# 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.
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 February 2025

### 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 |
| 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 Withdrawn from service in 2005 and a further overhaul was completed in August 2015.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 0-4-0 ST | (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 |
| 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 |
| 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) | Network SouthEast | 1962 | Static Display | Arrived at the museum in April 2024. Outshopped in Feb 2025 after cosmetic restoration. 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 | Undergoing Overhaul | Arrived at the Museum in April 2024. Now undergoing weatherproofing repairs. 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.