LMS Princess Coronation Class

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LMS Princess Coronation Class
LMS Princess Coronation Class
Preserved 6233 Duchess of Sutherland running in 2001. She is roughly in the same condition as between 1941 (when a double chimney was fitted) and 1945 (when she received her smoke deflectors).
Power type Steam
Designer William Stanier
Builder LMS Crewe Works
Build date 1937–1948
Total production 38
Configuration 4-6-2
UIC classification 2'C1'h
Gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Leading wheel size 36 in (0.914 m)
Driver size 81 in (2.057 m)
Trailing wheel size 45 in (1.143 m)
Length 73 ft 10¼ in (conventional),
73 ft 9¾ in (streamlined)
Locomotive weight 105t 5cwt (conventional),
108t 2cwt (streamlined),
108t 10cwt (6256/57) .
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 10 long tons (10.2 t)
Water capacity 4,000 imp gal (18,000 l)
Boiler LMS type 1X
Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.7 MPa) superheated
Fire grate area 50 sq ft (4.6 m²)
Heating surface: Tubes 2,577 sq ft (239.4 m²)
Heating surface: Firebox 230 sq ft (21 m²)
Superheater area 822–856 sq ft (76.4–79.5 m²)
Cylinders 4
Cylinder size 16½×28 in (419×711 mm)
Valve gear Walschaerts for outside cylinders with rocking shafts for inside cylinders, piston valves
Tractive effort 40,000 lbf (180 kN)
Class 7P, later 8P
Retired 1962–1964
Disposition Three preserved, remainder scrapped

The Princess Coronation Class is a class of express passenger steam locomotives built by the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and designed by William Stanier. They were an enlarged version of the LMS Princess Royal Class. Several examples were originally built as streamlined, though this was later removed. The non-streamlined locomotives were often referred to as the "Duchess Class". To enginemen they were all known as Big Lizzies. It is widely held that they were the most powerful passenger locomotives ever to serve on the British railway network.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The first five, 6220-4, were built in 1937. They were streamlined and painted Caledonian Railway blue with silver horizontal lines to match the Coronation Scot train they were built to haul. The streamlining is probably best described as like an upside down bathtub and was largely for publicity reasons- Stanier, the designer of the Locomotives felt that the added weight and difficulty in maintenance due to the streamlining was too high a price to pay for the actual benefits at high speed. The second five, 6225-9, were also streamlined, but painted in the more traditional crimson lake, with gilt horizontal lining. This was to match standard LMS stock and a planned brand new Coronation train made up of articulated coaches. Although a prototype for this was built and exhibited in America it was never put into service due to World War II.

The next batch was built un-streamlined. They were considered to be very handsome locomotives. Smoke deflectors were added from 1945 due to drifting smoke obscuring the crew’s forward vision. War interrupted the building of the locomotives, but given the dire shortage of express motive power several more were then finished during the war and turned out in unlined black. 6253-57 were turned out in the 1946 LMS lined black and 46257 was turned out in BR black. Two locomotives to a modified design by George Ivatt were built in 1947 (6256) and 1948 (46257).

Single chimneys were fitted to 6220-6234 when built but they were replaced with double chimneys between 1939 and 1944. 6235 onwards were built with double chimneys. Smoke deflectors were fitted from 1945 with the last 5 carrying them from new.

An unusual feature of the tenders was that they were fitted with a steam-operated coal pusher to bring the coal down to the firing plate. When this was in operation a plume of steam could be seen rising from the rear face of the coal bunker backwall.

[edit] De-Streamlined Locomotives

The streamlining was removed from the fitted locomotives from 1946 onwards. It had been found to be a little value at speeds below 90 mph (140 km/h), and was unpopular with running shed staff. Only 3 were still fitted at the end of the LMS period and they had been stripped by the end of 1949. Only 46243 City of Lancaster carried its British Railways number whilst streamlined.

Initially de-streamlined locomotives could readily be recognised by the sloping top to the smokebox. All were eventually replaced with fully round smokeboxes. The sloping top led to the train-spotters nickname of Semis (i.e. semi-streamlined).

[edit] Liveries

The livery history for these locomotives involves no fewer than 11 variations.

