6235 was originally built in 1939 at Crewe, and entered LMS stock in July 1939, one of the third batch (Lot No.

Though it carried the name City of Birmingham from new, 6235 was officially named at a ceremony at Birmingham New Street on 20 March 1945, and a special coat of arms plate was then fitted above the nameplate.

6235 passed to British Railways ownership in 1948, and in March was given the BR number 46235, which was applied in May.

46235 was prepared by BR for preservation, and after storage at Nuneaton MPD, moved to the Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry, which was built around the locomotive.

Unlike the other two surviving members of the class, City of Birmingham has never steamed in preservation.