Engines Used On Main Line Excursions

Tyseley Collection

Guest Engines

From time to time the guest locomotives stabled at Tyseley (and others) may also be used on VT tours.

Click on a locomotive link for more details and photographs.

4965 Rood Ashton Hall

GWR Hall class 4965 Rood Ashton Hall was built in 1929 at Swindon Works for mixed traffic duties. It was equally at home hauling freight and express passenger trains. It has been restored for main line use carrying authentic GWR 1926 fully lined livery, entering service in 1998.

The locomotive is the regular engine used on the popular 'Shakespeare Express' summer steam train service running between Birmingham & Stratford-upon-Avon. It was used extensively during the first 10 seasons, but missed the 2009 season while under overhaul. It will be back as thr mainstay engine in 2010.

It has also headed Vintage Trains tours to many destinations including places which had never before seen a Great Western engine. These places include Carlisle, Holyhead, York, Lincoln and not forgetting a climb of the Lickey Bank.

5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe

GWR Castle class 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe was out shopped from Swindon works in March 1936. Later it was modified with a double chimney and 4-row superheater and for a time was coupled with a Hawksworth flat-sided tender.

In GWR days 5043 frequently hauled the 'fastest train in the world', the 'Cheltenham Flyer'. In BR Western Region days it was recorded as reaching 98mph in 1958 on the 'Bristolian' when running in its final modified form.

The engine was extensively overhauled and restored to mainline standards at Tyseley Locomotive Works and is now certified to run on Network Rail at speeds up to 75 mph which makes it ideal for medium and long distance excursions on today's intensively used main line railway network.

9600 GWR Pannier Tank

57xx class 0-6-0 9600 was built at the Swindon Works in 1945. Officially designated 'light goods and shunting engines', 9600 was seen on a variety of trains, including the occasional local passenger train.

The engine's overhaul to mainline standards was completed in 1997. It was outshopped in British Railways mixed traffic black livery, which was carried by Paddington’s panniers used for empty coach stock movements.

9600 has been used on main line excursions to Wolverhampton, Nuneaton, Cosford, Birmingham Surburban, East Midlands Circular, Mince Pie Specials, the Heathfield Branch and to Ironbridge.

The engine is permitted to run at 45 mph and so it can be used on relatively short trips on lightly used main lines.

BR Class 47 Diesel - 47 773

Diesel class 47 47 773 was built by Brush in 1964 as No. D1755. The class were genuine mixed-traffic engines used throughout the BR network.

It was named'The Queen Mother' at Aberdeen station by Her Majesty, The Queen Mother in October 1982. This was the first occasion that a member of the Royal family had named a locomotive since the days of steam.

It received several modifications including electric train heating, and remote control equipment. It was renumbered : 47 161, 47 541 and finally 47 773.

It was withdrawn and stored before purchase by EMR and subsequently Birmingham Railway Museum Trust and was renovated in 1997.

47 773 has since hauled several diesel traction tours as well as playing a supporting role on electric-hauled tours and steam tours where it adds operational flexibility.

Tyseley Collection Engines : Not currently
certified for Main line

These Tyseley Collection locomotives are not currently certified for main line operation. All engines in the collection have operated on the national main line network in the preservation era.

Key :

B = At Buckinghamshire Railway Centre

Viewing Locomotives

Tyseley Locomotive Works and Steam Depot is not open to the public except for special Tyseley Open Days.

Open Days provide opportunities to see the locomotives within the depot either in steam or on static display.

Some locomotives may not be on view in areas accessible by visitors at certain events. Others may be away at other railway centres. We endeavour to pre-announce which locomotives will be in steam and those that will be in the public viewing areas.

Stock List

A full list of all locomotives plus a list of passenger stock based at Tyseley can be downloaded from here in pdf format.

Latest Stock List (last updated 15/09/09) >>

To get a free pdf reader - click this link

Tour Locomotives