22.12.09

Having starred in Part one of the 'Cranford Christmas Special', we are now eagerly awaiting the next episode to be screened on the 27th December at 9pm on BBC 1. This will be the most exciting of the two, but you will all have to wait until Sunday to see what heppens. Don't forget you can enjoy a steam hauled Journey to 'Hanbury Halt' with 'Bellerophon' the starring engine on the 2nd and 3rd of January...

13.12.09

Steamy Cranford Christmas...

Volunteers at the Foxfield Railway at Blythe Bridge are taking on extra duties this Christmas. Although busy with the very popular Santa trains, the screening of Cranford II starring Dame Judy Dench, Jonathan Pryce and others on BBC1 over the Christmas period has led to a demand by visitors to see our historic loco "Bellerophon" which also starred in the production, and also to visit Hanbury Halt where much of the action was filmed.

 

Consequently the railway will be running special "Cranford" trains hauled by Bellerophon on Saturday and Sunday 2nd and 3rd January.

Marketing Manager Richard Barnett said ‘It was a fabulous experience to be involved with such a high profile production, it will be great to see our old lady in steam once again doing what she was built to do. Despite her great age the trains will be heated, unlike those of the Cranford era!'.

Over the weekend a three train service timetable will operate with the first train departing at 12:00pm

Trains fares for the weekend are, Adults £7.50, Senior Citizens £5.50 and Children £3.00

Your ticket entitles you to travel all day...

30.11.09

It’s Christmas at Foxfield again...

Over the weekend Foxfield’s mascot ‘Foxey’ was checking out the station ready for Santa’s arrival next week. From the 5^th Foxfield will be home to Father Christmas welcoming children from all over the country to the railway. The Santa Express will run every weekend and on Christmas Eve, with thousands descending on one of Staffordshire’s finest Christmas Experiences. A spokesman for the railway said “everybody can’t wait to start the Santa trains, it gives everybody a real buzz seeing the packed out trains of happy children.” Over Christmas children will receive a present from Santa while travelling on our steam hauled train while Mum’s and Dad’s have a glass of sherry and a mince pie.

The Santa trains have limited places left and can be booked via our hotline on 01782 259667

17.09.09

Railway set for major steam party...

Foxfield Railway, situated in Blythe Bridge is welcoming visitors to it's annual traction engine steam party. Visitors will be able to see a variety of steam engines throughout the weekend, as well as travelling on Foxfield's very own steam hauled trains. Up to 12 engines from all over the county will come together to provide an unmissable display of history and horsepower. Many of which worked in around Staffordshire when it thrived on it's industry.

A spokesman form the railway said “We arrange this event each year as a treat for the owners of the engines, they like coming to Foxfield because of the relaxed atmosphere, also to see the magnificent display in front the station building is awesome!”

Also throughout the weekend the railway will be keeping the them local by steaming an Ex Meaford Power Station Steam Engine, No.2 as it known by railway enthusiasts will be hauling passengers along the tracks that were once used to transport coal from Foxfield Colliery.

In conjunction with the event Foxfield's very own pub 'The One Legged Shunter' will be holding it's annual beer festival with beers sourced from all around the country with many unusual ones not normally seen in Staffordshire.

Marketing Manager Richard Barnett said “Every year the event fascinates me, it's great to see how much support the railway receives from engine owners and visitors during the event. It's a great all round steam event encapsulating the history of steam in one place over this exciting weekend.”

Foxfield is only 5 minutes from Tesco at Meir and is easy accessible to all ages, prices for the event are held at 2008's tariff with ticket prices starting at just £4.00!

19.08.09

A Step Back in Time for Heritage Railway

The atmosphere of the Victorian era returns to Foxfield Railway in Blythe Bridge this August bank holiday weekend. Period costumes, genuine Victorian steam engines and a traditional village fete with Punch and Judy will recreate life in Victorian Staffordshire for visitors to the railway. Over the weekend members of the 80^th Regiment of Foot will re-enact life as infantry soldiers during the 1870’s and give visitors the opportunity to have a go with a bayonet and practice drill. Adding to the experience will be a replica Victorian kitchen set up in the station building at Caverswall Road, while on Bank Holiday Monday visitors will be treated to dance and music from local Morris dancers. Proclaiming attractions over the weekend will be the resplendent Town Crier of Stafford, Peter Taunton.

Tickets are just £9.50 for adults and £4 for children, with a discount for visitors who come in costume. Family tickets are available.

Trains will run from 11.00am every day of the weekend.

09.07.09

Local steam engines to star at local railway's Gala!!

The Foxfield Railway in Staffordshire is to be hosting it's annual Steam Gala over the weekend of the 18^th and 19^th July. Star of the show is bound to be locally built Bagnall 'Florence No.2' which worked in the now closed Florence Colliery near Longton. Also to star at the show will be Meaford No.2 which worked most of it's entire life at Meaford power station. In total the railway will have 6 engines in steam running an intense passenger and freight service with demonstration coal trains operating in the preserved Foxfield Colliery with it's restored head sticks providing a historic backdrop to the pinnacle event in Foxfield's calendar. For this event the railway have also brought in a visiting engine from Lincolnshire. No.47 or 'Moorbarrow' as it is more commonly known as, will be making it's first visit to Foxfield and will feel at home in the surroundings of our Colliery.

Dave Scragg, gala organiser said 'It's great that we can still show what Stoke-on-Trent was built on, 'Industry'.We have the natural surroundings that these workhorses would have been used to every day of their lives, and can still show what they were built to do, work.'

