Sutton Collection returns to Birmingham

STANDARD gauge train operator Vintage Trains has acquired the ‘Sutton Collection’ of locomotives and stock and is looking at building a short 15in gauge line on which they can be operated at its Tyseley Locomotive Works site in Birmingham.

The collection originated from the Sutton Coldfield Miniature Railway which closed in 1962 and went into storage until being purchased with the aid of a £299,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant in 2001 for display at Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway.

The collection, which includes two steam locomotives (No. 1 Sutton Belle and No. 2 Sutton Flyer), a diesel railcar based on a GWR ‘flying banana’ (known as No. 4) and 10 passenger carriages, has latterly been in storage.

1950-built Griffin Foundry 4-4-2 No. 2 Sutton Flyer and the railcar were displayed at Tyseley’s September 28/29 2018 open day, the first time they had been seen in Birmingham for 56 years.