East Anglian Railway Museum

The East Anglian Railway Museum is a museum located at Chappel and Wakes Colne railway station in Essex, England, which is situated on the former Great Eastern Railway branch line from Marks Tey to Sudbury. Services on the Sudbury Branch Line are operated by Abellio Greater Anglia.

East Anglian Railway Museum

Entrance to the East Anglian Railway Museum
Location within Essex
Former name	Stour Valley Railway Preservation Society
Established	1968 (1968)
Location	Chappel & Wakes Colne railway station, Essex, England
Coordinates	51°55′33.8″N 0°45′32.6″E
Type	Industrial railway museum
Collection size	10 Locomotives, numerous other vehicles
Website	official website

The museum has a wide collection of locomotives and rolling stock, some of which are fully restored, three are converted into Thomas, Percy and Toby replicas while others are undergoing repair and restoration. The Restoration Shed was built in 1983–4, before which most work had to take place in the Goods Shed or in the open. On event days, steam or diesel train rides are operated over a short demonstration track.

The museum hosts two annual events: the Winter Beer Festival held in late February / early March (timing depends on UK school holidays), and the Summer Beer Festival held each September.

Museum history

The museum was originally formed as the Stour Valley Railway Preservation Society on 24 September 1968. The SVRPS was established at Chappel & Wakes Colne Station in December 1969 after a lease was obtained from British Rail to use the vacant goods yard and railway buildings, including the station building. The first public steam day took place three months later.

The goods shed and station buildings were quickly restored; with a workshop being set up in the goods shed to enable maintenance and restoration work to be undertaken on the rolling stock.

The Stour Valley Railway Preservation Society was renamed to The East Anglian Railway Museum in 1986 to confirm its focus on representing railway history of the Eastern Counties rather than just operating trains. The museum gained charitable status in 1991 (Registered Charity No. 1001579) and became a Registered Museum in 1995.

Since 2005, the museum has had a greater emphasis on interpretation and display facilities, a large variety of events take place each year to raise funds to support the museum's activities.

Rolling Stock On Site

All information up to date as of December 2024

Steam Locomotives

The museum has a collection of industrial and Ex-BR steam locomotives, in various states of repair.

Type	Number	Name	Livery	Year Built	Works No.	Status	Notes	Photo
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST	11	Storefield (Name not carried)	Lined Brown	1905	1047	Operational	Returned to traffic in 1999 after a rebuild. Withdrawn from service in 2005 and a further overhaul was completed in August 2015.
Bagnall 0-4-0ST	(Runs as No.6 for DOWT)	Jubilee (Percy)	Bright Green	1936	2542	Operational	Received some cosmetic changes to be Percy the Small Engine from Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends.
RSH 0-6-0ST	54 (Runs as No.1 for DOWT)	(Thomas)	Sky Blue	1941	7031	Operational	Entered service on 21 March 2008 following conversion into a form of Thomas the Tank Engine. Overhauled in Spring 2017, boiler ticket expires in 2027.
Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST		Jeffrey	Black	1943	2039	Static Display	Currently on static display outside the museum entrance
W.G. Bagnall 0-6-0ST	3	Lamport	Colchester Crimson	1942	2670	Under Overhaul	Arrived at the East Anglian Railway Museum in March 2013. This locomotive is currently undergoing overhaul. The locomotive will need new boiler tubes and a new firebox.
London North Eastern Railway class N7 0-6-2T	9621 (BR No.69621)	A J Hill	LNER Post-war Unlined Black	1924		Under Overhaul	Boiler ticket expired in April 2015. Currently undergoing overhaul, Boiler currently having new inner and outer firebox fitted at Heritage Boiler Steam Services in Liverpool.

Diesel Locomotives

Type	Number	Name	Livery	Year Built	Works No.	Status	Notes	Photo
Drewry 0-4-0	WD72229.	-	WD Bronze Green	1944	-	Operational	Returned from Overhaul in 2024. Used on occasional passenger services
Andrew Barclay 0-4-0		John Peel	Lined Blue		333	Operational	Operational but only used occasionally due to lack of electric start.
British Rail Class 04 0-6-0DM	D2279	-	BR Green With Wasp Stripes		-	Operational	Main Shunting locomotive on site, Used on driver Experiences and occasional Passenger Services
John Fowler 0-4-0DH	7	(Toby)	Brown		4220039	Out of Service	Converted cosmetically to look like Toby for Day Out with Thomas events.
Simplex 0-4-0	2029		Blue			Under Restoration	Long term restoration Project

Multiple units and Railbuses

The EARM has a growing collection of Multiple units on site. Many of them have a local connection and ran on local lines around the museum.

