Tyseley Locomotive Works

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ex-GWR locomotives at Tyseley 5029 5043 7029 4936 and 4965 Tyseley.jpg
ex-GWR locomotives at Tyseley
4965 and 7760 inside a shed. 4965 and 7760 Tyseley.jpg
4965 and 7760 inside a shed.

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.

Contents

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

bits of Kinlet Hall and Duke of Gloucester Tyseley locomotive workshops 24170660848.jpg
bits of Kinlet Hall and Duke of Gloucester

Following the purchase of GWR Castle Class No.7029 Clun Castle in January 1966 by Patrick Whitehouse, the locomotive needed a base close to its central West Midlands supporters' base. Whitehouse found space available at Tyseley, on the site of the former GWR depot, and formed 7029 Clun Castle Ltd to own both the locomotive and the rights to stable it at the depot.

In October 1968, 7029 Clun Castle Ltd purchased LMS Jubilee Class No.5593 "Kolhapur". With further locomotives and railway artefacts available as a result of the Beeching Axe, the supporters established the Standard Gauge Steam 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". [1]

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 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. [8] Sun 27 May included an optional trip from Linlithgow to Stirling. [9] A second multiday trip is being planned for Fri 10 May to Sat 11 May 2024 to mark the 60th anniversary for 1Z48 and is planned to involve 7029 Clun Castle. [10] [11] For Friday the trip is planned to run from Birmingham to Plymouth travelling via Oxford and Bristol and for Saturday the tour is planned to return from Plymouth to Birmingham travelling via London Paddington.

2023 marked the 100th anniversary since the introduction of the Castle Class in 1923. In connection to an event taking place at Didcot Railway Centre involving resident engines 4079 Pendennis Castle and 5051 Drysllwyn Castle on Sat 4 March 2023, [12] 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and 7029 Clun Castle double headed a Shareholder special from Birmingham Moor Street to Didcot Parkway in connection with the event. [13] [14] Following arrival at Didcot both engines were placed on display alongside classmates 4079 Pendennis Castle and 5051 Drysllwyn Castle. 7029 acted as pilot engine to 5043 for the journey to Didcot & 5043 piloted 7029 on the journey back to Birmingham. This trip was also the first time in preservation that the two surviving double chimney castles had double headed together. Both engines would also double head a second railtour on Sat 10 June 2023 from Birmingham to Hereford called "The Castle Centenarian", 5043 once again piloted 7029 for the trip. [15] [16]

Polar Express

Four round trips are run per day which take place every Friday to Sunday in November and December. [17] [18]

Locomotives

ImageNumberNameClassWheel ConfigurationYear BuiltBuilderStatusNotes
GWR Class 2884 No 2885 2-8-0 (6761025903).jpg
2885- GWR 2884 Class 2-8-0 1938 Swindon Works Undergoing Restoration[ citation needed ]
Pilning High Level station up freight geograph-2935954-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
4121- GWR 5101 Class 2-6-2T 1937 Swindon Works Stored
Kinlet Hall (8130668488).jpg
4936 Kinlet Hall GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 1929 Swindon Works Undergoing OverhaulOverhaul being done to mainline standard. [19]
Rood Ashton Hall 1 (37969103836).jpg
4965 Rood Ashton Hall GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 1930 Swindon Works Awaiting Overhaul
5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe parked up around the turntable.jpg
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]
Defiant parked up around the turntable.jpg
5080 Defiant GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 1939 Swindon Works Undergoing OvehaulOverhaul being done to mainline standard. [20]
GWR Prairie Class 5100 No 5164 (8062220732).jpg
5164- GWR 5101 Class 2-6-2T 1930 Swindon Works Stored [21]
5551 The Unknown Warrior inside Crewe HC shed.jpg
5551 The Unknown Warrior LMS Patriot Class 4-6-0 20##Tyseley Locomotive WorksUnder Construction [22]
5593 with overexposed sky.jpg
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.JPG
5952 Cogan Hall GWR 4900 Class 4-6-0 1935 Swindon Works Stored [25]
6880 Betton Grange in Llangollen Shed.JPG
6880 Betton Grange GWR 6800 Class 4-6-0 20##Tyseley Locomotive WorksUnder Construction [26]
7029 Clun Castle on the turntable at Tyseley LW.jpg
7029 Clun Castle GWR 4073 Class 4-6-0 1950 Swindon Works Operational, Mainline Certified (2019-Ongoing)Boiler ticket expires in 2027. [27]
Minehead - 7752 GWR livery.JPG
7752- GWR 5700 Class 0-6-0PT 1930 North British Locomotive Co. Awaiting Overhaul [28]
GWR Class 5700 No 7760 Pannier (8062224875).jpg
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]
Bradley Manor during the 1940s weekend.jpg
7802 Bradley Manor GWR 7800 Class 4-6-0 1938 Swindon Works Under Repair [30] Based at the Severn Valley Railway
9600 Tyseley (2).jpg
9600- GWR 5700 Class 0-6-0PT 1945 Swindon Works Awaiting Overhaul [31]
Hugh llewelyn 71000 (5363551073).jpg
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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 4073 Class</span> Class of 171 four-cylinder 4-6-0 locomotives

