Tyseley
A steam railway depot & workshops
Open To The Public on Special 'Open Days' only
Next Open Day - 22/23 June 2013
Special Guests:
Talyllyn Railway No.3 Sir Haydn
see note >>
46233 Duchess of Sutherland
Tyseley Locomotive Works
Tyseley Locomotive Works is the engineering subsidiary of the Vintage Trains charitable trust (previously called The Birmingham Railway Museum Trust). The Trust was established to preserve and demonstrate the steam locomotives in the Tyseley Collection and to operate them on the National Railway network.
The Tyseley Locomotive Works site was formerly known as Birmingham Railway Museum. Tyseley Locomotive Works now has a well equipped workshop, which restores, maintains and services steam (plus heritage diesel & electric) locomotives and coaches to Network Rail standards.
Locomotives and other rolling stock are restored, maintained and serviced on the site maintainin the heritage of the former Great Western locomotive Tyseley steam depot & works.
Tyseley Collection
The Tyseley Collection of Locomotives comprises three GWR Castle class engines, an LMS Jubilee, a GWR Hall, three GWR pannier tanks, a class 47 diesel, an 0-6-0 diesel-shunter and a range of industrial engines. Usually there are several visiting locomotives at the Works for overhaul, repairs, maintenance or just stabling.
Please note: When open to the public, some locomotives and other rolling stock may not be on view in areas accessible by visitors to Tyseley Locomotive Works. During Open Days - locomotives will be displayed as advertised
Steam Train Excursions
Vintage Trains operates trains on the main line using locomotives based at Tyseley Locomotive Works. See the latest Excursion Programme which offers an attractive and varied choice of destinations.
Shakespeare Express
The Vintage Trains Programme also features a regular summer steam service between Birmingham & Stratford-upon-Avon called The Shakespeare Express).
This is a somewhat different experience to travelling on a preserved railway line. It captures the feelings of the 1950s holiday trains on the journey to Stratford, and then the romance of the steam express train on the trip to Birmingham.
It has great appeal to families and is an affordable way of enjoying mainline steam. It is increasingly being used by coach and tour operators as an exciting new feature within their programme.
Opening Arrangements
The Works and Steam Depot are only open during Open Days and by pre-arrangement as outlined below.
Following the success and popularity of the Tyseley Open Days held in 2008, which have seen thousands of visitors attending the events, we have decided to hold further open days. Our open days give visitors a much better opportunity to see the Tyseley collection in action around the site rather than static and lifeless, and they also provide an opportunity for some of our friends and associates to participate.
Open days provide an excellent opportunity to:
• show visitors the Tyseley Collection,
• see the work done at Tyseley,
• provide opportunities to see items that would otherwise not be seen,
• steam several locomotives provide rides for visitors
• arrange special appearance of invited guest locomotives
• give turntable demonstrations and locomotives operating on the running line.
We recognise that the dates of these open days may not suit everyone, or that some may be more interested in finding out more about the nuts and bolts of the exhibits. Accordingly we are happy to receive written applications for pre-booked groups to visit Tyseley by prior arrangement as we do not currently plan to open the visitor centre at weekends at times other than for the open days.
Pre-Arranged Party Visits
If you would like to discuss, or indeed book, a party visit to Tyseley Loco Works, please write to us for an application form enclosing an SAE. Write to :
Tyseley Locomotive Works, 670 Warwick Rd, Tyseley, Bham B11 2HL
Please also allow at least two month’s notice, because Tyseley is a working locomotive works and depot and we do need to ensure that your proposed visit can fit in with the many activities on and off our depot.
If there is sufficient interest and subject to our resources, it is possible that we may group such requests together and nominate certain days for parties or groups to visit.
We will also be holding some special events at Tyseley solely for members of Vintage Trains Society, our supporters group. Details of such events will be given out in members' newsletters. We are always happy to receive applications for membership.
Tyseley Open Days
Open Days usually feature Shuttle Service Train Rides, Locomotive Line-ups, Works Viewing Gallery, Locomotive Cavalcades, Demonstrations - Turntable & Shunting.
Some visitor comments ....
"A really good action packed day. Please do arrange some more next year" (enthusiast)
"It's our first time here and our children have really enjoyed your steam show, especially the mighty turntable. Seeing the large express engines so close up was awesome." (Birmingham resident)
Location
How to get to Tyseley Locomotive Works and Tyseley Warwick Road platform - the start point for many of our excursions.
See details >>
Awards
Tyseley Locomotive Works was the winner of HRA’s John Coiley Award for the work in re-streamlining Duchess of Hamilton
Vintage Trains also swept the board by winning the Steam Railway / Mike Notley 2010 Awards - triple success for VT & TLW featuring 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe that was painstakingly restored from a 'Barry wreck' by TLW.:
Performance of the Year 2010 >>
Locomotive of the Year 2010 >>
Vintage Trains Society
We have an active supporters group called the Vintage Trains Society. Members provide volunteer support assisting with events, restoration, stewarding on trains and fund raising. Indeed it would be impossible to operate the trains without the dedicated band of volunteers. Why not consider becoming a member for a small annual subscription so that you may play a part in a growing heritage railway organisation providing leisure activities and nostalgic days out to the public using the main line rail network. You will also enjoy a number of membership benefits too.