Class	Vehicle Type	Number	Livery	Year Built	Status	Notes	Photo
Waggon und Maschinenbau Railbus	4w-DM	E79963	BR Green	1958	Operational	Purchased from the North Norfolk Railway in 2012. Fully Restored and entered service in 2021. Originally ran on the Sudbury Branch in service
BR Class 101 DMU	DMBS	E51213	BR Blue/Grey	1958	Operational	Owned by the Diesel Unit Preservation Associates Ltd. Originally ran on the Sudbury Branch in service
BR Class 101 DMU	DTCL	E56358	BR Blue/Grey	1959	Operational	Owned by the Diesel Unit Preservation Associates Ltd. Cosmetic restoration and repaint into Blue/Grey Completed August 2024. Originally ran on the Sudbury Branch in service
BR Class 309 EMU	BTDC	75965 (309624)	Undercoat	1962	Under Repair	Arrived at the museum in April 2024. Currently undergoing weatherproofing repairs. Restoration Supported by the Clacton Express Preservation Group. Carries Unofficial Nickname 'Bessie' in the cab.
BR Class 309 EMU	MBS	977966 (309624)	TCS Blue/White	1962	Stored Awaiting Repair	Arrived at the Museum in April 2024. In the Queue to receive weatherproofing repairs once 75965 is complete in early 2025. Restoration Supported by the Clacton Express Preservation Group. Carries the name 'New Dalby'
BR Class 317 EMU	DTSO	77092 (317345)	Network SouthEast	1981	Static Display	Arrived at the museum in 2021 donated by Angel Trains. Cosmetically Restored and Wrapped in Network SouthEast Livery in 2022. Used for Santa's grotto at Christmas

Coaching Stock

Type	Number	Livery	Year Built	Status	Notes
NLR Birdcage Brake	70	Teak	1872	Static Display	Ex North Woolwich Museum. Sectioned Coach Body. Now inside the new exhibition shed.
LTSR Part body	-	Crimson	-	Static Display	Sectioned Coach Body. No markings, numbers or information of previous location. Compartment interiors refurbished to represent one First, one Third Class. From North Woolwich Museum to EARM 03/08. Now inside the new exhibition shed.
GER 4-Wheel	19	GER Crimson	1878	Static Display
GER 6-Wheel	247	GER Crimson	1888	Grounded Body	One side restored, other side rebuilt as plain wall. Used as indoor seating for the Viaduct Inn Pub
GER 6-Wheel	307	LNER Brown	1888	Static Display	Grounded Coach Body
GER 4-Wheel	308	Primer	1873	Under Restration	Nicknamed "Chappel Coach" for its use while as a grounded body. Restoration Paused while other work is undertaken on site
GER 6-Wheel	553	GER Crimson	1890	Static Display
GER 6-Wheel	1041	Black	1890	Grounded Body	Used as a Bookshop on Platform 2
GER Brake Third	2155	Unrestored	1921	Under Conservation	Nicknamed "Boston Coach" Very Rare Example of a GER bogie Coach. Stored in the Restoration shed to prevent deterioration
LNER TTO	23953	LNER Green/Cream	1936	Out of Use	Exhibition Coach. Currently not in use while the exhibition shed is being rebuilt
BR Mark 1 TSO	E3779	BR Maroon/Crimson Cream	1953	Static Display	Coach used as indoor seating for Stour Valley Steam Café
BR Mark 1 SK	E24959	BR Maroon/Crimson Cream	1956	Operational	Main Service Mk1 Coach
BR Mark 1 BS Suburban	E43157	BR Maroon/Crimson Cream	1954	Under Overhaul	Main Service Mk1 Coach
BR Mark 1 BCK	M21027	BR Maroon/Crimson Cream	1954	Operational	Main Service Mk1 Coach
BR Mark 2 TSO	W5455	BR Blue/Grey	1969	Static Display	Coach used as indoor seating for Chappel Beer Festivals
VDA (Underframe Only)	210234	Brown	1978 (Underframe) 2001 (Body)	Out of Service	Replica Tramway body built upon a VDA Ferryvan wagon chassis by Chappel in 2001. Styled to look like Henrietta from Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends.

