The Fairy Queen Steam Locomotive

Learn more about the oldest steam locomotive operational today, a classic engine that took a bit of Leeds all the way to India.

Built in Leeds

Built in 1855 by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson in Leeds, The Fairy Queen Steam Locomotive is the oldest steam locomotive operational today.

East Indian Railway

It served the East Indian Railway until 1909 as locomotive No. 22 and was used for train services on the Howrah-Raniganj line. Following retirement, it resided at Howrah Station near Calcutta.

Heritage Status

In 1972 the Fairy Queen was given heritage status by the Indian Government and was refitted and sent to the National Railway Museum in New Delhi. Then, in 1997, it was restored to full working order in preparation for its first mainline journey in 88 years and its subsequent return to commercial service.

LMS Princess Coronation

Find out more about the most powerful steam engine ever built to pull trains on Britain’s railways.

LMS Princess Coronation

Great Western Railway Class 6000

Discover more about one of GWR’s largest engines, built with prestige – and express speed – in mind.

SR West Country & Battle of Britain

Explore some of the new developments in British steam locomotive technology aboard this post-war class of ‘Light Pacifics’.

Battle of Britian at Crewe

LNER Gresley Classes A3

Read more about these Pacific 4-6-2 engines designed for mainline passenger services on the GNR and LNER.

Flying Scotsman Steam

LNER Class A4

Discover more about the legendary ‘Mallard’ – still an official record holder as the fastest steam locomotive in the world.

Class 03

Discover more about this hard-working diesel-mechanical shunter that saw over a decade of active service in yards in the 1950s and 60s.

Class 03 Diesel at Carnforth

Class 20

Explore the 1000-horsepower English Electric Type 1 and its extended service life as a freight-hauling workhorse.

Class 20 Diesel at Llangollen

Class 23

Read more about the iconic ‘Baby Deltics’ and the reasons behind their withdrawal from service in the early 1970s.

Diesel Trains Icon

Class 31

Take a trip with the Brush Type 2 locomotive, designed for life on Britain’s regional railways in the 50s and 60s.

Class 31 Diesel at York

Class 33

Climb aboard Southern Region’s BRCW Type 3 and learn more about where you can get up close and personal with it today.

Class 33 Diesel at Swanwick

Class 70

Discover more about this wartime Class that played a key role in influencing the design of subsequent booster-based electric locomotives.

Electric Train Icon

Class 71

Explore the detail of this Southern Region locomotive designed to run exclusively on the third rail system throughout the 1960s and 70s.

Class 71 at Crewe

Class 73

Find out more about this flexible locomotive Class able to run either on third rail power or on its own internal diesel engine.

Class 73 Electric at SVR

Class 74

Get on board Class 74, rebuilt from the earlier Class 71 to deliver greater power – and line speeds of up to 100mph on the BR Southern Region.

Electric Train Icon

Class 76

Explore more about this Electric Mixed Traffic 1 locomotive originally built at LNER Doncaster Works for eventual service on the Woodhead Line.

Electric Train Icon

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh to London Kings Cross by Train

Book in advance with redspottedhanky.com and save 58% advanced bookings.

From £19.10

Millenium Dome, London

Birmingham New Street to London Euston by Train

Book in advance with redspottedhanky.com and save 92% on advance bookings.

From £6

You may also like...

@railcouk

Follow us on Twitter and become part of our rail community!

redspottedhanky.com

redspottedhanky.com

redspottedhanky.com is the easy way to buy cheap train tickets online.

Railway Children

Railway Children

Railway Children exists to help vulnerable children in grave circumstances.