The Moseley Railway Trust has held a long-standing relationship with the National Grid over the course of many years. This partnership has included volunteering, team-building events, and a wide range of additional support.

Several locomotives within the Trust’s collection have direct links to the National Grid, having previously worked in the Woodhead cable tunnels in the Pennines. These tunnels, originally constructed for British Rail, were later adapted to carry high-voltage electricity cables. 

Among the locomotives preserved from this operation is “Prometheus”, a battery electric engine built in 1998 by Clayton Equipment. This locomotive was delivered to the Trust’s Apedale site in 2015. Due to battery issues, it has recently been out of regular service.

A grant from the National Grid Electricity Transmission Community Grant has now provided the much-needed funding to restore the locomotive to working order. 

With Apedale scheduled to re-open to visitors in 2026 with a series of events, including bank holiday celebrations, it is anticipated that “Prometheus” will form an important part of operations, offering environmentally friendly, zero-emission traction.

 “We are extremely grateful to the NGET’s Community Grant Programme. We have recently completed construction of a large new museum on the Apedale site, and we have been keen to keep the interior free from dirt and contamination. Using a zero-emissions battery loco, such as “Prometheus”, was always our preferred solution – and the Community Grant Programme will help us realise that ambition. Our volunteers will be able to use the loco when we start to move exhibits into the Museum, and when we need to change over the displayed vehicles inside the building”.

Simon Lomax, interim chair for the Moseley Railway Trust.