Birmingham Railway Museum
Encyclopedia
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It occupies part of the former Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
's depot, which was constructed in 1908 as a result of expanding operations in the West Midlands, particularly the opening of the North Warwickshire Line
Birmingham to Stratford Line
The Birmingham to Stratford Line, also known as the North Warwickshire Line is a commuter railway line predominantly in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom...
as a new main line from Birmingham to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
As well as supporting the trust's operating wing Vintage Trains the museum is home to an extensive collection of steam engines, ranging from small industrial builds to Great Western Railway 'Castles' and 'Halls', and large ex-main line diesel engines.
Background
Following the purchase of GWR Castle Class No.7029 "Clun Castle"GWR 4073 Class 7029 Clun Castle
7029 Clun Castle was built to the Great Western Railway Castle Class design by the Western Region of British Railways at Swindon Works in May 1950 and was named after Clun Castle. Its first shed allocation was Newton Abbot. It had a double chimney and a 4 row superheater fitted in October 1959...
in January 1966 the locomotive needed a base close to its central West Midlands supporters' base. The society found space available at Tyseley
Tyseley
Tyseley is a district in the southern half of the city of Birmingham, England, near the Coventry Road and the districts of Small Heath and Yardley...
, on the site of the former GWR depot.
In October 1968, 7029 Clun Castle Ltd purchased LMS Jubilee Class
LMS Jubilee Class
The London Midland and Scottish Railway Jubilee Class is a class of steam locomotive designed for mainline passenger work. 191 locomotives were built between 1934 and 1936...
No.5593 "Kolhapur".
LMS Jubilee Class 5593 Kolhapur
London Midland and Scottish Railway Jubilee Class 5593 named Kolhapur is a preserved British steam locomotive.-Service:...
With further locomotives and railway artefacts available as a result of the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
, the supporters established the Standard Gauge Stream Trust as a registered educational charity, to preserve and demonstrate the steam locomotives. Following negotiations the trust acquired a long-term lease on a large part of the Tyseley site, and established the Tyseley Collection which still owns the locomotives and artefacts via the limited company; the depot site became the "Birmingham Railway Museum".
The trust cleared buildings and repaired the dilapidated tracks, and two water columns were repaired to allow steam locomotives to stay at the site. In 1968 the old coaling stage was converted into a two-road shed with an inspection pit to hold both acquired locomotives. In November 1966 "Clun Castle" was stripped and restored.
In 1999 the trust achieved its long-held objective of running a regular steam train service on the national main line railway network: the Shakespeare Express between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
. At this point the trust felt that the term museum was inappropriate for its new status, and hence separated its assets and operations into two new organisations, Tyseley Locomotive Works and the operating arm Vintage Trains, with the third arm remaining the Tyseley Collection.
Present operations
There is an emphasis on running a professional locomotive overhaul and maintenance site, with significant numbers of other preserved railways and other private operators contracting work to Tyseley. To this extent the site was for a time used as a base of operations for Fragonset Railways.Location and access
Located close to Tyseley railway stationTyseley railway station
Tyseley railway station serves the district of Tyseley in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is situated at the junction of the lines from Birmingham towards Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon, and is adjacent to a large railway depot and Tyseley Locomotive Works.The station is served by...
, the No.37 bus operated by National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands , formerly known as Travel West Midlands , is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd , a company which operates bus services from depots in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West...
passes the site. Located on the A41 Warwick Road, the site is approximately 3 miles from Birmingham city centre, or 4 miles from Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
.
The site is no longer open to the public, except on open days. These usually fall on the last weekends in June and October.
Shakespeare Express
As part of its educational programme the trust's operational arm Vintage Trains runs the Shakespeare Express between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
. Aimed at recreating the feeling of the 1950s holiday trains, it has strong appeal to families. It is increasingly being used by coach and tour operators as a new feature within their programme.
In October 2004 the trust announced the acquisition of a site adjacent to Stratford-upon-Avon railway station
Stratford-upon-Avon railway station
Stratford-upon-Avon railway station is a railway station that serves the town of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England. It was once a through station on the Great Western Railway route from Birmingham to Cheltenham, but has been the terminus of the line since 1976.There are plans for a new...
for future use as the Stratford Railway Tourist Centre and Steam Locomotive Centre. This will provide a steam train servicing centre at the southern end of the Shakespeare Line. A small museum is also being considered.
