Low-profile power bogies ↗
The engineering beneath the body.
Phoenix and Express Locos / History at MRW
The Phoenix archive
Locomotives, rolling stock, prototypes, photographs and original films, brought together in one archive.
The range register below contains 95 entries, including named locomotive families, gauge and seating variants, special projects, rolling stock and components. The photographs and original films continue further down this page.
This is a record of Phoenix and Express Locos history. A retained drawing or experimental project does not by itself establish a production model. Current product details and support are available from MRW.
95 archive entries
Locomotive designs
The named locomotive families recorded in the company history, catalogue and range records.
| Design or item | Gauge or record type | Archive notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project Loco 2 | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Complete locomotives and chassis-only versions are recorded. |
| Hesketh | 7¼ inch | Industrial outline. |
| Comet | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Battery-electric 0-4-0. |
| Budgie | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Industrial 0-4-0. |
| Druid | 7¼ inch | Industrial 0-4-0. |
| Titan | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Bogie locomotive. |
| Simplex Tin Turtle | 7¼ inch | Model of the 40 hp protected Simplex locomotive associated with First World War military railways. |
| Y6 Tram | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Enclosed tram locomotive inspired by the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. |
| Class 14 Teddy Bear | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | British diesel outline. |
| Class 24 Rat | 5 inch | British diesel outline. |
| Class 37 Tractor | 7¼ inch | Completed 37408 “Kenneth John Bull” and development photographs are preserved. |
| Class 42 Warship | 7¼ inch | British diesel outline. |
| Class 50 Hoover | 5 inch | British diesel outline. |
| Class 52 Western | 5 inch | British diesel outline. |
| DB V200 | 5 inch model; 7¼ inch project | Completed 5 inch scale model, with separate larger gauge development records. |
| F7 / Heavy Haul | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Express Locos Heavy Haul in passenger service; 5 inch and 7¼ inch body moulds recorded for later development. |
| Vale of Ffestiniog | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Double-cab narrow-gauge outline. |
| Geep | 7¼ inch | Ride on bogie locomotive with side access and space for additional batteries. |
| Timber Creek | 7¼ inch; 10¼ inch | Battery-electric logging locomotive with a steam outline. |
| Scooter | 7¼ inch | Developed from an agricultural railway commission and subsequently offered in the Phoenix range before being discontinued. |
| Tug | 7¼ inch; 10¼ inch | Ride-on 0-4-0. |
| Beefy Auto Truck | 7¼ inch; 10¼ inch | Battery powered ride on auto truck, also referred to as the Phoenix Auto Truck. |
| Hefty | 7¼ inch; 10¼ inch | Sideways and forward-facing 7¼ inch arrangements; forward-facing 10¼ inch arrangement. |
| Kew Tram | 7¼ inch | Bo-Bo tram. |
| Voltswagen | 7¼ inch | Recorded in the 2019 catalogue; Phoenix ended production in February 2022. |
| Original Project Loco | Gauge not recorded | The original four wheeled freelance locomotive, preceding Project Loco 2. |
| Polar Bear & Sea Lion | 7¼ inch | Companion models inspired by the Groudle Glen Railway’s Wingrove & Rogers battery locomotives. |
Gauge, chassis and seating variants
Variants that are easy to lose when each family is shown as just one entry.
| Design or item | Gauge or record type | Archive notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project Loco 2 chassis only | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Chassis supplied separately from the complete locomotive. |
| Tug, side facing | 7¼ inch; 10¼ inch | Side facing seating arrangement recorded in the historical range. |
| Tug, forward facing | 7¼ inch; 10¼ inch | Forward facing seating arrangement; a revised prototype was documented in September 2020. |
| Hefty, side facing | 7¼ inch | Side facing seating arrangement within the Hefty range. |
| Hefty, forward facing | 7¼ inch; 10¼ inch | Forward facing versions are recorded in both gauges. |
| Timber Creek, larger gauge | 10¼ inch | The April 2024 range account says the 7¼ inch design can be built for 10¼ inch gauge. |
| Y6 Tram, twin motor version | 7¼ inch | A newly modified twin motor version is noted in April 2024. |
| F7 body moulds | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Recorded as retained for future development in April 2024. |
| DB V200 larger project | 7¼ inch | Larger gauge development material is recorded; it is not presented here as a confirmed production variant. |
| Tin Turtle, 2HP proposal | 7¼ inch; development proposal | Higher power version announced in May 2022 and illustrated by CAD. A completed production version is not recorded. |
| Titan 7, 4HP proposal | 7¼ inch; development proposal | Higher power design announced in May 2022, illustrated by a computer rendering. |
| Hefty, American export gauge | 7½ inch; 4HP | A completed side facing export example is recorded in the 21 February 2023 dispatch post. |
| Tug, American export gauge | 7½ inch | A completed locomotive supplied to Nebraska was documented in February 2016. |
| Project Loco tram, special order | 10¼ inch | Phoenix described the completed special order and its tight curve testing on 14 November 2021. |
| Tug Hunter, reduced height | Custom order | Phoenix’s 23 December 2017 post records a locomotive 100mm lower than standard for Churwell Woodland Railway storage. |
| Tug, unpowered engine build version | Unpowered kit option | An unpowered version was offered for builders planning to install their own petrol or diesel engine. |
| Druid, second motor provision | 7¼ inch | Phoenix described a modification for a second 750W motor on 14 April 2018, including provision for later retrofit. |
| Class 14, AC drive proposal | 7¼ inch; development proposal | Provisional specification for a Class 14 with a 3 hp AC motor and regenerative braking. |
Prototypes, experiments and other projects
This part of the archive includes completed prototypes, special commissions and retained design studies.