Freight and other Non Passenger Stock

Type	Number	Livery	Year Built	Status	Notes
GER Pooley Van	E960701	Crimson	1911	Static Display	Fully Restored. Currently in the running shed to protect the vehicle until the new exhibition shed is completed
GER Van	32518	-	1920	Awaiting Restoration	Stored in the Orchard awaiting Restoration
GWR 4w Toad Brake	17898	GWR Grey	1914	Operational	Owned by longstanding EARM member Peter Thompson And donated to the museum on his passing in 2005. Main Service brake van.
Grafton Steam Crane	PO 762	Green	1914	Static Display
LNER Fish Van	E159918	-	1930	Awaiting Restoration	Stored in the Orchard awaiting Restoration
LMS 5-Plank	M405032	BR Grey	1936	Operational	Demonstration Freight Ride Service Vehicle. Modified with bench seating.
LMS Iron Ore Hopper	691762	LMS Bauxite	1938	Static Display
LMS Lowmac	700704	LMS Bauxite	1944	Static Display
SR Parcels and Miscellaneous Van	SR 1152	SR Malachite Green	1937	Static Display	Used as static cover for Driver Experiences and Beer Festivals.
WD Box Van	47893	WD Green	-	Static Display
Air Ministry Fuel Oil Tank	A5478	Grey	1944	Static Display
BR Cattle Wagon	B892156	BR Bauxite	1950	Under Restoration	Currently undergoing bodywork repairs and a repaint
BR Goods Van	B75xxxx	-	1950	Awaiting Restoration	Body Only. Stored in the Orchard awaiting Restoration
BR Mineral Wagon	B68231	BR Grey	1951	Static Display
BR Hi-Bar	B745522	BR Bauxite	1951	Operational	Occasionally used in the Service freight set. No Passenger Seating inside.
BR Tank Wagon	ADB 749659	Grey	1951	Static Display
BR 20T Brake	B951771	BR Bauxite	1952	Operational	Restoration Completed in December 2024. Fitted with Vacuum Brakes in the latest restoration.
GWR Special Cattle Wagon	765	Crimson	1953	Under Restoration	Currently undergoing bodywork repairs and a repaint
BR Vanfit	B760651	BR Bauxite	1953	Static Display	Used as stores vehicle for Stour Valley Catering
BR 5-Plank (Chassis Only)	B724000	-	1955	Awaiting Restoration	LMSR Design. Carries 12t Ventilated Van body. Stored in the Orchard awaiting Restoration
BR Tube Wagon	B732205	BR Bauxite	1955	Operational	Demonstration Freight Ride Service Vehicle. Modified with bench seating.
BR Conflat	B580237	Black with Yellow Ends	1957	Operational	Used to shunt the Class 317 around site. One end modified with a Buckeye coupling.
BR Mineral Wagon	B160206	BR Bauxite	1958	Static Display
BR Iron Hopper	B437781	BR Bauxite	1958	Static Display
BR Goods Van	B7xxxxx	-	1958	Awaiting Restoration	Body Only. Stored in the Orchard awaiting Restoration
BR Goods Van	B7xxxxx	-	1958	Awaiting Restoration	Body Only. Stored in the Orchard awaiting Restoration
BR Goods Van	B7xxxxx	-	-	Awaiting Restoration	Body Only. Stored in the Orchard awaiting Restoration
BR Goods Van	B7xxxxx	-	-	Awaiting Restoration	Body Only. Currently on Chassis B724000. Stored in the Orchard awaiting Restoration
BR VCA	200480	Railfreight Red/Grey	1974	Static Display	Used for storage
Plasser & Theurer GPC72 12t Diesel Crane	DRP81521	NR Yellow	1980	Operational	Used for engineering on site
Permaquip High Capacity Truck	HCT008	BR Yellow	1988	Under Repair	Used for site maintenance. Currently undergoing repair

Concert by Blur

On 13 June 2009, alternative rock band Blur performed a concert at the museum, where they had performed their first concert in 1988. As in 1988, the band played to around 150 people in a goods shed. This concert was their first since 2001 and the first show of their 2009 mini-tour, which was followed by the band headlining at the Glastonbury Festival and performing two concerts in Hyde Park.

In November 2009, a plaque was erected on the East Anglian Railway Museum by PRS for Music. The Heritage Award was a celebration of Blur and the location of their first live performance.

External links

• Official website
• Chappel Beer Festival Website.