LMS Streamliner – Blue, Red, Wartime Black
LMS Non-streamliner – Red, Wartime Black, 1946 Black
BR Experimental – Blue, Black
BR Standard – Blue, Green, Red

BR Blue was carried by 25 of the 38 locomotives; the first two being so painted in May 1949, one locomotive is known to have carried the blue livery until June 1954. All locomotives carried Green. Only 16 locomotives were painted BR Red and these were allocated to the London Midland Region; Scottish Region allocated locomotives remained Green.

[edit] Technical

  • Power Classification: 7P, reclassified 8P in 1951.
  • Introduced: 1937-1948
  • Designer: William Stanier
  • Weights:
    • Loco: - 105 t 5 cwt (Conventional), 108 t 2 cwt (Streamlined), 108 t 10 cwt (Ivatt) .
    • Tender: 56t 7cwt
  • Driving Wheel: 6 ft 9 in (2.1 m)
  • Boiler pressure: 250 psi superheated
  • Cylinders (4): 16 ½ " x 28"
  • Tractive Effort: 40,000 lbf (180 kN)
  • Valve Gear: Outside Walschaerts with rocking shafts (piston valves)

[edit] Gallery

thumb|right|6233 Duchess of Sutherland with smoke deflectors. The crowns were added when 6233 hauled the Royal Train to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee.

thumb|46229 Duchess of Hamilton was originally built as streamlined. As of 2005 there is an ongoing appeal to restreamline her.

thumb|Unstreamlined 46234 Duchess of Abercorn at Crewe during the British Railways era.

thumb|Unstreamlined 46232 Duchess of Montrose at Crewe having recently emerged from the paint shops.

thumb|Semi-streamlined 46241 City of Edinburgh at Stafford, 1954. The sloping smokebox front can be made out.

thumb|46229 in Semi-streamlined condition at Tyseley, 6 May 2006.

[edit] Details

Number Name Built Style Dble. Chim. Casing removed Smoke Defl. S’box circular Withdrawn Notes
LMS BR
6220 46220 Coronation Jun. 1937 Str. Dec. 1944 Sep.1946 Sep.1946 Dec. 1955 Apr. 1963 Set speed record of 114 mph (183 km/h) on 29th June 1937.
6221 46221 Queen Elizabeth Jun. 1937 Str. Nov. 1940 May 1946 May 1946 Sep. 1952 May 1963
6222 46222 Queen Mary Jun. 1937 Str. Aug. 1943 May 1946 May 1946 Aug. 1953 Oct. 1963
6223 46223 Princess Alice Jul. 1937 Str. Nov. 1941 Aug. 1946 Aug. 1946 Aug. 1955 Oct. 1963
6224 46224 Princess Alexandra Jul. 1937 Str. May 1940 May 1946 May 1946 Oct. 1954 Oct. 1963
6225 46225 Duchess of Gloucester May 1938 Str. Jun. 1943 Feb. 1947 Feb. 1947 Jan. 1955 Oct. 1964
6226 46226 Duchess of Norfolk May 1938 Str. Jul. 1942 Jun. 1947 Jun. 1947 Nov. 1955 Oct. 1964
6227 46227 Duchess of Devonshire Jun. 1938 Str. Dec. 1940 Aug. 1946 Feb. 1947 May 1953 Dec. 1962
6228 46228 Duchess of Rutland Jun. 1938 Str. Sep. 1940 Jul. 1947 Jul. 1947 Jan 1957 Oct. 1964
6229 46229 Duchess of Hamilton Sep. 1938 Str. Apr. 1943 Nov. 1947 Nov. 1947 Feb. 1957 Feb. 1964 Preserved. Currently under conversion at Tyseley Locomotive Works into original streamlining for static display alongside LNER Class A4 Mallard
6230 46230 Duchess of Buccleuch Jul. 1938 Conv. Oct. 1940 Sep. 1946 Nov. 1963
6231 46231 Duchess of Atholl Jul. 1938 Conv. Jun. 1940 Sep. 1946 Dec.1962
6232 46232 Duchess of Montrose Jul. 1938 Conv. Jan 1943 Feb. 1945 Dec. 1962
6233 46233 Duchess of Sutherland Jul.1938 Conv. Mar. 1941 Sep. 1946 Feb. 1964 Preserved
6234 46234 Duchess of Abercorn Aug. 1938 Conv. Feb. 1939 Mar. 1946 Jan. 1963
6235 46235 City of Birmingham Jul. 1939 Str. New Apr. 1946 Apr. 1946 Jul. 1952 Oct. 1964 Preserved as a static exhibit, Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry
6236 46236 City of Bradford Jul. 1939 Str New Dec. 1947 Dec. 1947 Nov. 1953 Mar. 1964 1948 Locomotive Exchange locomotive
6237 46237 City of Bristol Aug. 1939 Str. New Jan. 1947 Jan. 1947 May 1956 Oct. 1964
6238 46238 City of Carlisle Sep. 1939 Str. New Nov. 1946 Nov. 1946 Oct. 1953 Oct. 1964
6239 46239 City of Chester Sep.1939 Str. New Jun. 1947 Jun. 1947 Feb. 1957 Oct. 1964
6240 46240 City of Coventry Mar.1940 Str. New Jun. 1947 Jun. 1947 May 1957 Oct. 1964 The nameplate and numberplate of this locomotive have survived. They are at Coventry Station and can be seen from the staircase above platform 2 and 3, together with photographs.
6241 46241 City of Edinburgh Apr. 1940 Str. New Jan. 1947 Jan. 1947 Feb. 1958 Sep. 1964
6242 46242 City of Glasgow May 1940 Str. New Mar. 1947 Mar. 1947 Nov. 1953 Oct. 1963 Badly damaged in the Harrow and Wealdstone accident, 1952. Rebuilt with non-streamlined style front footplate.
6243 46243 City of Lancaster Jun. 1940 Str. New May 1949 May 1949 Nov. 1958 Oct. 1964 Last streamlined locomotive to have its casings removed.
6244 46244 City of Leeds

