Probably the best known train in Burton history is the ‘Tutbury Jinnie’. The service provided a push-pull service backwards and forwards between Burton’s first Station in Cat Street (later, Station Street) and Tutbury stopping at Horninglow, Stretton & Clay Mills and Rolleston. There were eight trains each way on weekdays and two on Sundays.
The North Staffordshire Railway locomotives were originally painted a bright green, followed by a deep ‘Victoria Brown’ (red-brown). Eventually, they adopted a very distinctive crimson shade known as ‘Madder Lake Red’ (deep maroon) with yellow and vermilion lining. The passenger coaches were also painted in Madder Lake Red.
The First Tutbury Jinnie 1849
Robinson J11 class 0-6-0 steam locomotive
LMS Era (1923–1948): Under the London, Midland and Scottish Railway management, the service typically featured locomotives and coaches finished in standard LMS ‘Crimson Lake’ Maroon.British Railways Era (1948–1960): In its final years leading up to its closure in 1960, the service used an Ivatt and Standard Class tank engine (No. 41277), which was a rather less impressive black. This was a small tank engine which means that the water tanks and coal bunker were on the locomotive itself. The 2-6-2 wheel arrangement was particularly suitable for local passenger work.
The Jinny in service approaching Clay Mills Station 1956
Robinson J11 class 0-6-0 steam locomotive
My original restoration also showed the later Jinnie as green but after research before publishing, I discovered that it was in fact black. Such a shame, it looked gorgeous in green!
The Jinnie at Tutbury Station about to return to Burton 1958
The end of the line for the Tutbury Jinnie, the line soon to be closed. 1960
