2021 Temporary Exhibitions

Display Case for Kerr Stuart items
Kerr Stuart Display

For 2021, two exhibitions marking centenaries are in place. The first marks the fatal accident which occurred at Abermule on 26th January 1921. The display covers control of single line working on the Talyllyn Railway; the ERTMS Control system currently used on the Cambrian Line; pictures of locomotive No. 95 that hauled the express train and profiles of Lord Herbert Vane-Tempest and Guard Edward Shone – two of the 17 fatalities. The display also includes an extended extract from Tom Rolt’s “Red for danger”, creating a link with one of the TRPS’ founders in our 70th anniversary year.

The second display marks the centenary of Kerr, Stuart & Co. Ltd. Works Number 4047 of 1921, better known to us as former Corris Railway locomotive No.4 and now Talyllyn Railway No.4 “Edward Thomas” … and occasionally Skarloey Railway No.4 “Peter Sam”! In addition to telling the story of this individual locomotive, we tell the story of its builder Kerr, Stuart & Co. Ltd., of some of its standard products and their early work on the development of diesel locomotives and lorries. Again, making a connection with Tom Rolt, we use family photographs and quotes from “Landscape with machines” to tell of his apprenticeship in the Kerr, Stuart works at Stoke on Trent.

Exhibition Introduction

Abermule Accident.
Locomotive No.4 Display