,000 wagons built to move coal from mines to power stations now exist – eight of which reside at Chasewater. Appropriately, No. HAA 351207 used to serve Littleton Colliery in Staffordshire, local to Chasewater, where the Chasewater Railway Museum has a collection of items used at Littleton and other local collieries. Ending its near 40-year working life at Worksop MGR, having its last major exam and repairs in 2002, following accident damage it was sent to MoD Kineton and prepared for transfer by road to a new life of nearly 20 years as a training aid at FSC Moretonin-Marsh. William Snook, chairman, NWPG said: “We are grateful to the Fire Services College for this kind donation, which helps to build an impressive rake of these wagons. “Our thanks also go to Rail Support Services for its generous support in moving the wagon from the FSC.”