A new home is being sought for a historic and much-loved Staffordshire locomotive and coach carriage.
The two classic train vehicles, the Bass Saddle Tank Locomotive No. 9 and the Director’s Coach, belonged to the Bass brewing company in Burton-upon-Trent. Both built in 1901, the locomotive was used to transport heavy barrels of ale and ingredients around the brewery while the coach was used to give tours of the site to visitors.
The vehicles have belonged to Staffordshire County Council’s Archives and Heritage Service since 1978 and have been on long-term loan and display at the National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent. However, since the closure of the centre in 2022, the facilities needed to care for these large and complex historic objects are no longer available and the items are deteriorating as they need ongoing care and preservation.
A proposal to transfer ownership of the items to an alternative nationally accredited museum in Staffordshire is being considered. Transferring them to an accredited museum will help ensure they are protected, preserved and can go back on public display so future generations can enjoy them.
Hayley Coles, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said:
“Staffordshire is steeped in history and this proposal is about safeguarding two incredibly important items from our past and making sure they have a secure future.
“These railway items are closely tied to our county’s industrial and brewing heritage. We want the items to remain in Staffordshire and our best option is to relocate them to an accredited museum where they can be cared for properly and restored to their former glory.
“We’re now looking for expressions of interest from eligible museums that may be interested in hosting the items.”
A number of previous large artefacts from the National Brewing Heritage Centre have been successfully relocated and restored in recent years. These include the M&B Beaver, a motorised delivery dray that went to the Black Country Museum, and the WaterWitch Fire Engine that is now with the West Midlands Fire Service Heritage Community Group.
