Coventry's Railway Museum

Not many know that there is a railway museum in Coventry - it's now known as The Electric Railway Museum, and they have an open day this coming weekend Best of British at Electric Open Weekend Electric Railway Museum Open Weekend: Technology Weekend Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June 11 am - 5 pm (both days) FREE 60 years of technological innovation will be celebrated at Electric Railway Museum in June as we host the next in our ever-popular series of Open Weekends. Focusing on the best of UK design since the accession of Queen Elizabeth II, the museum's rich collection of iconic electric locomotives will be joined by demonstrations from local technology groups. Electric Railway Museum's second Open Weekend of 2012 will be open Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 June from 11am - 5pm both days. Admission and parking is FREE! Visitors will be able to enjoy shunting demonstrations throughout the two day event, courtesy of the museum's two operational electric locomotives Heysham No. 1 'Doug Tottman' and Spondon No.1. There will also be a working display of signal heads, recently retired from London Underground's Victoria line. Elsewhere, visitors can experience an extensive array of electric locomotives and multiple units, including the Clacton Class 309s, the Wirral Class 503 and the 2-EPB unit complete with street art livery by Warwickshire-based artist Rumah, which depicts the history of electric railways. Volunteers are also keen to safeguard the rich biodiversity of the museum site near Baginton. As part of the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, some 420 trees have now been planted on site - part of the six million the Woodland Trust are aiming to plant for their Jubilee Woods initiative. A very special tree from one of the Queen's estates will be planted during the June Open Weekend. Their website

Blimey looking at their website they've got a lot more than they had last time I was up there, they used to have a signal box and the old Rugby BTH/GEC works 165DE class shunter 'Mazda' up there, nice to know it's still going and may take a wander up there

As part of the Heritage Weekend, the museum was again open to visitors with free entry - it was the only location I visited over the weekend, and I was hoping to meet with another forum member, but that unfortunately didn't materialise I did find when downloading the few photos I took on Saturday the progress which they are making in restoring the stock that they have - it isn't that obvious until one compares photos from previous visits, as such progress is quite slow - they obviously have limited funds and rely on an immense amount of voluntary labour - they deserve as much support as possible to ensure that the museum can carry on with their good work Class 308 Driving Trailer 75881 (EMU 308136) - 10 Sep 2011 Class 307 EMU Driving Brake Trailer E75023 - 10 Sep 2011 Class 405 4-SUB EMU 4732 - 2 May 2009

Yes we went there on the bus, Red Was impressed with the APT power carriage. I was amazed when I asked about how they got the thing there. Apparently it was so finely engineered and balanced it took just two men to push it along the track once unloaded by one enormous crane.

Coventry rail museum to close - report

That railway museum is odd. We visited it once during a heritage weekend with the kids and had an enjoyable few hours there. It's clearly run by enthusiasts, but it's hard to see it having much appeal to many people and I don't believe it opens very often. When I drove past it a few years ago I thought it was a junk yard!

Last Ever Open Day at Electric Railway Museum - this Sunday, 8th October, 10.30am to 4.30pm

This is the definitive list of what is happening next to the ERM collection, or at least those that can be confirmed so far: 309 624 (960 102) is to move permanently to be part of the fleet at The Lavender Line in East Sussex. The railway will take ownership of it and have exciting plans to restore it to a passenger carrying unit for use as hauled stock with their resident diesel locos 309 616 (960 101) also has a home at a heritage site where it will continue in the role it had at ERM as a cafe, museum coach and staff accommodation, the details of the site won't be made public until after it has arrived there in the early part of 2018. The Ruston & Hornsby 88DS loco 'Crabtree' is moving to the same location. In addition to LAB 4 HASTINGS there are several other vehicles moving to the Battlefield Line, they are: The South Tyneside 2 car EPB unit along with the Ironclad tool van as a project support vehicle. The unit is being restored back to as built North East condition and will be passenger stock. The Ruston & Hornsby 165DE Diesel Electric 0-4-0 MAZDA, The LNER brake van, LMS hand crane and BR lowfit wagon. In addition the LNWR station waiting shelter is also to go to the Battlefield Line. The 2-HAP unit is currently the subject of a preservation bid by a group wanting to take it to a heritage line in North Wales. The 4-SUB and class 503 unit along with the spare 4-EPB TSO will be moving to secure, safe storage in the south of England. Both units will be the subject of much needed long term restoration projects and more details will be made available in due course by the owning organisation. The restored class 457 car 67300 and the Hawthorne Lesley Bo-Bo loco 'Kearsley No.1' will be moving to the East Kent Railway to go on display. The Colne Valley Railway is to become a hub for AC EMU preservation as the new home to both 312 vehicles along with the 307 and 308 cars; the latter currently contains the Victoria Line signalling display which will be moved to a more permanent home at the CVR in the future to allow the interior restoration of that vehicle. Joining these vehicles is RSH Bo-Bo battery electric locomotive Heysham No. 1 'DOUG TOTTMAN'. Both the Liverpool Overhead Trailer Car 7 and the body of the 1903 City & South London Railway Car are to be moved to storage. The remains of the steel C&SLR car is available to anyone this wants it as surplus to requirements. That leaves... The APT power car which is part of the national collection is currently under negotiations for a new home. Experimental wagon HSFV1 is likewise under negotiations so watch this space, it has yet to be signed off so this can't be announced yet. 4wd Battery Electric loco EE905 Spondon No.1 has offers under consideration 2-EPB unit 6307 is awaiting confirmation of new owners and the 501 unit is awaiting agreement on a new site currently under negotiations. And that is everything....

Real shame that's all had to go Cliff. Had a great day out with my lads there a few years ago. Pity the Council did not get more involved - and get the wallet out - too busy spending £20k+ on zig-zag paint