The Foxfield Railway is a preserved standard gauge line located south east of Stoke-on-Trent. The line was built in 1893 to serve the colliery at Dilhorne on the Cheadle Coalfield. It joined the North Staffordshire Railway line near Blythe Bridge. It is open at weekends and operates trains on Sundays, Bank Holidays and some Saturdays from April to October and Santa Special trains in December. It is home to the Knotty Coach Trust, the Foxfield Miniature Railway, a museum, café, bar and a shop.
History
The Foxfield Railway was built in 1892-1893 to provide a link to the North Staffordshire Railway for the Foxfield Colliery. The railway was built by local labour provided by North Staffordshire Railway employees at weekends and supervised by the North Staffordshire Railway foreman plate layer Noah Stanier, using second hand material, again obtained from the North Staffordshire Railway. Preservation When the colliery closed in August 1965, local volunteers formed the Foxfield Light Railway Society to preserve the line. At first, passengers were taken in converted trucks up the formidable 1:19 to 1:26 gradient out of the colliery site at Dilhorne, accompanied by a tank engine.
Eventually, new coaches were purchased and a station was built at Caverswall Road, Blythe Bridge, half a mile from Blythe Bridge station. The service runs for from there to the top of Foxfield Bank.
Location The original line left the Crewe to Derby Line a little west of the station. The link has been lifted, but several abandoned wagons can be seen in the old sidings from passing trains. A station and depot have been built at Caverswall Road, half a mile north of Blythe Bridge railway station along Blythe Bridge Road.
The station at Caverswall offers visitor facilities such as a Buffet serving hot and cold food and drinks and a Real Ale bar "The One Legged Shunter". Also a museum building displaying a variety of artifacts relating to local railways and locomotives currently out of service. The adjacent Olcote Animal Sanctuary has an enclosure next to the miniature railway where animals can be found the first three Sundays in a month.
The railway operates Sundays and Bank Holidays from April to October and Santa Special trains during December.
Locomotive fleet The Foxfield Railway has the largest collection of standard gauge steam locomotives in Staffordshire, most of which are of industrial origins. Also a collection of industrial diesels.
Operational steam locomotives Origin Number/Name Wheelarrangement Class Notes PhotographHawthorn Leslie and Company3581 Marston, Thompson & Evershed No. 3 Works number 3581 of 1924. Returned to service December 2021 following long term restoration.Kerr Stuart4388'Witch' Built in 1926. Overhaul commenced following a change in ownership to Fred Dibnah's son in June 2020, and was completed in July 2022. Boiler ticket expires 2032.W. G. Bagnall2623 Hawarden Built in 1940. Returned to service in 2023 after major overhaul. Boiler ticket expires 2033. Dübs and Company No. 4101 Dubs Dübs and Company crane tank Built in 1901. Returned to steam in September 2010 after major restoration. 2010 winner of the Heritage Railway Association John Coiley award for Locomotive restoration. Boiler ticket expired in 2020, returned to steam after overhaul in 2026.
Steam locomotives off site Origin Number/Name Wheelarrangement Class Notes PhotographHunslet Engine Company3839 WimbleburyAusterity 0-6-0STBuilt in 1956. Returned to service in July 2017 after 10-yearly overhaul. On loan to the Churnet Valley Railway.Andrew Barclay Sons & Co.1984 Boots No. 1Built in 1930. Offsite on long term loan to West Somerset Railway for restoration (completed in 2025).W. G. Bagnall3059 Florence No. 2 Built in 1953. Returned to steam in 2008 after an extensive restoration. Returned to steam following overhaul in 2021, however has yet to operate a passenger service on the railway and has been on loan to the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway since April 2026.
Steam locomotives undergoing overhaul or restoration Origin Number/Name Wheelarrangement Class Notes PhotographBeyer, Peacock & Co.1827 Built in 1879. Re-entered service during 2013 and withdrawn for overhaul in 2022. Hunslet Engine Co.3694 WhistonAusterity It’s being fixed slowly Avonside Engine Co.1563 John Paton Built in 1908. Undergoing long term restoration.Peckett and Sons1567 Ackton Hall No 3 Built in 1923. The only surviving example of an inside cylindered 0-6-0 Peckett. Acquired from the National Coal Mining Museum in July 2015. Dismantled for restoration.
Stored steam locomotives Origin Number/Name Wheelarrangement Class Notes PhotographNorth Staffordshire Railway2NSR New L Class Built at Stoke works in 1923. On static display in the museum building. Transferred from the National Railway Museum to Foxfield and arrived at the railway on 21 April 2016. Haydock FoundryC Bellerophon Built in 1874. The oldest locomotive in the collection. Boiler ticket expired in 2018. Owned by the Vintage Carriage Trust. Robert Heath & Sons Ltd.6 Built in 1886, rebuilt in 1934. Purchased by the Knotty Coach Trust in 2020 who are fundraising for the resumption of its overhaul. Peckett and Sons933 Henry CortW4 Class Built in 1903. On static display in the Museum building awaiting overhaul. Manning Wardle1207 The Welshman Built in 1890 as works no. 1207. Stored at Foxfield Colliery awaiting restoration. On Loan from the National Coal Mining Museum Peckett and Sons1803 Ironbridge No. 1 Built in 1933. Awaiting overhaul, on display in the museum. Peckett and SonsWorks No. 2081 No. 11OY Class Built in 1947. Awaiting overhaul, on display in the museum. W. G. Bagnall2221 Lewisham Built in 1927. Stored awaiting overhaul after its boiler ticket expired in late 2007.Kerr Stuart4127 Moss Bay Built in 1920. On static display in the museum building. Sentinel Waggon Works9535 Built in 1952. On static display in the yard. However, restoration is being considered.
