Brockham Narrow-gauge Railway Museum

Brockham Museum, 21 years from 1962 to 1982

The story of the Brockham Museum starts in 1960, when the Dorking Greystone Lime Co. of Betchworth, Surrey, was disposing of its railway stock and the company's general manager, Major Taylerson, was keen to see the locomotives preserved. The London Area Group of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society (NGRS) purchased one of the pair of 3 ft 2 1⁄4 in (972 mm) gauge Fletcher Jennings tank locos, Townsend Hook. Initially this was placed on display at Sheffield Park station on the embryonic Bluebell Railway. However this was not a particularly satisfactory arrangement, and efforts were made to find an alternative home.

A site was found at a disused chalk pit at Brockham, only a stone's throw from the old stamping grounds of Townsend Hook at Betchworth. Townsend Hook moved there in 1962. That year the two Orenstein & Koppel diesel locos from Betchworth were acquired: No. 6 Monty and No. 7, later named The Major in honour of Major Taylerson. The Brockham Museum Trust was formed as a separate entity from the NGRS, although the NGRS retained ownership of Townsend Hook and later acquisition Peter (Bagnall 2067) until the early 2000s. In 1967 the current flagship of the museum fleet was acquired, the 1905-built Bagnall 2-4-0T 1781 Polar Bear, from the Groudle Glen Railway. The story goes that Brockham were offered both Polar Bear and her sister, Sea Lion, along with all the carriages, for £50, but the museum could not raise that much money and instead purchased Polar Bear and two carriages, along with many spares from Sea Lion, which had been out of use since 1939, to keep Polar Bear in traffic. The museum continued to expand, becoming home to most of Amberley's current collection.

Planning permission for public openings was not forthcoming but despite that, The 'Doctor Who' team filmed 'The Deadly Assassin' episode featuring Tom Baker at the site in 1976. However, by the early 1980s the limited access to the site, up an unmade road with a manual level crossing over the Guildford - Redhill line, forced a transfer away from Brockham, and Amberley was deemed the best location for the exhibits. (Wikipedia)

1962 to 1964

The adventure begins !!

Plan and gradient profile of Brockham Museum	The proposed Museum complex	The cottage at Brockham before we found it, 1961
First sight of Brockham Museum, 1 January 1962	The cottage with 'Monty' and 'The Major', 1962	Early view of Brockham, 1963

'Scaldwell' arrives at Brockham

Ron Fisher and others were on hand to record the arrival of 'Scaldwell' on 20 March 1964.
These colour photos are from Rons Flickr site at :- https://www.flickr.com/photos/train-pix/albums/72157626336121110

'Scaldwell' approaches the Guildford - Redhill line.	'Scaldwell' crosses the Guildford - Redhill line.	'Scaldwell' has arrived at the Mueum. Now we only have to unload it
Gently does it, an inch at a time, and 'Scaldwell' is back on rails.	The Scaldwell wagon gets a helping hand into its new home!	'Scaldwell' crosses the Guildford - Redhill line, 1964

1965

Before my time but the arrival of 'Peter', built by W G Bagnall Ltd, works number 2067, in 1917. It was a 2' 0" gauge, 0-4-0ST loco built for the Cliffe Hill Quarry Co, Leicestershire. It arrived at Brockham on 21 August 1965.

The arrival of 'Peter'	The arrival of 'Peter'	The arrival of 'Peter'
The arrival of 'Peter'	The arrival of 'Peter'	The arrival of 'Peter'
The arrival of 'Peter'	The arrival of 'Peter'	'Scaldwell's shed at Brockham

1966

My first visits to Brockham and I soon get caught up with the working parties, just crud removal on the arch over the Pilgrims Way

Fauld coach No 275 and OK 7741	Fauld coach No 275 at end of line	View from the end of the line	Orenstein Koppel works no 7741
OK 7741 at the platform	OK 7741 beside Goulds shed,	'Peter', WB 2067 of 1917	Ransomes and Rapier 80 of 1936
Ransomes and Rapier 80 of 1936	The museum yard	From the cab of 'Scaldwell'

1967

Guinness loco '23' and it's 5' 3" gauge converter wagon arrive at Brockham. The demolition of the arch proceeds, back-breaking work.

