We wish all of our members and visitors to our web site a very happy 2026 and thank our members for your continued support throughout 2025.
We have designed a freely downloadable printable calendar reflecting the Vintage Trains tours with both steam and diesel traction throughout the year, although we couldn’t quite get them to match up by month unfortunately. The January 2026 image showing the running shed as Tyseley Locomotive Depot begins the year carrying out a planned winter maintenance programme is shown here. Please have a look and do download and print it as a reminder of the wide range of tours that Vintage Trains offer throughout the year.
Other recent highlights of Friends activities, with a link in each case to more details, include:
- On Wednesday 16 September 2026 we can be found in the Wetherspoons The London and North Western on New Street station from 12.00 onwards; all welcome to drop in and join us for a drink and chat. No need to let us know; just drop in and we will be pleased to see you.
- On 14 October 2026 we will be meeting in the Tyseley Working Mens Club, directly opposite Tyseley Locomotive Works, to see Bob Meanley in discussion with Les Ross, the well-known radio personality and proud owner of preserved British Rail Class 86 electric locomotive 86259 famously painted in its original 1960s British Rail Electric Blue livery. The discussion will be (very loosely) based around Bob’s recent book Wiltshire WISDOM which explores the remarkable story of the Great Western Railway’s Swindon works, once the industrial heart of railway engineering in Britain. Arrangements are to be confirmed; tea, coffee and biscuits will be served and we will start at 1 p.m. This will be free to members and a guest.
- We are pleased to announce a further series of social events following a recent showing of The Ladykillers at the brilliantly restored station building at Henley Station. This showing was enjoyed by all who came, and the staff at Henley were very welcoming, so we will be making this a regular event with further showings (of different films, of course) on 25 November 2026 and 24 February, 16 June and 13 October 2027. See our social events page for more details.
- We have been donated a copy of the Spring 1973 issue of Steam in Trust which can be found on our Publications page. It is well worth a read for a fascinating glimpse of the Friends and Vintage Trains over 50 years ago – some things change and some challenges remain unaltered.
- Thanks to Geoff Middleton and Peter Jeffs the current Stock List and In The Works List and are always available on our Publications page.
- A low-resolution copy of the Spring 2026 edition (Issue 58) of Steam in Trust is now available from the publications page. Steam in Trust is the Friends’ flagship publication, circulated in printed copy to all members twice a year – the low-resolution on-line copy of Steam in Trust is made available on this site once the printed current issue has been circulated to members, although reading on-line or printing the PDF cannot reflect the quality of the printed publication. If you are not a member of the Friends please have a look at this and consider if receiving a high-quality printed copy, and other benefits, would warrant the modest membership fee.
- Chris Schroeder has contributed a video that he took of a VT run up the Lickey on 14 October 2001 with a pannier banking. The video quality is not the best but the sound is very good.
This video was filmed in 2001 and you will notice that there were many heads and shoulders leaning out of the door droplight windows of the coaches. Back in the early days of the 21st century when this video was shot the ‘Do not lean out of the window or open this door when the train is moving’ notices on every door were often ignored, especially on steam hauled excursions.
You will not see any heads leaning out of windows on today’s excursions. The Office of Rail Regulation has put in place specific rules for mainline excursions using carriages which have doors with opening windows prohibiting passengers leaning out of opening windows or standing in coach end vestibules near to doors. These rules are strictly enforced by Train Operating Companies such as Vintage Trains Ltd;.Vintage Trains have updated all of their carriages to enforce compliance with these regulations. - The volunteer Archivist for Vintage Trains has kindly agreed to provide articles based on items in the Tyseley archives that will, we hope, be of interest to all members of the Friends. These can be found on our publications page.
Please revisit this page for updates on these, and other, events for the Friends.
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This page was last updated on 9 August 2026