FOXFIELD MARKS 100 YEARS SINCE THE LOSS OF 'THE KNOTTY'
Published at 17:09 on Sunday 18th June 2023
Tags: Foxfield, North Staffordshire Railway
Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2623 Hawarden and Hawthorn, Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 2780 Asbestos and are seen on 29th July 2007, climbing past the headstocks at Foxfield Colliery with a train of 16-ton mineral wagons. Gary Packer
The Foxfield Railway has teamed up with a number of local organisations, including their local heritage railways, the Brampton Museum, Staffordshire Film Archive and NSCG College Group, to hold a festival to celebrate the passing of a century since the local pre-grouping railway company, the North Staffordshire Railway (affectionately known to Staffordshire residents as the 'Knotty'), was absorbed into the LMS.
'Knotty 100', which takes place on 14th - 16th July, will not only commemorate the old pre-grouping company but will also celebrate all aspects of North Staffordshire’s railway heritage. Attractions during the event will include the Foxfield Railway's 'Victorian Heritage Train', believed to be the oldest complete heritage train in the country, which will be strengthened to four coaches for the first time with the launch into traffic of Midland Railway first class picnic saloon coach No. 348, which has been fully restored to a high standard. The four-wheeled vehicle has undergone a great deal of painstaking work to return both the exterior and interior to as close a condition to the original as possible.
Passenger trains will depart Caverswall Road station hourly from 10:00 until 13:00, and at the same interval between 14:10 and 16:10, in addition, a demonstration period goods train will be in operation. The museum will also be open and the miniature railway is expected to be in operation, while there will be a children's activity coach for those attending with family. Four locomotives will be in steam, with the event also heralding the return to steam of popular Bagnall 0-4-0ST No. 2623 Hawarden.