Guinness hoist (kit of parts)	Guinness hoist (kit of parts)	The bridge from kilns to quarry
and then the working party turn up	Original limeworks limekilns

'Brockham News' from 1967

Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News
Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Attaching the generator's earth wire	The bridge demolished
The Rye and Camber Tramway	The Ransomes and Rapier loco	The demolition of the old bridge	'Polar Bear' at Groudle Glen
'Scaldwell' in steam in 1964	Simplex railmotor	The end of Gould's Shed wall	Gould's Shed with doors
'Lamport' being scrapped	'Lamport' being scrapped	Brockham Museum site, 1962

1968

This year two RH diesels arrived from the Colne Valley Water Board, near Watford, 'No 1' was Ruston & Hornsby no 166015 of 1933 and 'No 2' was Ruston & Hornsby no 166024 of 1933. They arrived at Brockham in February 1968. There are some more photos of the waterworks itself here :- Hertfordshire

Brake wagon outside shed	Hudson Hunslet 3097 of 1944	'Townsend Hook', FJ 172 of 1880
Colne Valley Water Board 'No 1'	Colne Valley Water Board 'No 2'	Colne Valley Water Board locos	'No. 2', RH 166024 of 1933

'Brockham News' from 1968

Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News
Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News
Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News
Brockham Museum News

1969

Gordon Edgar has fond memories of Brockham, first visiting in 1968 and says "It was a great pity that the Brockham Museum had to close after all the hard work many people had put in over the years, but it was fun while it lasted. I made some good friends at the time but have long lost contact with them. I would imagine there are a few that volunteer at Amberley now, but the majority, like myself, I assume got dragged away due to work and family commitments and relocations.

Tony Deller and Roger Thornton were the main guys leading the working parties when I was there and Adrian Skilton, Dave Bilmore and a few others whose names evade me now became good buddies and even went to North Wales to Dinorwic to retrieve equipment for the museum. I remember sponsoring the purchase of a loco snowplough from Dinorwic for which I donated £5, a fair amount then, in fact the equivalent of purchasing a class 76 loco worksplate from Collector's Corner then to put things into perspective!"

Gordon has hundreds more transport and industry photos on his very comprehensive Flickr account :- Just Click Here !

'No. 2', RH 166024 of 1933	'Townsend Hook', FJ 172 of 1880'	Ransomes and Rapier 80 of 1936
The cutting from the bridge	RH 166024 in the cutting	RH 166024 in the cutting

'Brockham News' from 1969

The cross-mounted skip in use	Geology of Brockham Limeworks	FH 1830 at Boothby Peat Co	A loco finally reaches the arch
'Peter's underframe	'Polar Bear' and smokebox	The finishing touches to 'Monty'

1970

The demonstration line reaches its full extent into the woodland to the site of some of the hearthstone mine shafts. My working time at Brockham draws to a close as I move to South Wales.

The embankment on the other side	The embankment on the other side	The embankment on the other side	The embankment on the other side
The cutting (or the ex-bridge)	OK 7741 and Fauld coach	Goulds Shed and OK 7741	HE3097 in the cutting
Roger Thornton working on 'Peter'	The 3-way point in 'Doctor Who'	'Townsend Hook', FJ 172 of 1880

'Brockham News' from 1970

Work parties in the snow

Work parties in the snow

Work parties in the snow

1971

More photos from Gordon Edgar

Hudson Hunslet 3097 of 1944

"The Major", OK 7741

'Brockham News' from 1971

A view of the yard	Top and Tailing	Brockham Museum News	An incline carriage
Brockham Museum News	Brockham Museum News	Slate wagons

1972

'Brockham News' from 1972

The cottage at Brockham in 1961	The cottage with the 2 OKs, 1962	'Scaldwell; crosses the line, 1964	Brockham Brickworks, 1910
'Townsend Hook' is moved	HE 3097 with Gordon Rhodes	Dave Billmore prepares 'The Major'	The yard at Brockham
Arrival of the Fowler diesels	Arrival of the Fowler diesels

1974

Merton Steam Fair, 1974

A demonstration line was erected in Merton Park for a Spring Steam Fair using a Lister diesel with the Hunslet diesel on display. Merton Council had great plans for moving the Museum to Merton Park but they came to nothing.

