INFORMATION FOR THE VISITOR

RCD’s Overview

This heritage railway runs a long part of a former GWR branch from Wellington to Buildwas Junction. Its base is at Spring Village Station, Horsehay, a 10 minute drive from Telford Town Centre to the north west, and 8 minutes to the Ironbridge Gorge to the south. The railway runs from a former locomotive yard at Spring Village (now with a terminus station) for about a mile to Lawley Village, where it reverses and passes close to Spring Village station before reaching Horsehay & Dawley platform. It then reverses to reach the Spring Village terminus.

The support group is the 'Telford Horsehay Steam Trust' (see 'Information on the Suport Group' below).

Happening This Month on the Railway

• Go to 'Homepage' and click into 'Railway Club Calendar'

Key Facts (where and when)

Extent of Railway (where to where):

Spring Village - Lawley Village - Horsehay & Dawley platform

Principal Visitor Centre:

Spring Village Station (TF4 2LZ)

Period of Operation*

- Easter Bank Holiday to end of September (Sundays and Bank Holidays)

- December (Special event trains)

 [* This is a summary. Please go to the railway’s website for definitive operating days] 

Key Facts (what you’ll see)

Services usually steam or diesel?

Varies: Sundays (often steam), Saturday running (often diesel)

Type of Steam / Diesel Locomotives Used:

Steam (tank engine); Diesel (Pacer DMU)

Length of Line:

One mile

Time taken for a round trip:

50 minutes

Number of trains per day:

Up to 5 round trips

Number of Stations:

3 stations

Prices:

Adult: £8. Senior: £5. Child: £5. Family: £25

Time to allow for Visit:

1 to 2 hours

Museum:

No

Shop/Cafe:

Yes/Yes

Picnic/Play areas:

No

Preservation Established:

1976

Car Park Facilities:

Car parking available Spring Village Station

Key Facts (Galas/Events/Dining)

Dining Trains:

- None                                                                               

Event Trains:

- Polar Express: Late November and December                                                                               

Principal Galas:

- None currently advertised 

Experiences:

- Steam/Diesel Engine Driving Experience

- Guard Experience

- Footplate Experience

Contacts

Email:                                                                  enquiries@telfordsteamrailway.co.uk

Telephone:                                                           -

Website:                                                               www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk

Social Media:                                                       www.facebook.com/telfordsteamrailway

                                                                              Also on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

INFORMATION FOR THE ENTHUSIAST

Brief History of the Railway and its Preservation

The Birmingham to Shrewsbury railway, opened in 1849, ran 5 miles to the north of the River Severn in the Coalbrookdale/ Ironbridge area. That area had seen the development of an iron industry from around 1710, and a number of branches off the main line to serve the area were soon built. Two such lines were a branch from Shifnal via Madeley to Lightmoor (an iron centre close to Coalbrookdale), and a line from near Wellington via Ketley and Horsehay also to Lightmoor (where the two branches met) completed in 1858. In due course the line was extended south from Lightmoor to reach Coalbrookdale and then cross the River Severn, connecting with other lines (including the Severn Valley Railway) at Buildwas Junction. Although the industries of the River Severn declined over time, a power station was built near Ironbridge in 1932, expanded in 1967, served by coal trains off the main line at Madeley Jct. The Wellington - Lightmoor - Buildwas line had become a rural branch by 1962 terminating at Much Wenlock. The line closed to passengers in that year, and to freight 2 years later.

In the late 1960’s the new town of Telford was built which incorporated the Spring Village/ Horsehay area. As part of a landscaping scheme, Telford Development Corporation formulated the idea of purchasing and restoring a steam locomotive for display in the former Horsehay railway locomotive shed which had survived. Ultimately that effort led to the creation of the Telford Horsehay Steam Trust with the aim of creating a heritage railway based at that site. It has since expanded northwards to Lawley Village, and plans to expand south towards Lightmoor, Coalbrookdale and beyond. At Lightmoor the freight line from Madeley Jct to the Ironbridge power station (decommissioned in 2015) remains in a mothballed condition, and hopes exist to utilise it as part of an extension plan.

Principal Aspiration

The Railway's ‘Steaming to Ironbridge’ Campaign would see steam trains returning to the Ironbridge Gorge with a network of up to 17kms, running trains from the new development of Lawley Village as far as Buildwas Junction.

Steam Operational Locomotives:

(1) GWR Class 56xx 0-6-2T - No. 5619

(2) Peckett 0-4-0 - No. 1722 'Rocket'

Diesel Operational Locomotives/DMU:

(1) BR Class 08 shunter - 08757

(2) BR Class 37 - 37263

(3) Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 shunter - No. 525947 ‘Rusty’

(4) North British 0-4-0 shunter - No. 27414 ‘Tom’

(5) Ruston 0-4-0 shunter - No. 313394 ‘Jammo’

(6) Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 shunter - No. 382824 ‘Hector

(7) Heritage DMU Class 108 - No. 51950 and 52062

(8) Pacer DMUs Class 142 - 142004 and 142058

(9) Pacer DMUs Class 144 - 144013

Stored/ Under Restoration/ Out of Service:  

- Peckett 0-4-0ST No. 1990 Ironbridge No. 3

- Barclay 0-4-0 Fireless No. 1944

INFORMATION ON THE SUPPORT GROUP

Name of Support Group:

Telford Horsehay Steam Trust

Annual membership fee:

Adult: £20. Senior: £15. Youth: 12

Benefits of membership:                                  

-          Reduced fares on days the railway operates (excluding special events)

-          20% discount off items in the Furnaces Tea Room at Horsehay & Dawley Station, and the Freight Stop Gift Shop at Spring Village Station

-          The opportunity to become a volunteer at the railway               

How to Join:                                                  Go to www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/membership

What They Say About Volunteering:

You do not need to have any experience to volunteer with us at Telford Steam Railway. All we ask is that you are positive and enthusiastic, take pride in your work and you can work as part of a team. Whatever your skills or interests we are always in need of more help; from operating services to rolling stock maintenance, helping with trackwork or assisting with retail and catering or even tending the flower beds there is a role for you. Whatever previous experience you have or qualifications you hold we will find you a role that suits you.

How to Volunteer:                                      Go to www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/volunteering

How to Donate:                                          Email the railway for information on how to donate.

WHY JOIN: Help the railway's ‘Steaming to Ironbridge’ Campaign and see steam trains returning to the Ironbridge Gorge.

 INFORMATION ON OTHER SOCIETIES WITH RELATED INTEREST

Those interested in this railway may also be interested in the following railway societies also listed on this

website:

Traditional Railway Societies:

- Telford Railway Society

- Shropshire Railway Society

Model Railway Clubs:

- Association of Shrewsbury Railway Modellers (Shrewsbury)