The 4073 or Castle Class are 4-6-0 steam locomotives of the Great Western Railway, built between 1923 and 1950. They were designed by the railway's Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Collett, for working the company's express passenger trains. They could reach speeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 4900 Class</span> Class of 259 two-cylinder 4-6-0 locomotives

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GWR 7800 Class</span>

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 7800 Class or Manor Class is a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive. They were designed as a lighter version of the Grange Class, giving them a wider Route Availability. Like the 'Granges', the 'Manors' used parts from the GWR 4300 Class Moguls but just on the first batch of twenty. Twenty were built between 1938 and 1939, with British Railways adding a further 10 in 1950. They were named after Manors in the area covered by the Great Western Railway. Nine are preserved.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham Moor Street railway station</span> Railway station in Birmingham, England

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GWR 6000 Class 6024 <i>King Edward I</i> Antique British steam locomotive

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GWR 4900 Class 4936 <i>Kinlet Hall</i> Preserved British 4-6-0 locomotive

The Great Western Railway (GWR) steam locomotive No. 4936 Kinlet Hall is a preserved 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive

LMS Jubilee Class 5593 <i>Kolhapur</i>

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GWR 4073 Class 5043 <i>Earl of Mount Edgcumbe</i>

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. It had a double chimney and 4 row superheater fitted in October 1958.

GWR 4073 Class 5080 <i>Defiant</i> Preserved British 4-6-0 locomotive

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GWR 4900 Class 4953 <i>Pitchford Hall</i>

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GWR 4073 Class 7029 <i>Clun Castle</i>

GWR 4073 Class No. 7029 Clun Castle is a 4-6-0 steam locomotive built at Swindon Works in May 1950 to a design by Charles Collett for operation on the Western Region of British Railways. It was named after Clun Castle in Shropshire.

GWR 4073 Class 7027 <i>Thornbury Castle</i> Preserved British 4-6-0 locomotive

7027 Thornbury Castle was built in August 1949. Its first shed allocation was Plymouth Laira. Its March 1959 shed allocation was Old Oak Common. Its last shed allocation was Reading. It was withdrawn in December 1963 and arrived at Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales in May 1964. The locomotive was not scrapped and was being restored in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vintage Trains</span> U.K. operator of heritage rail tours

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyseley railway station</span> Railway station in Birmingham, England

Tyseley railway station serves the district of Tyseley in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is at the junction of the lines linking Birmingham with Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Warwickshire Line</span>

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GWR 4900 Class 4965 <i>Rood Ashton Hall</i>

The Great Western Railway steam locomotive no. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive. It is preserved at Tyseley Locomotive Works. The engine operates in its Great Western Railway green livery, and performs regularly on the Shakespeare Express, operated by Vintage Trains, between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as various excursions.