Merton Steam Fair	Merton Steam Fair	Merton Steam Fair
Merton Steam Fair	Merton Steam Fair

'Brockham News' from 1974

Brockham Museum personalities	Ransomes & Rapier 80	R&R 80 under restoration	R&R 80 shunting skips
Relaying the loop, August 1973	'The Major' with a train of skips	The old car park after clearing	The old car park after bulldozing

1975

A group of photos from Rick Marner

'The Major' bump-starts the Hunslet	R & R 80/36 takes a turn	Ransomes and Rapier 80/36	Hunslet, HE 3097/44 out and about
'The Major' on visitor duty	'The Major' on visitor duty	The loco yard

'Brockham News' from 1975

Motor Rail No 10161

Motor Rail No 10161

Guinness No '23'

O & K No 6193 from Ripley

1976

'Brockham News' from 1976

A new roof on the stables	Re-erectng the Guinness hoist	Re-erectng the Guinness hoist
Penrhyn quarrymens coach 'J'	Two tracks into Gould's Shed

Filming 'Dr Who' in 1976

Filming 'Dr Who' in 1976

Filming 'Doctor Who', 1976

Filming 'Doctor Who', 1976

1977

'Brockham News' from 1977

'Polar Bear's backwards boiler

Diverting the main line

Wingrove & Rogers No 5031

Motor rail 'Simplex' No 1320

1978

Gould's Shed has acquired a new roof and 'Brockham Museum News'

Gould's Shed's and OK 6193/37, c1978

From the West bank of limekilns

Hudson 45913 leaves the site

1979

'Brockham News' from 1979

Brockham Limeworks siding, c1925

Re-roofing Gould's Shed

Re-felting the Fauld coach

The overhauled Fauld coach

c1977 to 1982

John Failes has sent this range of photos from the late 1970s to early 1980s

'Townsend Hook'	Ransomes and Rapier 80/36	Ruston Hornsby 'No 2'	Ruston Hornsby '22'
Lister 6299 of 1935	F Hibberd 2207 of 1939	A Hunslet '4' and Fowler '4'	Ransomes and Rapier 80 of 1936
'Monty' OK 7269 of 1936	'15', MR 1320 of 1918	Hunslet '3097'	'The Major', OK 7741 of 1937
Ransomes and Rapier 80 of 1936	'4', JF 3930044 of 1950

Brockham locomotive stock list

Brockham's locomotives

These are the locos owned or under the conrol of the museum, in order of arrival. Full details can be found in the IRS Surrey handbook. Other locos were stored here by their owners at different periods.

Name or number	Type	Gauge	Builders details	Source and date
Townsend Hook	0-4-0T	3' 2½	FJ 172, 1880	Dorking Lime Co, Betchworth, 1962
Monty	4wDm	3' 2½	OK 7269, 1936	Dorking Lime Co, Betchworth, 1962
Scaldwell	0-6-0ST	3' 0"	P 1316, 1913	Scaldwell Ironstone Quarries, Northants, 1964
The Major	4wDm	2' 0"	OK 7741, 1937	Dorking Lime Co, Betchworth, 1962
Peter	0-4-0ST	2' 0"	WB 2067, 1918	Cliffe Hill Granite Co, Leics, 1965
No 2	4wDm	2' 0"	R & R 80, 1937	Chinnor Cement Co, Oxon, 1966
-	4wPm	2' 0"	MR 1381, 1918	R Brett, Sturry, Kent, 1966
-	4wDm	2' 0"	HE 3097, 1944	Merton Sewage Works, Surrey, 1966
23	0-4-0T	1' 10"	Spence, 1920	Guinness, Dublin, 1966
Polar Bear	2-4-0T	2' 0"	WB 1781, 1905	Groudle Glen Railway, IoM, 1967
-	4wDm	2' 0"	RH 166015, 1933	Colne Valley Water Board, Herts, 1968
No 2	4wDm	2' 0"	RH 166024, 1933	Colne Valley Water Board, Herts, 1968
-	4wPm	2' 0"	L 6299, 1935	Howick Quarry, Northumberland, 1968
-	4wPm	2' 0"	FH 1830, 1933	Boothby Peat, Cumberland, 1968
4396	4wDm	2' 0"	HE 4396, 1952	Hall Aggregates, Hants, 1970
23	4wPm	2' 0"	MR 872, 1918	C V Buchan, Warwicks, 1971
Layer	4wDm	2' 0"	JF 21294, 1936	APCM, Cliffe-at-Hoo, Kent, 1972
Peldon	4wDm	2' 0"	JF 21295, 1936	APCM, Cliffe-at-Hoo, Kent, 1972
Redland	4wDm	2' 0"	OK 6193, 1937	Redland Pipes, Ripley, Surrey, 1974
WD 904	2w-2Pmr	2' 0"	Wkm 3403, 1943	WD, 1975
50, 2	4wBE	2' 0"	WR 5031, 1953	Redland Bricks, Warnham, Sussex, 1977
15	4wDm	2' 0"	MR 1320, 1918	Redland Inns, Herts, 1978
-	4wDm	2' 11"	MR 10160, 1950	Bedfordshire, 1980

