Tyseley Locomotive Works
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Tyseley Locomotive Works, formerly the Birmingham Railway Museum, is the engineering arm of steam railtour promoter Vintage Trains based in Birmingham, England. It occupies part of the former Great Western Railway's Tyseley depot, built in 1908 to accommodate expanding operations in the West Midlands, particularly the opening of the North Warwickshire Line as a new main line from Birmingham to Bristol.
As well as supporting the trust's operating wing Vintage Trains, it is home to an extensive collection of steam engines, from small industrial builds to Great Western Railway 'Castles' and 'Halls', and large ex-mainline diesel engines.
Background
Following the purchase of
In October 1968, 7029 Clun Castle Ltd purchased
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.[2]
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. 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.[1] Since then, the restoration of the locomotives has been an ongoing process with a high level of craftsmanship.[3]
Vintage Trains Railtours
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-Avon.
In October 2004 the trust announced the acquisition of a site adjacent to Stratford-upon-Avon railway station for future use as the Stratford Railway Tourist Centre and Steam Locomotive Centre. This will provide a steam loco servicing centre at the southern end of the Shakespeare Line. A small museum is also being considered.[4]
As of October 2023, Vintage Trains still operate their "Shakespeare Express" trains between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford-upon-Avon on select Sunday's throughout the year. Pickups are offered at: Birmingham Snow Hill, Birmingham Moor Street & Tyseley alongside Stratford-upon-Avon.[5] From 2007 an additional stop was made at Henley-in-Arden to offer passengers a round trip journey travelling via Stratford upon Avon and Birmingham Snow Hill, this was discontinued at the end of the 2021 season.[6]
It was also announced in October 2023 that 2024's programme of "Shakespeare Express" trains will be expanded to include additional departures from Derby, Worcester and Leicester on individual trips alongside the regular trips from Birmingham.[7] The Worcester departures are also expected to include steam haulage up Lickey Incline.
Steam Excursions
In May 2012, Vintage Trains ran their first multiday trip called "Castle to Scotland" and ran over three days from Sat 26 May to Mon 28 May with
2023 marked the 100th anniversary since the introduction of the
Polar Express
Four round trips are run per day which take place every Friday to Sunday in November and December.[17][18]
Locomotives
Image | Number | Name | Class | Wheel Configuration | Year Built | Builder | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2885 | - | GWR 2884 Class | 2-8-0 | 1938 | Swindon Works | Undergoing Restoration[citation needed] | ||
4121 | - | GWR 5101 Class | 2-6-2T
|
1937 | Swindon Works | Stored | ||
4936 | Kinlet Hall | GWR 4900 Class | 4-6-0 | 1929 | Swindon Works | Undergoing Overhaul | Overhaul being done to mainline standard.[19] | |
4965 | Rood Ashton Hall
|
GWR 4900 Class | 4-6-0 | 1930 | Swindon Works | Awaiting Overhaul | ||
5043 | Earl of Mount Edgcumbe | GWR 4073 Class | 4-6-0 | 1936 | Swindon Works | Operational, Mainline Certified (2023-Ongoing) | Boiler ticket expires in 2031.[13] | |
5080 | Defiant | GWR 4073 Class | 4-6-0 | 1939 | Swindon Works | Undergoing Ovehaul | Overhaul being done to mainline standard.[20] | |
5164 | - | GWR 5101 Class | 2-6-2T
|
1930 | Swindon Works | Stored[21] | ||
5551 | The Unknown Warrior | LMS Patriot Class | 4-6-0 | 20## | Tyseley Locomotive Works | Under Construction[22] | ||
5593 | Kolhapur | LMS Jubilee Class | 4-6-0 | 1934 | North British Locomotive Co.
|
Awaiting Overhaul[23] | Awaiting sale to a new owner as part of Tyseley's future development plans.[24] | |
5952 | Cogan Hall | GWR 4900 Class | 4-6-0 | 1935 | Swindon Works | Stored[25] | ||
6880 | Betton Grange
|
GWR 6800 Class | 4-6-0 | 20## | Tyseley Locomotive Works | Under Construction[26] | ||
7029 | Clun Castle | GWR 4073 Class | 4-6-0 | 1950 | Swindon Works | Operational, Mainline Certified (2019-Ongoing) | Boiler ticket expires in 2027.[27] | |
7752 | - | GWR 5700 Class | 0-6-0PT
|
1930 | North British Locomotive Co.