Operational diesel locomotives Builder/class Number/Name Wheel arrangement Notes PhotographThomas Hill111CRestored in 2014.W. G. Bagnall3150 Wolstanton No. 3Bagnall3207 BagnallKerr Stuart4421Worked its first passenger trains at the Staffordshire Steam Weekend 2022.
Diesel locomotives undergoing overhaul or restoration
Builder/class Number/Name Wheel arrangement Notes PhotographThomas Hill103CUndergoing restoration off site. Originally converted from a Sentinel 4wWBT steam locomotive, like Sentinel 9535.Andrew Barclay486 CliveIn process of being returned to working order. Bodywork repaint in BR warning yellow as per Central Electricity Generating Board livery completed 5 November 2016. Lettering saying CEGB, Meaford Power Station and varnishing to take place and the frames will be blacked with red wheels. New engine mounts have been fitted and the engine run up a number of times (latest February 2021) and in order.English Electric/Drewry Car Co.WD820Used on the D-Day landings in 1944. Undergoing overhaul.Janus class2868 LudstoneRestoration started in 2015, which mainly focused on cosmetics, and the prevention of further corrosion to the locomotive. Mechanical work is now underway.Ruston and Hornsby 88DS408496 Shanks No. 444Undergoing long term overhaul which began in February 2017. Engine lifted out in November 2017 along with most of the cab. Gradual reassembly underway.Ruston and Hornsby 165424841 RomanNew generator bushes fitted along with new batteries. New starter motor sourced and waiting to be fitted. Bodywork has also received some attention.
Stored diesel locomotives Builder/class Number/Name Wheel arrangement Notes PhotographMotor Rail Simplex2262 HelenStored awaiting restoration.Ruston and Hornsby 48DS242915 HerculesA narrow gauge Ruston diesel locomotive that is attached to a standard gauge chassis. Stored awaiting overhaul.
Electric locomotives Builder/class Number/Name Wheel arrangement Notes PhotographEnglish Electric1130Built in 1939 as one of three locomotives supplied to the Spondon power facility in Derby. Non-operational due to a lack of batteries or overhead lines on site.
Passenger carriages The railway has a collection of carriages from a wide range of years which are used to take passengers up and down the line.
Number Type Status Notes PhotographM25607SKOperationalOverhauled back to running order by Rampart at Barrow Hill, Chesterfield in 2019M34672BSKOperationalNamed Eric Swift after the late member who left a legacy which financed the overhaul of the railways MK1 fleet. returned to service in 2021 following extensive rebuild and conversion of the luggage area into an on train bar.M4762TSOOperationalReturned to service in 2021 following overhaul at the llangollen railway. part of the vehicles restoration involved removing the internal bulkhead at the toilet end and inserting a half door and removable seats to make it an accessible vehicle. This mod now quite successful with other heritage railways now doing the sameM4243TSOUnder OverhaulPrivately Owned. Initially on loan from the llangollen railway while 4762 was away for restoration, it was later purchased privately and is undergoing a major structural rebuild following the discovery of major corrosionM25225SKStoredPrivately owned, stored out of use at Dilhorne Park. severely derelict and also the victim of an arson attack. its future remains unknown as of 9/9/2024E80792BGUnder OverhaulPurchased by the society in 2024 for use as a storage vehicle but potential future use on the railway. currently being cosmetically restored into BR Maroon37519LMS Theatrical Scenery VanNo longer on site. Converted by the railway into the Bass Belle Observation Bar Car. 2026 sold to LMSCA and transferred to Rowlsey No1LTSR PMVStored OOURebuilt by the MR in 1920. Came to Foxfield and was converted into a kitchen car for the early wine and dine trains. now stored derelict
The NSR Rolling Stock Restoration Trust In 2008 a small group was formed with the aim of restoring the two surviving North Staffordshire Railway 4-wheeled coaches, with a long term aim of recreating a proto-typical Victorian train that would have once operated in the local area. The Knotty Trust, as it has become known as, was registered as a charity in 2009 and in 2012 received a £30,000 grant for the completion of the first vehicle (no. 127).Knotty Trust This was completed at Stanegate Restorations, who have become a major supporter in the recreation of a Knotty Train. Since then the collection has grown to include other former 'Knotty Coaches' that have been discovered, as well as other historically important vehicles.