Cymraeg ar gael isod!
Gauge: 1ft 11½in (600mm)
Museum objects:
The Ashover Light Railway was opened in 1925 by the Clay Cross Company which had been founded in the mid nineteenth century by George Stephenson, the famous railway engineer. It was one of the last narrow gauge lines to be built for both passengers and goods traffic. Limestone, fluorspar and coal were carried from Milltown and Ashover to the Company’s works at Clay Cross. To the great annoyance of the Jackson family, proprietors of the Clay Cross Company, the Board of Trade insisted that a passenger service should also be provided, to connect the villages to the main line of the London Midland and Scottish Railway at Clay Cross.
Col. H.F. Stephens was appointed Consulting Engineer and the whole railway was built with economy in mind using second hand military equipment from the war Disposals Board. Along with a fleet of Hudson open bogie wagons, five steam locomotives built in America by the Baldwin Locomotive Works were purchased and named Peggy, Hummy, Joan, Bridget and Guy. A sixth was bought later to replace Guy and given the same name. Four passenger carriages were new.
After opening, the railway saw a period of prosperity. Passenger traffic, although not originally intended, developed rapidly immediately after opening. Day trippers and tourists brought prosperity during the summer months. Sadly the promise of the first year did not last. By 1936 the local bus service was well established and regular passenger trains were withdrawn. World War Two gave a new lease of life to the quarries and open-cast coal mine. A daily freight train continued to operate until 1950 when on the 31 March the Clay Cross Company closed the line just one week short of its silver jubilee. It is ironic that the Ashover Light Railway closed in the same year as the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society was formed.
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Argorwyd Rheilffordd Ysgafn Ashover ym 1925 ac roedd yn o'r rheilffyrdd cul olaf i gael eu hadeiladu ar gyfer teithwyr a nwyddau. Y Clay Cross Company yn Swydd Derby a adeiladodd y rheilffordd i gludo calch, fflworspar a glo o bentrefi MiIltown ac Ashover i weithdy'r Cwmni. Roedd hefyd yn cynnig gwasanaeth i deithwyr i gysylltu'r pentrefi hyn gyda phrif linell y London Midland and Scottish Railway yn Clay Cross.
Penodwyd HF Stephens fel Peiriannydd Adeiladu ac fe adeiladwyd y rheilffordd gyfan trwy ddefnyddio offer milwrol ail-law. Yr unig eitemau newydd oedd y pedwar cerbyd ar gyfer teithwyr. Galwyd y pump injan stêm a adeiladwyd yn America gan Baldwin yn PEGGY, HUMMY, JOAN, BRIDGET a GUY ac fe brynwyd y chweched yn nes ymlaen yn lle GUY gan roi'r un enw iddo.
Am ychydig flynyddoedd roedd wyth tren i bob cyfeiriad yn ddyddiol, ond oherwydd Streic Fawr 1926 bu raid i'r teithiau gael eu hatal ac ni ddaethpwyd dros hynny yn iawn ac ni redwyd unrhyw drenau teithwyr ar ôl 1936. Parhaodd y gwasanaethau nwyddau gydag un tren y dydd hyd 1950 pan benderfynwyd sgrapio'r pedair injan a'r tren o 11 o wagenni a dim ond ychydig o ddarnau sydd wedi goroesi fel y rhai a ddanghosir yn yr Amgueddfa hon.
Locomotives
Peggy Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 44743 of 1917; 4-6-0 tank. Ex WD. Scrapped 1951.
Hummy Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 45227 of 1917; 4-6-0 tank. Ex WD. Scrapped 1951.
Joan Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 44720 of 1917; 4-6-0 tank. Ex WD. Scrapped 1951.
Bridget Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 44737 of 1916; 4-6-0 tank. Ex WD. Scrapped 1951.
Guy (1) Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 44370 of 1916; 4-6-0 tank. Ex WD. Withdrawn. Scrapped 1939.
Guy (2) Baldwin Locomotive Works No. 44696 of 1917; 4-6-0 tank. Ex WD. Scrapped 1943.
Note: Works plates were changed between locomotives during repairs and consequently they ended their lives with not necessarily the correct ones! Ref. Ashover Light Railway by K.P Plant
Amos Dick, Kerr & Co Petrol-electric. Ex WD. Purchased 1928. Converted to standard gauge 1946 for Bloxham pits line.
F C Hibberd & Co Planet 48HP Diesel No. 3307 of 1948
