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Railways of Chasewater 1

By Michael Westley

As many of my fellow geographers know, Birmingham and the Midlands has a rich history of railways. Subsequent to their demise before/since Mr Beeching, many have now become fabulous oasis from the (once) fast pace of the city and of life in general.

Fast forward to the present worldwide lockdown, and I chose to get some early morning exercise visiting the area north of Brownhills to search out such railway relics, whilst enjoying a short hour and a half's walk in the sunshine and with little interaction from fellow humans.

Parking on Coppice Lane, I took a footpath north, climbing up onto the rail embankment until reaching A452. Crossing and returning to the old trackbed at site of Brownhills Station, I continued north on route of Beacon Way, until reaching a footbridge across M6 Toll Road, taking me into the wonderful splendour of Chasewater.

Walking clockwise around to the main Chasewater Railway station, I headed north up the gravel track for a while, until the overhead pylons become visible on the left, and take a track to the left (west) to cross through kissing gates at the railway. The footpath takes you to Brownhills Road.

From there, continue south via housing estate paths (nicely landscaped), and between the remains of two man-made lakes, turning left (east) to take track leading up and across M6 Toll. We have now moved from the Walsall Wood Extension (MR), via what was a link line, to the Norton Branch (LNWR), close to what would have been sidings and Collieries.

After crossing M6 Toll, the path runs south along the trackbed, crossing Albutts Road, and under the A5 road, before passing the site of a short spur that once took a mineral line west, across Wyrley Common to Brownhills Colliery (great pit). This section of the former railway is tree-lined and an ideal cycleway as well as footpath.

Continuing south, we reach Engine Lane and the NCN route 5, where we turn left (east) and continue onto Coppice Lane to return to our start.


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Sun, 10 May 2020 at 20:06
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