The Birmingham Railway Museum
Trust (BRMT), is pleased to announce the acquisition of a site adjacent
to Stratford-on-Avon Station. The intention is to create a servicing
centre and possible museum.
A modest ceremony was held on Saturday 30th October to mark the announcement,
which was lead by Councillor Michael Crutchley (Mayor of Stratford upon
Avon), Councillor Clive Thomas (past Mayor of Stratford), Mrs Judy Thomas,
and Vic Michel (Chairman TLW and Deputy Chairman Birmingham Railway
Museum Trust). The photograph above depicts the event and shows a sign
for the site, which has been erected at the fence to the station car
park. A second sign is to be erected as a 'running-in board' clearly
visible to rail passengers.
Acquisition of the land was the culmination
of six years of complex negotiations with Stratford District Council
and Rail Property Ltd by Richard Thorne & Richard Abbey. But that
was only the beginning....a priority is to develop
a detailed plan for the site, defining the buildings required (museum,
restaurant, shop, etc.), track layout and turntable position. The planning
application for the site has always envisaged the erection of a building,
together with sidings, a water tank, pits, turntable and public viewing
areas. However a variation will be needed to describe the site as a
museum, which can be incorporated in the final design approval submission.
Vintage Trains has been running the "Shakespeare
Express" between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stratford
each Sunday through summer and autumn for the last six years using former
Great Western Railway steam locos. The success of the service continues
to grow such that the Trust has recently added Pullman coaches to the
trains to cope with the demand for dining facilities.
The schedule of two return trips each Sunday, currently involves tender-first
running in the Birmingham to Stratford direction. Acquisition of this
land, formerly the location of Stratford locomotive shed, will enable
facilities to be provided to allow chimney-first running in both directions.
These facilities will also be available to other operators of special
trains choosing Stratford as their destination and will encourage an
increased numbers of visitors to the town.
Now please see details of formal launch of the plans ....more>>
Volunteers : Whilst planning
& funding arrangements are being pursued, a site working party is
to be formed from volunteer members of Vintage Trains Society - the volunteer
group that supports BRMT activities such as the operation of the Shakespeare
Express. The working party will initially focus on site clearance and
preparation. If you wish to become involved in this exciting project,
then please contact volunteer liaison by clicking this link
.
It is a requirement that all vounteers must be members
of Vintage Trains Society for details>>
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