Steam locomotives
| 0 | Number & Name | Description | Current Status | Livery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No. 4110 | GWR 2-6-2T 5101 Class GWR 5101 Class The GWR 5101 Class or Large Prairie was a class of 2-6-2T steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were medium-sized tank engines used for suburban and local passenger services all over the Great Western Railway system... |
Stored, awaiting restoration whilst being on loan from a private site in Southall Southall Southall is a large suburban district of west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Yeading, Hayes, Hanwell, Heston, Hounslow, Greenford and Northolt... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... . |
N/A |
| 2 | No. 4121 | GWR 2-6-2T 5101 Class GWR 5101 Class The GWR 5101 Class or Large Prairie was a class of 2-6-2T steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were medium-sized tank engines used for suburban and local passenger services all over the Great Western Railway system... |
Stored, awaiting restoration. | N/A |
| 3 | No. 7752 (L94) | GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class GWR 5700 Class The Great Western Railway 5700 Class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive, built between 1929 and 1950. 863 were built, making them the second most-produced British class of steam locomotive.- Overview :... |
Awaiting mainline certification. Re-launched at the June 2011 Open Day in pristine London Transport Livery. | Late 60's lined LT Livery |
| 4 | No. 7760 | GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class GWR 5700 Class The Great Western Railway 5700 Class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive, built between 1929 and 1950. 863 were built, making them the second most-produced British class of steam locomotive.- Overview :... |
On static display awaiting overhaul. Plans to put up for sale are currently going ahead due to being the less popular 57xx at Tyseley. Funds from sale will go towards the overhaul of Clun Castle Clun Castle Clun Castle is a ruined castle in the small town of Clun, Shropshire. Clun Castle was established by the Norman lord Robert de Say after the invasion and went on to become an important Marcher lord castle in the 12th century, with an extensive castle-guard system... |
GWR Green |
| 5 | No. 9600 | GWR 0-6-0PT 57xx Class GWR 5700 Class The Great Western Railway 5700 Class is a class of 0-6-0 pannier tank steam locomotive, built between 1929 and 1950. 863 were built, making them the second most-produced British class of steam locomotive.- Overview :... |
Operational. Boiler ticket expires in 2018; has been fitted with OTMR for Network Rail certification. | BR Lined Black |
| 6 | No. 2885 | GWR 2-8-0 28xx Class GWR 2884 Class The Great Western Railway 2884 Class is a class of 2-8-0 steam locomotive designed for heavy freight work. They were a development of the earlier 2800 Class. The 2884s differed from the original engines in a number of respects, the most obvious being that a more modern Collett side window cab was... |
Stored, on static display at Birmingham Moor Street station | GWR Green |
| 7 | No. 4936 GWR 4900 Class 4936 Kinlet Hall The Great Western Railway steam locomotive no. 4936 Kinlet Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive.-Operations:Built in June 1929 at Swindon Works, it was withdrawn from service with British Railways in 1964 and sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales.-Preservation:In 1981,... "Kinlet Hall" |
GWR Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838... 4-6-0 49xx Hall Class GWR 4900 Class The Great Western Railway 4900 Class or Hall Class is a class of 4-6-0 mixed traffic steam locomotives designed by Charles Collett. A total of 259 were built, numbered 4900–4999, 5900–5999 and 6900–6958. The LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 and LNER Thompson Class B1 both drew heavily on design features... |
Operational. In main line service, and regularly used on the Shakespeare Express; sometimes visits other railways. | GWR Green |
| 8 | No. 4965 GWR 4900 Class 4965 Rood Ashton Hall The Great Western Railway steam locomotive no. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive. It is currently preserved at Tyseley Locomotive Works... "Rood Ashton Hall" |
GWR 4-6-0 49xx Hall Class GWR 4900 Class The Great Western Railway 4900 Class or Hall Class is a class of 4-6-0 mixed traffic steam locomotives designed by Charles Collett. A total of 259 were built, numbered 4900–4999, 5900–5999 and 6900–6958. The LMS Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 and LNER Thompson Class B1 both drew heavily on design features... |
Now back in traffic after an 11-month hiatus and overhaul (October 2009). | GWR Green |
| 9 | No. 5043 GWR 4073 Class 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe The GWR 4073 Class 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe is a steam locomotive of the GWR 'Castle' Class, built in March 1936. It was originally named Barbury Castle, and was renamed Earl of Mount Edgcumbe in September 1937... "Earl of Mount Edgcumbe" |
