LMS Route: Nuneaton to Birmingham New Street

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Tamworth

Saltley Shed: mrsalt1229

Ex-LMS 8P 4-6-0 No 46235 'City of Birmingham' stands outside Saltley shed's amenities block prior to being moved to Birmingham's Science and Industry Museum. Built by Crewe works in June 1939, it was part of the third batch of 'Princess Coronation Class' locomotives to be built (Lot No 150). When built she was one of the streamlined locomotives and was the first to be fitted with a double chimney as new, previous locomotives being built with single chimneys and later modified. The livery was LMS crimson lake with cheat lines, but in common with many locomotives during the Second World War, it acquired an austere unlined black livery. Although it carried the name City of Birmingham from new, No 6235 officially received its name at a ceremony at Birmingham New Street on 20 March 1945. A special plate carrying the city's coat of arms was then fitted above the nameplate. As part of the post-war austerity measures, the streamlining was removed for maintenance reasons in April 1946, becoming the first streamliner to be de-streamlined, and at the same time same time she was fitted with smoke deflectors, with her livery in LMS lined 1946 black. The locomotive was one of the few engines given the short-lived blue livery for top express passenger engines in 1950. In April 1952, the semi-streamlined sloping smokebox front was replaced with a round-topped smokebox and a year later, April 1953, she was repainted into British Railway's Brunswick Green livery which she carried through until withdrawn in September 1964 from 5A Crewe North shed. After being prepared by British Railway for preservation, and after storage at Nuneaton Shed, No 46235 was moved to Saltley shed prior to be installed in Birmingham's Science and Industry Museum for display.

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