About
The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust is dedicated to preserving and operating some of the most majestic express steam locomotives ever built — the London Midland and Scottish Railway's Princess Royal Class locomotives of the 1930s. Based at the Midland Railway - Butterley heritage railway site near Ripley in Derbyshire, the Trust provides a home for these magnificent machines and supports their operation on mainline railtours and heritage lines across Britain.
The Princess Royal Class was designed by William Stanier and introduced in 1933 as the LMS's answer to the challenge of hauling heavy express trains between London and Scotland at sustained high speeds. Only 13 were built, making them rare survivors from the golden age of British steam. The class's most famous member was No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth, which in 1936 set a speed record between Glasgow and London, completing the journey in 5 hours 53 minutes — a record that stood for decades. The Trust's principal locomotive is 6201 Princess Elizabeth herself, preserved in working order and regularly operated on heritage railways and special mainline railtours.
The Midland Railway - Butterley site where the Trust is based is itself a significant heritage destination — a working heritage railway set in the Amber Valley of Derbyshire that operates steam-hauled trains over a stretch of the former Midland Railway's network. The site includes a locomotive works, a museum dedicated to Midland Railway history, and extensive facilities for the preservation and restoration of historic rolling stock.
Visitors to Butterley can see the Princess locomotives at close quarters, observe restoration work in progress in the engineering workshops, and often travel behind a steam locomotive on the heritage line. The combination of the magnificent Princess locomotives, the working heritage railway and the Midland Railway heritage centre makes this a particularly rewarding destination for railway enthusiasts and families alike.
The Trust's engineering expertise extends beyond the Princess Royal Class to support the preservation of other historic locomotives and railway equipment, making it an important contributor to the wider heritage railway movement in Britain.
Categories:
Annual Visitors (2019)
15,000
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 Weekend visits when locomotives may be steamed; check event calendar
💡 Visitor Tips
- Check the website for dates when the Princess locomotives are in steam — not all visit days have steam working.
- Mainline railtours behind 6201 Princess Elizabeth are ticketed events — book well in advance as they sell out quickly.
- The heritage railway ride at Butterley is included in the site admission — allow time for the full journey.
- The engineering workshops may be viewable on some visit days — ask at the ticket office.
- Butterley station is near Ripley in Derbyshire — a car is the most practical way to visit.
- The Midland Railway - Butterley site has a café and shop.
- Photography opportunities are excellent — the shed environment and steam working provide exceptional subjects.
- Events including galas and themed running days are held throughout the season — check the railway's events calendar.
Highlights
Discover the unique exhibits and collections at this museum.
Collections
LMS 6201 Princess Elizabeth
The record-breaking 1933 express steam locomotive, preserved in working order.
Princess Royal Class History
The story of Stanier's 13 Princess Royal Class locomotives and their operational history.
Midland Railway Heritage
Collections and working heritage railway celebrating the Victorian Midland Railway.
Engineering Workshops
Active restoration and maintenance workshops where heritage locomotives are kept in working order.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.