GWR 4-6-0 4073 Castle Class GWR 4073 Class The GWR 4073 Class or Castle class locomotives are a group of 4-6-0 steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were originally designed by the railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett, for working the company's express passenger trains.-History:A development of the earlier... |
Returned to steam in October 2008 after a 30-year restoration. | BR Green |
| 10 | No. 6201 "Princess Elizabeth" | LMS 4-6-2 Princess Class | Moved to Tyseley in 2010. Mainline Ticket expires March 2012. | LMS Maroon |
| 11 | No. 5029 GWR 4073 Class 5029 Nunney Castle 5029 Nunney Castle is a preserved GWR 4073 Class steam locomotive, built at Swindon in May 1934.Withdrawn in December 1963, it was sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales in May 1964..... "Nunney Castle" |
GWR 4-6-0 4073 Castle Class GWR 4073 Class The GWR 4073 Class or Castle class locomotives are a group of 4-6-0 steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were originally designed by the railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett, for working the company's express passenger trains.-History:A development of the earlier... |
Operational. Returned to traffic on the main line in April 2008. | GWR Green |
| 13 | No. 5080 GWR 4073 Class 5080 Defiant Originally built as Ogmore Castle in May 1939 at Swindon Works, the engine was one of the many popular GWR Castle Class.After transfer to Cardiff , the engine was renamed Defiant in January 1941, commemorating one of the many types of aircraft which had taken part in the Battle of Britain... "Defiant" |
GWR 4-6-0 4073 Castle Class GWR 4073 Class The GWR 4073 Class or Castle class locomotives are a group of 4-6-0 steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were originally designed by the railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett, for working the company's express passenger trains.-History:A development of the earlier... |
On static display at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Buckinghamshire Railway Centre is a railway museum operated by the Quainton Railway Society Ltd. at Quainton Road railway station, in the far depths of "Metro-land", about 5 miles west of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. The site is divided into two halves which are joined by two foot-bridges, one of... . |
GWR Green |
| 14 | No. 7029 GWR 4073 Class 7029 Clun Castle 7029 Clun Castle was built to the Great Western Railway Castle Class design by the Western Region of British Railways at Swindon Works in May 1950 and was named after Clun Castle. Its first shed allocation was Newton Abbot. It had a double chimney and a 4 row superheater fitted in October 1959... "Clun Castle" |
GWR 4-6-0 4073 Castle Class GWR 4073 Class The GWR 4073 Class or Castle class locomotives are a group of 4-6-0 steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway. They were originally designed by the railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett, for working the company's express passenger trains.-History:A development of the earlier... |
Restoration in progress - estimated completion 2014 (double chimney). | BR Green |
| 15 | No. 2996 "Victor" | W.G. Bagnall W.G. Bagnall W. G. Bagnall was a locomotive manufacturer from Stafford, England. It was founded in 1875 by William Gordon Bagnall and ceased trading in 1962 when it was taken over by English Electric Co Ltd. The company was located at the Castle Engine Works, in Castle Town, Stafford... 0-6-0ST |
Stored, pending overhaul. | N/A |
| 16 | No. 5593 LMS Jubilee Class 5593 Kolhapur London Midland and Scottish Railway Jubilee Class 5593 named Kolhapur is a preserved British steam locomotive.-Service:... "Kolhapur" |
5XP Jubilee LMS Jubilee Class The London Midland and Scottish Railway Jubilee Class is a class of steam locomotive designed for mainline passenger work. 191 locomotives were built between 1934 and 1936... |
Stored - awaiting restoration | BR Green |
| 17 | No. 670. | LNWR 'Bloomer' 2-2-2 replica | Construction is nearly finished, with work now focused on the covers. | N/A |
| 18 | No. 2004 "Percy" | Peckett and Sons Peckett and Sons Peckett and Sons was a locomotive manufacturer at the Atlas Works in St. George, Bristol, England.-Fox, Walker and Company:The company began trading in 1864 at the Atlas Engine Works, St. George, Bristol, as Fox, Walker and Company, building four and six-coupled saddle tank engines for industrial use... 0-4-0ST |
Operational. Runs demonstration trains at open days. | Lined Maroon |
| 19 | No. 778 | 0-4-0T | Undergoing overhaul. | N/A |
| 20 | "Cadbury No.1" | Avonside Avonside Engine Company The Avonside Engine Company was a locomotive manufacturer in Avon Street, St. Philip's, Bristol, England between 1864 and 1934. However the business originated with an earlier enterprise Henry Stothert and Company.-Origins:... 0-4-0T |