View the prototype and special project photographs ↗
| Design or item | Gauge or record type | Archive notes |
|---|---|---|
| Super Tug | Experimental Bo-Bo design | A development of the ride on range, with a related 10¼ inch Tug proposal. A standard production version is not recorded. |
| Spuggy / Lister project | Design study | Chassis, wheel, axle and engine frame drawings document a Lister inspired project. |
| Meteor | Design study | Locomotive assembly and bonnet drawings preserve the Meteor design study. |
| Turbostar and Class 357 | Photographic project record | Completed Anglia Turbostar and c2c Class 357 miniature units, with bodywork and chassis photographs. See the project gallery. |
| Forward facing Tug prototype | Prototype / September 2020 | New bonnet profile and brake moved to the spectacle plate, described by Phoenix on 10 September 2020. |
| Budgie prototype | 5 inch / August 2020 | Phoenix offered its completed prototype for sale on 25 August 2020. |
| Vale of Ffestiniog prototype | 5 inch / October 2014 | Phoenix announced a visit to Leyland Model Engineers with the prototype in October 2014. |
| Greene King / Tam O’Shunter | Special AGM vehicle | Express Locos’ Beer AGM vehicle, later reliveried as Tam O’Shunter, described in August 2022. |
| CS Auto Trolley | Design study | An auto trolley drawing set covering the chassis, side rails and buffer beam. |
| Dart and A3 steam project material | Reference drawings | Steam locomotive reference material preserved in the company archive. A Phoenix production model is not recorded. |
| Film studio vehicles and motor show drive | Special commissions | Keith’s company history records film studio work and a drive unit for a full size prototype sports car. |
| Centre cab Project Loco / Speeder | Early special vehicles | Centre cab Project Loco and Speeder examples documented during the June 2003 North American visit. |
| Druid petrol engine trial | Engine fit trial | A 6.5 hp petrol engine fit trial documented in May 2016. The record describes a packaging study. |
Rolling stock
Passenger vehicles and goods stock, including discontinued kits and retained drawing projects.
| Design or item | Gauge or record type | Archive notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flat wagon / Riding Car | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Flat wagon and riding vehicle offered alongside the Phoenix locomotives. |
| Driving truck | 7¼ inch | Riding vehicle with a sprung chassis, seat, footrests and storage. |
| Bogie bolster wagon | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Bogie goods wagon documented in the Phoenix range and drawings. View the original 2018 gallery ↗ |
| Bogie well wagon | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Low loading well wagon documented in the original catalogue and drawings. |
| BR Mk 1 coaches | 5 inch drawings | British Railways coach design material preserved in the company archive. |
| Isle of Wight coach | 7¼ inch drawings | Isle of Wight coach design drawings preserved in the company archive. |
| Five plank wagon | 3½ inch; 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Open goods wagon designs documented in the Phoenix rolling stock range. |
| Covered goods van | 3½ inch recorded | Goods van documented by an illustrated kit building guide. |
| Banana van | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Covered goods van variation recorded in the design list and kit guide. |
| Fruit van | Gauge not recorded | A former scale rolling stock design listed in the April 2024 range account. |
| Cattle wagon | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Cattle wagon designs documented in the rolling stock range. |
| China clay hood wagon | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Hooded china clay wagon designs preserved in the rolling stock records. |
| Fish van / Insulfish van | Gauge not recorded | Fish van design material preserved in the Phoenix rolling stock archive. |
| Brake / guards van | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Brake van designs documented in the historical range. |
| LNER / BR 20 ton brake van | 7¼ inch | Unbuilt Phoenix kit advertised on behalf of a customer in August 2024 |
| Conflat wagon | 5 inch; 7¼ inch drawings | Separate Conflat wagon designs for the two gauges. |
| Slate trucks | Gauge not recorded | Slate truck and wagon drawings preserved in the archive. |
| Iron ore tippler | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Iron ore tippler designs documented in the rolling stock records. |
| 100 ton hopper | Design study; gauge not recorded | A hopper drawing project. A completed production version is not recorded. |
| Hand cart | Historical illustration | Hand cart recorded among the original equipment illustrations. |
Bogies, brakes and controls
The drive, control and running gear records that supported the locomotive and rolling stock range.
