West Shed Collection

Our collection at WEST SHED goes far beyond the locomotives and carriages. We hold a significant archive of photographs, engineering drawings, magazines, books, and railwayana that help tell the full story of Britain’s steam era and the machines we preserve. Whether you’re a researcher, modeller or enthusiast, there’s a wealth of material to explore.

What's in the Collection?

• Historic Photographs: Images of our locomotives and coaches in service and in preservation, providing context, detail and a visual record of change over time.
• Archival Material: Official instructions, rule books, worker’s notes and correspondence from those who built and ran the railways.
• Magazines & Publications: Including issues of the 1930s ‘LMS Magazine’ (the staff publication of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway), plus modern heritage railway titles.
• Railwayana: Builder’s plates, number plates, lamps, wage tokens and other objects once in everyday use on the railways.
• Paintings & Prints: Original artwork and reproduced prints depicting the locomotives, carriages and scenes in the collection.
• Books & Reference Works: Volumes on LMS history, Stanier locomotives, engineering and railway heritage; available for in-house research in our library.
• Engineering Drawings: A small working set of drawings used by our engineers; while access is limited, the collection highlights the technical development behind our locomotives.

Accessible for Research & Exploration

WEST SHED Museum offers a library room with desks, and photocopying facilities are available (subject to copyright). Prior appointment is required. We welcome visitors who wish to explore the archive material — whether for family history, model-making or deeper historical research

Contributing to the Story

Each item in our collection helps bring to life the stories of the railways, the people who operated them and the journeys they made. Your interest, support and engagement ensure these resources continue to be preserved—and used—for education, enjoyment and inspiration.