King George VI ( Apr. 1941)

 Jul. 1940 Str. New Aug. 1947 Aug. 1947 Jul. 1953 Oct. 1964
6245 46245 City of London Jun. 1943 Str. New Aug. 1947 Aug. 1947 Dec. 1957 Oct. 1964
6246 46246 City of Manchester Aug. 1943 Str. New Sep. 1946 Sep. 1946 May 1960 Jan. 1963
6247 46247 City of Liverpool Sep. 1943 Str. New May 1947 May 1947 May 1958 Jun. 1963
6248 46248 City of Leeds Oct. 1943 Str. New Dec. 1946 Dec. 1946 Jun. 1958 Sep. 1964
6249 46249 City of Sheffield Apr. 1944 Conv. New Nov. 1946 Nov. 1963 Built with streamlined tender.
6250 46250 City of Lichfield May 1944 Conv. New Mar. 1946 Oct. 1964 Built with streamlined tender.
6251 46251 City of Nottingham Jun. 1944 Conv. New Aug. 1948 Oct. 1964 Built with streamlined tender.
6252 46252 City of Leicester Jun. 1944 Conv. New Mar. 1945 Jun. 1963 Built with streamlined tender.
62253 46253 City of St. Albans Sep. 1946 Conv. New New Jan. 1963
6254 46254 City of Stoke-on-Trent Sep. 1946 Conv. New New Oct. 1964
6255 46255 City of Hereford Oct. 1946 Conv. New New Oct. 1964
6256 46256 Sir William A. Stanier F.R.S. Dec. 1947 Conv. New New Oct. 1964 Design modified by Ivatt.
46257 City of Salford May 1948 Conv. New New Oct. 1964 Design modified by Ivatt.

[edit] Preservation

Three Duchesses have survived. (4)6229 Duchess of Hamilton, (4)6233 Duchess of Sutherland have both seen action on main line railtours. Duchess of Hamilton, now out of working order, is in the process of a Steam Railway appeal to have her restreamlined. The third, (4)6235 City of Birmingham was the centrepiece in the, now defunct, Birmingham science museum. (4)6235 was put in place and the museum built around her. (4)6235 is now located at ThinkTank in Birmingham.

Following a successful appeal run by Steam Railway Magazine, 46229 is to be re-streamlined. The locomotive has been moved to Tyseley Locomotive Works, where the work is being carried out. The project will be completed by June 2008, when the locomotive will return to York for the 70th anniversary of the Coronation Scot service - taking her place at the heart of a new National Railway Museum temporary exhibition.

[edit] Sound

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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London, Midland and Scottish Railway locomotives
Hughes:
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Kitson:
Fairburn:
Ivatt:
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