Other engines starring at the gala are 'Bellerophon' which recently found fame during BBC filming and 'Wimblebury' which itself worked not to far away at Littleton Colliery near Stafford. Also 1879 built Beyer Peacock will be making it's last appearance before it's 10 yearly overhaul commences.

Marketing Manager Richard Barnett went on to say 'we pride ourselves on preserving Staffordshire's past, we have steam engines from various industrious backgrounds all akin to Stoke-on-Trent'

During the weekend Foxfield Colliery will be open to visitors which will display the past of it's working life, the colliery used to be a thriving, busy centre and during the weekend pictures, maps and background history will all be on display. But this will become a permanent feature when our visitor centre opens in the near future.

Throughout the weekend visitors will be able to walk into the past and see an engine that their Grandad may have drove, take a nostalgic 5 ½ mile journey, read about the history and most of all have an enjoyable day out! The event will open at 9am Saturday and Sunday, tickets will be available at Caverswall Road Station, Blythe Bridge, ST11 9BG.

22.06.09

Train riding certificates launched!

Certificate of Travel now available from the Booking Office for only 50p each...

There are five different certificates available all depicting the engine that you travel behind on your visit. So why not collect the series of 5 as a souvenir of your visit and their is even an area to attach your ticket ticket to as well.

16.06.09

Victorian theme Weekend Success!

A weekend of old cars and old vintage trains... What more can you ask for, after the impromptu visit of two vintage coaches from the Tanfield Railway. The event was well received from visitors and even our staff took a shine to seeing a lovely little train running up and down the line. Our little Beyer Peacock which itself dates back to 1800's was quite at home with it's train of little carriages. Passengers commented on the difference in traveling in an old wooden carriage compared with today's modern comfy surroundings. Hopefully we will be able to host the event again, but to do this we need to get our two original knotty coaches restored and back into service. Lots of work is required on these and you could help! By sparing at little time or making a donation to the fund. So why not pop down to the station to see what you can do...

08.06.09

Foxfield receives generous donation from Liverpool Museums!

The present 5 ½ mile round journey is being extended next year to enable visitors to visit the former Foxfield Colliery site. Improvements to the colliery buildings and landscaped areas are well underway together with a new station platform, new toilets and new sidings.

Part of the expansion of the facilities include a new exhibition telling the story of the colliery and the Foxfield Railway. The new museum has been helped greatly by a generous donation of a large quantity of surplus display cabinets by National Museums Liverpool, Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, Wirral. The components that make up over 30 metres of high quality display cabinets will enable artefacts relating to the railway and colliery presently in store to be shown to the public. The move from the Wirral to Blythe Bridge was handled by Harrow Green Ltd who is a national removal firm specialising in transporting museum collections.

It is hoped to start assembling the new exhibition this summer at the Caverswall Road headquarters. Ultimately passengers will then have the opportunity to spend time at both ends of the railway learning about the colliery and its railway which has been in existence for over 100 years.

The Society, which is a registered Charitable Trust, is particularly interested in any artefacts, photographs or information that relate to the colliery or railway that could be included in the new exhibition. Anyone remembering the colliery and its railway is also eagerly sought as their memories are an important part of the sites history.

Any enquiries of offers should be made by telephone on 01782 259667 or in person over the weekend at the Caverswall Road headquarters when the railway is open to the public or by e mail.

01.06.09

Victorain Theme Days Announced!

To aid the restoration of two very old staffordshire coaches, we will be running a vintage train over the 13th and 14th June. The engine that will be hauling these dates back to the 1800's and will be a fine match with the two coaches that we have hired from the Tanfield Railway in Northumberland. Also on the Sunday their is the added bonus of having the Morris Minor Club on site with a selection of around 20 cars....

26.05.09

Miniature Mayhem success!

The opening of Foxfield's new miniature railway took place over the Bank Holiday weekend, run by our younger volunteers who took on the task of building a 7 1/4" gauge railway. It has taken our young volunteers a year to construct and is a milestone achievment to have miniature trains running.

During the weekend our President Brian Allen offically opened the railway, cutting the ribbon on Saturday at 1pm.

18.05.09

Father's Day gift?..

Why not treat your father to a day out with a difference? We have Driver Experience courses available for that special gift for a special person... Please see our Driver your own train page!

Another Quiz Night!!!

Back by popular demand, our fanstastic quiz will be back on Saturday 23rd May!! A 7pm start will get this great evening under way and don't forget the last quiz was packed out so make sure you get their early to get a great pint of Real Ale from the bar!

27.04.09

Foxfield Raise money for girl guides...

Saturday night witnessed the handover of £200 donation from the Foxfield Railway, Blythe Bridge following another sell out quiz night.

Organisers Sue and Geoff Walker of the railway praised the work of the 2nd Forsbrook Guides in their community work.

Geoff stated “Many people view our youngsters as lay-a-bouts when they should open their eyes to see the excellent work these young people achieve when volunteering their time for their communities”.

For the Girl Guides Jo Stevenson welcomed the donation and the support shown by the Foxfield railway in the local community.

01.04.09

The New Season starts this Sunday.

This Sunday will see us open our doors to our 2009 season! Steam Trains will operate thoughout the using our localally built steam engine Florence. This locomotive used to work at the old Florence Colliery near Longton. Come have ride behind a unique peice of history...

14.01.09

Registered Chairty!

As of January 5th, Foxfield became registered charity No. 1127378.

14.01.09