Kolhapur and 7760 sold as part of Tyseley review
‘JUBILEE’ No. 5593 Kolhapur and Great Western pannier tank No. 7760 have both been disposed from the Vintage Trains Charitable Trust, as they are “surplus to requirements”.
Following weeks of speculation, Vintage Trains confirmed in late January that it was “deaccessioning” both the Stanier ‘5XP’ 4‑6‑0 and Collett ‘57XX’ 0‑6‑0PT from its fleet. In outlining the reasons for disposing of Kolhapur, which last steamed in 1997, VT reiterated comments chairman Michael Whitehouse made in an interview with Steam Railway last year (SR549) – that the ‘Jubilee’ is non‑standard compared to Tyseley’s Great Western main line fleet, and that returning it to steam would cost an estimated £750,000. VT did not divulge to whom Kolhapur had been sold, and declined to provide further comment.
As for No. 7760, which hasn’t steamed for many years, VT said that, following a review of its three pannier tanks (Nos. 7752, 7760 and 9600), “7760 is surplus to our collection, being an identical twin to 7752. Both 7752 and 9600 are in very good condition. 9600 only requires a re‑tube and minor stay work. 7752 requires the same together with a new set of wheel tyres, which are in stock. VT seek well‑wishers to fund this work and engineers to assist undertaking the small amount of fitting work.
“There is then no reason why these two locomotives cannot return to the main line as ‘nice to haves’; but the charity is not currently in a position to fund this work as improvements to our carriage stock, our restaurant cars and catering facilities must take priority.” VT also declined to confirm to whom No. 7760 had been sold, or what the new owner’s plans were for the pannier tank.
Tyseley’s disposal of both Nos. 5593 and 7760 forms part of strategy to “strengthen its core brand”. Work to overhaul No. 4965 Rood Ashton Hall it set to commence in March, with funds for its ‘ten‑year’ boiler overhaul already in place. As part of this, the Collett ‘Hall’ will be converted to oil‑firing – something long‑mooted by Tyseley as a way to mitigate against fire risk and improve its environmental footprint. Subject to funding, No. 4965’s cylinders will also be modified to make the 4‑6‑0 more gauge‑friendly. Once returned to steam, Rood Ashton Hall will primarily be used for VT’s ‘Shakespeare Express’ and ‘Polar Express’ services.
As part of VT’s decision to focus on its GWR locomotive fleet, the boiler on No. 5080 Defiant will be assessed for possible overhaul in 2024; “once we have costed the necessary repairs, we will then seek funds,” VT said.
VT’s new strategy also encompasses its carriage fleet, which has now been fully fitted with controlled emissions toilets, funded by Network Rail. “We have agreed a fitment plan with the Office of Rail and Road for central door locking on our train. This has enabled us to receive the appropriate regulation approval to continue to use our vintage train on the main line railway,” VT added.
Tyseley is augmenting its dining services and bringing catering arrangements in‑house. For this, it has acquired BR Mk 1 First Open No. 3110 to increase its dining capacity, alongside its Metropolitan‑ Cammell Pullmans, while kitchen facilities are being added to its access‑for‑all Mk 1 BSO. Air‑braking with either be fitted or reactivated on VT’s core dining train “so that it is available for use in either air or vacuum braking mode, which will further facilitate our Special Private Train hire service.”
VT added that “there is also a clear need to increase our operational diesel fleet” to provide additional motive power, not only for diesel‑hauled railtours, but also to provide support for VT’s steam‑hauled trains. Alongside its Class 47 No. 47773, Tyseley has recently acquired Class 37 No. 37240: “Once some new wheel bearings have been fitted, this will be available for main line operations,” VT said.