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The Amerton RailwayReport By Ian Goodman
Location Amerton Farm, Stowe-by-Chartley, Nr. Weston, Staffordshire, ST18 0LA (on the A581 Stafford to Uttoxeter Road 1 mile from Weston)
Gauge: 2 ft
Length: 0.5 miles approx.
Fare: Adult £ 1.20 Child £ 0.75 Family £ 3.00
Locomotives:
Steam:
No. 1491 Isabel 0-4-0ST built in 1897 by W.G. Bagnall (Stafford)
No. 1 Pearl 2 built in 1997 by T.D.A. Civil (Uttoxeter)
Petrol:
No. 3024 Dreadnought 0-4-0 (steam outline) built in 1939 by
E.E. Baguley Ltd. (Burton)
History:
This railway is run by The Staffordshire Narrow Gauge Railway Society Ltd. Which was formed in 1987 to fully restore the Bagnell's built steam engine Isabel, and create a new 2ft. railway in Borough of Stafford for it to run on.
Isabel was built in 1897 at Bagnell's Castle Engine Works Stafford, and returned there in 1953 to be put on display. In 1963 after the works were closed it was placed on a plinth in the park opposite Stafford Railway Station and remained there until the early 1980's.
The building of the railway started in 1990, Isabel arrived at Amerton on the 26th. October 1991 and ran her first revenue earning trains the following July. The railways other steam engine, Pearl 2 was built in a SNGRS Ltd. members garage in Uttoxeter!!!
Report:
The line is built on land adjoining Amerton Working Farm, which is now a tourist attraction in South Staffordshire, consisting of garden centre, children's farm, craft shops, wildlife centre and tea room.
The line runs from its station with it's newly built booking office and shop, past the engine shed and yard, up the 1 in 100 gradient passing numerous oak trees before a tight left hand bend where the gradient increases to 1 in 75. The track continues to snake it's way around the field edges crossing a culvert and along side a small area of wet land. After about ½ mile you arrive at the present terminus at Chaterley Road passing loop, where the engine runs around, and travels back to Amerton station.
The passing loop is where the proposed Chaterley Station is to be built. The ½ mile of new track is already in place to make the railway into a 1 mile circuit, bringing the line back into Amerton Station from the opposite direction.
This relatively unknown railway is a little gem, in beautiful countryside with engines and rolling stock in first class condition, and very friendly staff, make this railway worth a visit.
Narrow Gauge Rating (out of/  ):  worth travailing a reasonable distance to visit
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