Other locomotives

Other locos are known to have worked at the Museum at one time or another but were owned by John Crosskey, Peter Vallins and others. Full details can be found in the IRS Surrey handbook. Many other locos were only stored here by their owners at different periods.

The Old Industries of Brockham

Historic Brockham

Brockham was heavily industrialised with not just the quarry but limekilns, brickworks and hearthstone mines. These were owned by the Brockham Lime & Hearthstone Co Ltd from 1872 to 1960. The eight limekilns date from c1870 and form a backdrop to the museum area. A couple of kilns were modified in 1890 to a design of the works manager, Alfred Bishop. The kilns closed in 1936 along with the railway connection, opened in c1874. The siding was cable-hauled using a haulage engine from 'Filmer & Mason' of Guildford. A grilled shaft here is part of the hearthstone mine under the site, which worked from the mid 19th century until 1925. Lower down the railway line, close to the main lne, is the claypit and site of the brickworks of the Brockham Brick Co Ltd. These articles appeared in 'Brockham News', the Museums periodic newsletter, over the years. These are only photos of the pages but I will try to transcribe them up as time passes.

Brockham Brickworks

The industries of Brockham, 1897	Brockham brickworks	A 'Brockham' brick	Old Brick Kiln, Brockham
Brockham Brickworks, 1910	Brockham Brickworks	Brockham Brickworks	Brockham Brickworks
Brockham Brickworks	Brockham Brickworks	Brockham Brickworks	Brockham Brickworks

The Patent Limekilns

Brockham Limeworks siding, c1925

Brockhams patent limekilns

The Hearthstone Mines

Hearthstone Mines	Hearthstone Mines	Hearthstone Mines
Hearthstone Mines	Hearthstone Mines

100 Years at Brockham

100 years at Brockham

100 years at Brockham

100 years at Brockham

Articles about the Museum from 'Brockham News'

Ransomes &Rapier 80 and the filming of 'Doctor Who'

Ransomes &Rapier 80

Doctor Who

Doctor Who

Doctor Who

Amberley Museum

The New Location for Brockham Museum

Where to take my Grandson during the half-term holidays? I know! Amberley! My first visit here and happy reunions with some old friends and meeting with some interesting new ones.

No 1 Kilns, Amberley Museum	Peppers loco shed and smithy	Crossley engine in the pump house	No 2 Kilns and Bedford lorry
HE 8969 on train duty	HE 8969 on train duty	HE 8969 on train duty	HE 8969 on train duty
The start of the line	Brockham Station	Scotch derrick, Amberley Museum	Smith Rodley steam crane
The De Witt Kilns, Amberley	The De Witt Kilns, Amberley	The De Witt Kilns, Amberley	The De Witt Kilns, Amberley
The De Witt Kilns, Amberley	Original line to Amberley Station
Decauville 'Barbouilleur'	F Hibbert 1980	Guinness No 23	Hudswell Clarke DM686,
Hunslet 'Blue Star'	Hudson 45913	Motor Rail 10160	Motor Rail 1381
John Fowler 'Peldon'	Post Office Railway train	Ransomes No 80	'Scaldwell' rusting away
OK 7741, 'The Major'	Wickham target trolley 3361

Acknowledgments, sources and further reading.

Thanks for addition photos and information to :- Michael Bishop, Chris Down, www.brockhamhistory.org, Gordon Edgar, John Failes, Ron Fisher, Dan Quine and Rick Marner.
The Amberley Museum website :- Click here
'Industrial Railways and locomotives of Surrey and Sussex' by the Industrial Railway Society