Get hot and dirty walking through Flying Scotsman in the Birmingham Heritage Week celebrations at Tyseley

Published: 19th August 2016

Birmingham Railway Museum to host huge railway event with famous locomotives

The famous steam locomotive Flying Scotsman will be at Tyseley Locomotive Works from Friday 16th September to Sunday 18th September inclusive. The LNER engine will join the resident locomotive fleet including GWR ‘Castle’ No. 7029 Clun Castle, No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe and the regular engine for the regular summer Sunday ‘Shakespeare Express’, service, No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall . This train has operated for 18 years between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford-upon-Avon.

A few tickets are available to join the crew on Flying Scotsman, a rare opportunity for most to see what has to happen to make the engine work. Once the driver and fireman’s controls have been inspected visitors will then walk, somewhat hunched through the tender’s corridor connection and into the leading carriage.

This activity was normally reserved to enable the non-stop run between Kings ross and Edinburgh to take place allowing crews to changeover just north of York without stopping the train. It was a different matter walking through the confined space at up to 100mph and it will be a hot and dirty experience so expect some coal staines – you WILL get dirty!

It will also be possible to take a meal in a Pullman Car which could be an All Day Breakfast, Sunday Roast Lunch or Afternoon Cream Tea depending on the day.

Some of the Tyseley steam fleet will be operational offering short shuttle rides and going for a spin on the turntable with the odd locomotive cavalcade also planned. Trade & society stalls and refreshment stands will also be part of the event.

Buy in advance

Visitors MUST be bought in advance for these Flying Scotsman events and it will not be possible to purchase any on the day and as numbers are limited, it’s probably best to book sooner rather than later. Tickets are sold online via www.ticketsource.co.uk/vintagetrains and note that there is a per-ticket booking fee and credit card charges will apply. Telephone Bookings can also be made through TicketSource on: 0333 666 3366. An additional booking fee of £1.50 per booking will apply.

How to get there

Travelling to Tyseley is easiest by rail using London Midland services which connect at places like Birmingham New Street from across the rail network. There are many other events during the Birmingham Heritage Week Events so check out www.birminghamheritageweek.co.uk and www.redspottedhanky.com for rail tickets to the event.

The Menu

Friday Afternoon Tea for Two – £35

For two people, includes Sandwiches, Quiche, Selection of Cream Pastries and Scones with lashings of Strawberry Jam & Devon Clotted Cream. Tea and Coffee is also included. There is a choice of two seating times, 2pm or 4pm.

Saturday All Day Breakfast – £10 per person

Includes a Full English Breakfast or Smokes Salmon & Scrambles Eggs, serviced with Toast, Croissants, Orange Juice, Tea and Coffee. Seating is throughout the day.

Sunday Roast Luncheon for Two – £45

For two people, includes a choice of starter, Traditional British Roast Beef with all the trimmings followed by desert, tea and coffee. There is a choice of two seating times, 12noon or 2pm.

What is planned to take place and when?

Flying Scotsman will be positioned on the turntable in the centre of Tyseley Locomotive Works from when the gates open for 45 minutes. T will then make its own way to Platform 2 where the Footplate & Tender-Walk experience will begin at 1 pm on Friday and 11 am on Saturday & Sunday. Shortly after this, the passenger shuttle trains will begin.

Industrial engine Peckett No:1 will haul a light-freight from the turntable to the display line at the rear of the shed. And then different engines will be turned on the turntable as the day progresses featuring Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Rood Ashton Hall and the pair of Tyseley Panniers L94 (7752) and 9600.

Locomotives on Static Display (not in steam)

5593 ‘Kolhapur’

5596 ‘Bahamas’ (Undergoing Overhaul)

7029 ‘Clun Castle’ (Undergoing Overhaul)

71000 ‘Duke of Gloucester’ (Undergoing Overhaul)

External Links

• Vintage Trains- Birmingham Heritage Week
• Vintage Trains- Flying Scotsman
• Red Spotted Hanky