| Design or item | Gauge or record type | Archive notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unpowered bogies | 5 inch; 7¼ inch; 10¼ inch | The April 2024 account includes construction in 10¼ inch gauge. |
| Low profile power bogies | 5 inch; 7¼ inch; 10¼ inch | Powered bogies documented in the Phoenix catalogue and historical range. |
| Heavy bogie designs | Single and twin motor arrangements | Separate Parvalux, Movi and two motor design records survive. |
| Class 37 powered bogies | 7¼ inch | Single and twin motor options described in the 2018 and 2019 updates. |
| Turbostar bogies and coach bridge plates | 7¼ inch drawings | Retained development drawings. |
| iDrive control system | Control system | Original Phoenix catalogue and controller archive. |
| DCi / DCi 120 controller material | Controllers | Installation and operating manuals survive in the company archive. |
| DCI250-24 and ACI24-3 material | Control systems | Manuals are retained in the controller archive. |
| Tram controller | Control equipment | Tram control equipment documented in the original design records. |
| Relay board and throttle enclosure | Electrical components | Relay board instructions, diagrams and throttle box records. |
| Screw down brake and handbrake | Brake equipment | Dedicated screw down brake and handbrake drawings. |
| Brake caliper and brake units | Brake equipment | Caliper drawings and dimensional sheets survive. |
| Coupling bars / drawbars | 5 inch; 7¼ inch | Separate drawbar drawings for the two gauges. |
| General purpose wheels | 7¼ inch drawings | General purpose wheel designs recorded as GPW100 and GPW101. |
| AC traction system | Historical control system | Reported as recently introduced in Winter 2009. A 400W motor for smaller locomotives and trams was planned for 2010; delivery of that proposed extension is not established. Society News issue 131, page 56 ↗ |
| Soundtrack digital sound system | 12V / 24V sound equipment | A 16 bit digital sound system with interchangeable recordings and an integral amplifier, reported in Winter 2009. Society News issue 131, page 56 ↗ |
| Short wheelbase powered bogie | 7¼ inch; 400mm wheelbase | Phoenix’s 16 November 2021 post shows one 750W motor fitted and describes a second motor as an option. |
Sources for this register
Sources include the original Phoenix catalogues, company history and design records, historical Phoenix announcements, the 7¼ Inch Gauge Society News and MRW’s 2024 announcement. Entries distinguish production designs, variants, special commissions and development studies.
Historical descriptions and specifications relate to the versions shown. Present day specifications, availability and support are handled by MRW.
From the archived rolling stock catalogue
The well wagon
Phoenix’s well wagon took its character from the low-slung Weltrol type, built for large or awkward loads. The archived description explains the arrangement of bogies at each end and a lowered central load space. It formed part of a broader range intended to look like railway goods stock while carrying riders on a miniature line.
The design is recorded in both 5 inch and 7¼ inch gauge. Its historical catalogue page is preserved in the February 2026 archive capture. This is a historical description, rather than a current offer for sale.
01 / From an idea to a railway
Bogies and driving trucks
Driving truck ↗
A place for the driver. Room for the journey.
02 / Out on the line
Locomotives on the railway
About the collection
About the archive sources
This collection draws on Keith’s company history, the archived Phoenix website and the product notes and photographs supplied with the Phoenix archive. Original captions are retained in the source record; descriptions here have been written for this site.
Historic prices and ordering instructions have been left in the archive. For today’s range, visit MRW’s locomotive collection.
From the Facebook archive
Updates from the original Phoenix page
Introducing the Voltswagen
The Burnley AGM post places Voltswagen alongside Tin Turtle and a driving truck.
See the photographs ↗Developing the Class 37
A full-size photographic survey leads to proof prints, body patterns, mouldings and separate detailing.
Follow the project ↗The final Voltswagen build
Phoenix announces the end of production after body shells become uneconomic to source.
The Kew Tram in 2023
After a stay at Riverside Miniature Railway, the tram heads to the Uppa Creek Railway in Cumbria.
Read its story ↗Original Phoenix recordings
From the video archive
These videos remain on the original Phoenix channel. MRW does not currently control that account.
Titan CAD animation, 22 April 2011
An early animation introducing the Titan bogie locomotive. This records the design as it was presented by Phoenix at the time.
Class 52 Western sound system test
The Western’s sound system demonstrated in a short recording on the original Phoenix channel.
Browse all 12 recordings on the original Phoenix channel
- Class 42 Warship: four motors and TwiniDrive ↗
- Class 42 Warship at Saffron Walden ↗
- Machining Class 14 parts ↗
- The Druid bodywork build, time lapse ↗
- Tin Turtle at Bradford MES ↗
- Class 52 Western sound system test ↗
- Titan 5 at Derby SM&EE ↗
- 5 inch Vale of Ffestiniog at Derby SM&EE ↗
- Class 50 at Cinderbarrow, second clip ↗
- Class 50 at Cinderbarrow ↗
- Low profile power bogie animation ↗
- Titan bogie locomotive CAD animation, 2011 ↗
These historical films are hosted on the original Phoenix Locomotives YouTube channel.