|
Awaiting Overhaul[28] | ||
7760 | - | GWR 5700 Class | 0-6-0PT
|
1930 | North British Locomotive Co.
|
Awaiting Overhaul[29] | Awaiting sale to a new owner as part of Tyseley's future development plans.[24] | |
7802 | Bradley Manor
|
GWR 7800 Class | 4-6-0 | 1938 | Swindon Works | Under Repair[30] | Based at the Severn Valley Railway | |
9600 | - | GWR 5700 Class | 0-6-0PT
|
1945 | Swindon Works | Awaiting Overhaul[31] | ||
71000 | Duke of Gloucester | BR Standard Class 8 | 4-6-2 | 1954 | Crewe Works | Under Overhaul[32] | To be based at LNWR Heritage, Crewe upon completion of overhaul.[33] |
References
- ^ a b "Birmingham Railway Museum". Archived from the original on 20 November 2004. Retrieved 14 November 2004.
- ISBN 0-7100-7391-7.
- ^ "Reviving History with Precision: 3D Printed Superheater Header for the Locomotive Excellence". Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Stratford Steam Locomotive Centre for the Shakespeare Express". www.shakespeareexpress.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2006.
- ^ "The Shakespeare Express". Vintage Trains.
- ^ "The Shakespeare Express". Archived from the original on 23 June 2016.
- ^ "Vintage Trains expands Shakespeare Express programme for 2024 season". Steam Railway. No. 550. October 2023. p. 26.
- ^ "Castle to Scotland (Day 1)". UK Steam Info. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Day 2 timings for optional trip to Stirling". UK Steam Info. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Clun Castle for 1Z48 60th anniversary railtour re-run". Steam Railway. No. 550. October 2023. p. 26.
- ^ "The Railtour Files". www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk.
- ^ "Four Restored Castles Come Together For One Day Only | Didcot Railway Centre". didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk.
- ^ a b "Vintage Trains Excursion (Birmingham Snow Hill - Didcot Parkway)". RailAdvent.
- ^ "Vintage Trains (Shareholders' Special". Six Bells Junction.
- ^ "Vintage Trains - The Castle Centenarian". www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk.
- ^ "GWR Castle Centenary (Birmingham New Street - Hereford)". RailAdvent.
- ^ "The Polar Express". UK Steam Info. 28 November 2018. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020.
- ^ "POLAR EXPRESS™ - The North Pole". Vintage Trains.
- ^ "4936 set for comeback in 2023". Heritage Railway Magazine. No. 301. December 2022. p. 60.
- ^ "The 5080 Defiant Club". Archived from the original on 14 September 2018.
- ^ Smith, Roger (18 October 2023). "Steam locomotive 5164 to be displayed". RailAdvent. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
- ^ "Steam locomotive No. 5551 The Unknown Warrior moves to a new assembly base". RailAdvent. 6 December 2023.
- ^ "45593 Kolhapur (LMS 5593 & BR 45593)". 4 July 2017.
- ^ a b Holden, Michael (23 January 2024). "Steam locomotive changes at Vintage Trains as growth plans announced". RailAdvent. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ Holden, Michael (18 March 2021). "Tyseley to become permanent home for steam locomotive 6880 Betton Grange and 5952 Cogan Hall". Rail Advent. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "GWR 'Grange' No. 6880 'Betton Grange'". RailAdvent. 18 March 2021.
- ^ "t0219p.htm". www.uksteam.info.
- ^ "7752". 17 June 2017.
- ^ "7760". 17 June 2017.
- ^ "July 2019 Update". Erlstoke Manor Fund. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
- ^ "9600". 17 June 2017.
- ^ "8P 71000 4-6-2 BR Standard Duke of Gloucester". 11 July 2017.
- ^ "Operator confirmed for steam locomotive 71000 Duke of Gloucester". RailAdvent. 14 February 2024.
External links
- Tyseley Locomotive Works official website
- Stock list
- Double Headed Castle's Shareholder Trip (04/03/23)