Phoenix Locomotives is now part of MRW.A historical archive of Phoenix and Express Locos, maintained by Miniature Railway Workshop.

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Phoenix Locomotives / History and archive

The history of
Phoenix Locomotives.

Discover Phoenix Locomotives and its Express Locos beginnings, including 5 inch and 7¼ inch gauge models, original photographs and Keith McDonald’s account of the business. Phoenix became part of Miniature Railway Workshop in 2024.

5 inch & 7¼ inch heritageBritish design. Worldwide railways.
Keith McDonald and Daniel Mason marking the sale of Phoenix Locomotives to MRW in 2024
PHOENIX JOINS MRW / 2024Keith McDonald and Daniel Mason at the handover.Source: Daniel Mason / MRW · Image reference
2000The Express Locos beginnings
2004Phoenix takes its name
2024A new chapter with MRW

01 / A collection with character

The Phoenix range

Phoenix developed scale diesel models, industrial locomotives and ride on designs for miniature railways. Customer requests and full size railway subjects helped shape the range.

This website brings together the company’s history, original photographs and model records. Phoenix became part of MRW in 2024, and current product enquiries are handled by Miniature Railway Workshop.

Meet the story behind the models ↗

02 / The locomotive collection

Explore the locomotive collection

Explore industrial locomotives, scale diesel models and special projects from the Phoenix and Express Locos collection.

Several original Phoenix Project Loco 2 locomotives
Many colours. One enduring idea. Project Loco 2 in the Phoenix archive.Source: Phoenix company photo archive · Image reference

03 / From Keith’s recollections

The Project Loco 2 launch

For its Project Loco 2 launch advertisement, Phoenix concealed a cardboard mockup beneath a sheet and invited readers to guess the new design. Keith recalled the interest the campaign generated.

Keith recalled the interest generated by the advertisement. The story is preserved alongside the designs and photographs in the Phoenix archive.

Read the Phoenix story ↗

04 / Phoenix today

Phoenix becomes part of MRW

Phoenix joined Miniature Railway Workshop in 2024. Its designs now sit alongside MRW’s track, rolling stock and workshop expertise.

This website preserves the wider collection. MRW holds the current specifications and ordering information for models listed in its range.

Phoenix at MRW ↗
The MRW team with a green Titan miniature locomotive outside the workshop
The next chapter at Miniature Railway Workshop.Source: Miniature Railway Workshop · Image reference

New from the collection

Explore the Phoenix archive

See original photographs, workshop details and more of the stories behind the range.

Explore the archive ↗

The next chapter

Phoenix history and MRW support

For current products, specifications and support, visit Miniature Railway Workshop.

Explore MRW locomotives ↗