Worked its entire life at the Bournville Works Railway, on its closure in 1976 donated to the museum by Cadbury's. It has recently returned to Tyseley following a long term loan to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire/Warwickshire Borders that has reopened the closed railway line between Laverton Halt and Cheltenham Racecourse railway stations in Gloucestershire/Worcestershire., it currently... , where she pulled the first paying steam train. With an expired boiler certificate, she has undergone a cosmetic repaint and is stored undercover. |
Cadbury Brown |
| 21 | "Henry" | Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST | On static display awaiting overhaul. | Black |
| 22 | No. 71480 "Fred" | Robert Stephenson & Hawthorn WD 0-6-0ST (LNER class J94) | Awaiting overhaul. | Blue, Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Keighley and Worth Valley Railway The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway is a long branch line that served mills and villages in the Worth Valley and is now a heritage railway line in West Yorkshire, England. It runs from Keighley to Oxenhope. It connects to the national rail network line at Keighley railway station... Coat of Arms |
Diesel/electric locomotives
| 0 | Number & Name | Description | Current Status | Livery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No. 800 | 0-4-0 Baguley Petrol loco | Static display | Chalk White |
| 2 | No. 299099 | Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 88DS | Stored | Blue |
| 3 | No. 10255 "Sentinel" | Roll-Royce Sentinel 0-6-0 | Operational | Black |
| 4 | No. 347747 | Ruston Hornsby 0-6-0DM | Stored | Dark Green |
| 5 | No. 13029 | BR British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... 0-6-0 Class 08 British Rail Class 08 The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes.... |
Operational | BR Black |
| 6 | No. 3783 (08616) "Tyseley 100" | BR British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... 0-6-0 Class 08 British Rail Class 08 The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes.... |
Operational, re-numbered and named during the Tyseley 100 Celebrations. | London Midland Colors |
| 7 | No. 37264 | BR Co-Co Class 37 British Rail Class 37 The British Rail Class 37 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Also known as the English Electric Type 3, the Class was ordered as part of the British Rail modernisation plan.... |
Returned to mainline condition in 2009, now available for hire at preserved railways. | Variant on BR Large Logo Blue |
| 8 | No. 40118 | BR 1Co-Co1 Class 40 British Rail Class 40 The British Rail Class 40 is a type of British railway diesel locomotive. Built by English Electric between 1958 and 1962, and eventually numbering 200, they were for a time the pride of the British Rail early diesel fleet... |
Undergoing major restoration with work focused on the interior. | BR Blue |
| 9 | No. 47580 | BR Co-Co Class 47 British Rail Class 47 The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British... |
Operational & now based at Tyseley for mainline use. | Variant on BR Large Logo Blue |
| 10 | No. 47773 | BR Co-Co Class 47 British Rail Class 47 The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British... |
Operational | BR Two-Tone Green |
| 11 | No. 50021 "Rodney" | BR Co-Co Class 50 British Rail Class 50 The British Rail Class 50 is a diesel locomotive built from 1967-68 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works in Newton-le-Willows. Fifty of these locomotives were built to haul express passenger trains on the, then non-electrified, section of the West Coast Main Line between Crewe,... |
Undergoing restoration | BR Large-Logo Blue |
| 12 | No. 50033 "Glorious" | BR Co-Co Class 50 British Rail Class 50 The British Rail Class 50 is a diesel locomotive built from 1967-68 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works in Newton-le-Willows. Fifty of these locomotives were built to haul express passenger trains on the, then non-electrified, section of the West Coast Main Line between Crewe,... |
Operational | BR Large-Logo Blue |
| 13 | No. 86259 "Les Ross Les Ross Les Ross MBE is a British disc jockey and long established personality in the West Midlands.-Early life and career:... " |
BR Bo-Bo Class 86 British Rail Class 86 The British Rail Class 86 was the standard electric locomotive built during the 1960s, developed as a result of testing with the earlier Classes 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85. One hundred of these locomotives were built from 1965-1966 by either English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, or... |
Operational | Electric Blue |
| 14 | Unit. 55034 | BR Class 121 British Rail Class 121 Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes... |
Operational | Blood and Custard |