GWR 4900 Class 4930 <i>Hagley Hall</i>

4930 Hagley Hall is a Great Western Railway, 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive, built in May 1929 at Swindon Works to a design by Charles Collett. It is one of eleven of this class that made it into preservation. The locomotive is named after Hagley Hall in Worcestershire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Whitehouse</span> English railway preservation pioneer

Patrick Bruce Whitehouse OBE was one of the pioneers of railway preservation, when he helped save the Talyllyn Railway in 1951. He also led the restoration to working order of several of Britain's steam locomotives after they were replaced by diesel locomotion in the 1960s.

<i>Shakespeare Express</i> U.K. heritage excursion train

The Shakespeare Express is a steam-hauled passenger excursion train that has operated since 1999. It operates two trips in each direction on selected summer Sundays from Birmingham Snow Hill to Stratford-upon-Avon with a journey times of 60 to 70 minutes in each direction. The outbound journey operates via the North Warwickshire Line with the return using the Stratford to Leamington and Chiltern Main Lines.

References

  1. 1 2 "Birmingham Railway Museum". Archived from the original on 20 November 2004. Retrieved 14 November 2004.
  2. ↑ Nabarro, Gerald (1972). Steam Nostalgia: Locomotive and Railway Preservation in Great Britain. Routledge. pp. 39–42. ISBN   0-7100-7391-7.
  3. ↑ "Reviving History with Precision: 3D Printed Superheater Header for the Locomotive Excellence". Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  4. ↑ "Stratford Steam Locomotive Centre for the Shakespeare Express". www.shakespeareexpress.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2006.
  5. ↑ "The Shakespeare Express". Vintage Trains.
  6. ↑ "The Shakespeare Express". Archived from the original on 23 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Vintage Trains expands Shakespeare Express programme for 2024 season". Steam Railway. No. 550. October 2023. p. 26.
  8. ↑ "Castle to Scotland (Day 1)". UK Steam Info. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "Day 2 timings for optional trip to Stirling". UK Steam Info. 23 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "Clun Castle for 1Z48 60th anniversary railtour re-run". Steam Railway. No. 550. October 2023. p. 26.
  11. ↑ "The Railtour Files". www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk.
  12. ↑ "Four Restored Castles Come Together For One Day Only | Didcot Railway Centre". didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk.
  13. 1 2 "Vintage Trains Excursion (Birmingham Snow Hill - Didcot Parkway)". RailAdvent.
  14. ↑ "Vintage Trains (Shareholders' Special". Six Bells Junction.
  15. ↑ "Vintage Trains - The Castle Centenarian". www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk.
  16. ↑ "GWR Castle Centenary (Birmingham New Street - Hereford)". RailAdvent.
  17. ↑ "The Polar Express". UK Steam Info. 28 November 2018. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020.
  18. ↑ "POLAR EXPRESS™ - The North Pole". Vintage Trains.
  19. ↑ "4936 set for comeback in 2023". Heritage Railway Magazine. No. 301. December 2022. p. 60.
  20. ↑ "The 5080 Defiant Club". Archived from the original on 14 September 2018.
  21. ↑ Smith, Roger (18 October 2023). "Steam locomotive 5164 to be displayed". RailAdvent. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "Steam locomotive No. 5551 The Unknown Warrior moves to a new assembly base". RailAdvent. 6 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "45593 Kolhapur (LMS 5593 & BR 45593)". 4 July 2017.
  24. 1 2 Holden, Michael (23 January 2024). "Steam locomotive changes at Vintage Trains as growth plans announced". RailAdvent. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  25. ↑ 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.
  26. ↑ "GWR 'Grange' No. 6880 'Betton Grange'". RailAdvent. 18 March 2021.
  27. ↑ "t0219p.htm". www.uksteam.info.
  28. ↑ "7752". 17 June 2017.
  29. ↑ "7760". 17 June 2017.
  30. ↑ "July 2019 Update". Erlstoke Manor Fund. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  31. ↑ "9600". 17 June 2017.
  32. ↑ "8P 71000 4-6-2 BR Standard Duke of Gloucester". 11 July 2017.
  33. ↑ "Operator confirmed for steam locomotive 71000 Duke of Gloucester". RailAdvent. 14 February 2024.

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