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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.
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]
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.
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 was planned for Fri 10 May to Sat 11 May 2024 to mark the 60th anniversary for 1Z48 and 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]
Four round trips are run per day which take place every Friday to Sunday in November and December. [17] [18]
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 | 2024 | Tyseley Locomotive Works | Operational [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] |
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).
The Great Western Railway 4900 Class or Hall Class is a class of 4-6-0 mixed-traffic steam locomotives designed by Charles Collett for the Great Western Railway. A total of 259 were built at Swindon Works, 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 of the Hall Class. After nationalisation in 1948, British Railways gave them the power classification 5MT.
5972 Olton Hall is a preserved Great Western Railway Hall class locomotive made famous for its role hauling the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter film series.
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.
Birmingham Moor Street, also known as Moor Street station, is one of three main railway stations in the city centre of Birmingham, England, along with Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.
The Great Western Railway (GWR) steam locomotive No. 4936 Kinlet Hall is a preserved 4-6-0 Hall class locomotive
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Jubilee Class 5593 named Kolhapur is a preserved British steam locomotive.
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 Defiant is a GWR 4073 Class steam locomotive built for the Great Western Railway at Swindon Works in May 1939. It was originally named Ogmore Castle.
4953 Pitchford Hall is a 4-6-0 Hall class steam locomotive built by the Great Western Railway (GWR), currently preserved at the Epping Ongar Railway.
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.
7027 Thornbury Castle is a steam locomotive of the GWR 'Castle' Class, 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.
Vintage Trains is a charitably-controlled train operating company based at Tyseley Locomotive Works which provides heritage railtours in the United Kingdom.
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.
Tyseley TMD is a railway traction maintenance depot situated in Tyseley, Birmingham, England.
The North Warwickshire Line is a suburban railway line in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom. It runs from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, now the southern terminus of the line, although until 1976 the line continued to Cheltenham as part of the Great Western Railway route from Birmingham to Bristol.
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.
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.
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.
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.