Coaching Stock

The CHLR currently has 2 passenger vehicles

NOTE: Original Coach A sold - as management decided it pushed our loading gauge too much - negotiations are underway with a coach builder for a proper enclosed in gauge coach - watch this space

B – Large Workman’s Open

I love this open coach – it sums up what narrow gauge industrial lines are all about in terms of creature comforts for passengers. It’s an IP engineering model and was a joy to put together. We have the occasional challenges on one or two of the sharp curves on the line as it’s the longest fixed chassis vehicle we have  - it tends to be ok navigating on the flat but where curve and incline appear together, it can lift up – so we need more ‘chunkier’ passengers and a lining of Pb underneath the  chassis!

A sunny summer Sunday passenger train

Same day - still sunny - must be a Cricket match around here!

This wagon provides passenger facilities from Monday to Saturday forming the early morning, lunchtime, T time and late evening workers services up and down the line.

Open to the elements means for most of the year, the woodyard, brewery & agricultural workers that use the line need to be wrapped up.

In summer, on a few Saturdays and Bank holiday Mondays, it is given a wash down with a hose and can be drafted into summer special services, taking giddy tourists to the cricket ground to watch the match or walk on the many footpaths in the area.

C – Small Workman’s Open

Recently acquired, this offers CHLR to add some passenger capacity to either freight trains where extra hands are needed at Junction to man handle the goods to the standard gauge operation or ferry workers up the line to the various industries the line supports.

Mavis and Edna test out the newly arrived coaching stock for a trip upt' line

Liveried the same as the Large Workmans Open, the two can operate in a pair to give a large workman’s train at the beginning of the main shift at the brewery or or summer tourist specials up the line.

A novel use is placing the wagon on its own in front of one of the loco’s  - I’ve called this train the Waltzer as the passengers look like they are being launched up the line like off a fairground ride!

The picture that gave me the idea of the name "The Waltzer"