LMS Princess Coronation Class 6233 Duchess of Sutherland

LMS Princess Coronation Class 6233 Duchess of Sutherland

300px 6233 Duchess of Sutherland at Monk Fryston

Type and origin Power type Steam Designer William Stanier Builder LMS Crewe Works Build date 1938

Specifications Configuration 4-6-2 UIC class 2'C1'h Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia 36 in (0.914 m) Driver diameter 81 in (2.057 m) Trailing dia 45 in (1.143 m) Length (conventional), (streamlined) Loco weight 105.25 long tons (106.94 t; 117.88 short tons) (conventional), 108.1 long tons (109.8 t; 121.1 short tons) (streamlined) Tender weight 56.35 long tons (57.25 t; 63.11 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 10 long tons (10.2 t; 11.2 short tons) Water cap 4,000 imp gal (18,000 L; 4,800 US gal) Boiler LMS type 1X Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.7 MPa) superheated Firegrate area 50 sq ft (4.6 m2) Heating surface:  • Tubes 2,577 sq ft (239.4 m2)  • Firebox 230 sq ft (21 m2) Superheater:  • Heating area 822–856 sq ft (76.4–79.5 m2) Cylinders 4 Cylinder size Valve gear Walschaerts for outside cylinders with rocking shafts for inside cylinders, Valve type piston valves

Performance figures Tractive effort 40,000 lbf (180 kN)

Career Power class 7P, later 8P Retired 1964 Disposition Operational (Mainline Certified)

No.46233 'Duchess of Sutherland' is a London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built in 1938 by Crewe Works for the London Midland and Scottish Railway. Built as a high speed passenger locomotive, 46233 was built to haul fast express passenger services such as ‘The Royal Scot’ and ‘The Mid-Day Scot' between London Euston and Glasgow Central as well as other expresses to Liverpool.

Withdrawn by British Railways in 1964, the locomotive was originally sold to Butlins holiday camp in Scotland. In 1996, the locomotive was acquired by The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust with the intention of restoration to mainline condition . In 2001, 46233 was restored to operating condition and since then has been a regular performer on the national network.

Service

46233 was outshopped in July 1938 from Crewe Works and was part of the third batch of her class. These were unstreamlined, painted in LMS standard crimson lake livery and had a single chimney and no smoke deflectors and an estimated cost of £13,800 each.

File:6233 Duchess of Sutherland hauling the Yorkshire Coronation to Scarborough.jpg

6233 Duchess of Sutherland running in 2010 with LMS lined black livery.

6233 was initially allocated to Camden, London. It acquired a double chimney in March 1941 and because of drifting smoke acquired smoke deflectors in September 1945 before being painted in postwar LMS black livery in September 1946. With the creation of British Railways on 1 January 1948 it was allocated to Crewe North depot. BR renumbered the locomotive to 46233 in October 1948 and repainted it in BR Brunswick green livery in 1952 or early 1953. In June 1958 it was allocated to Carlisle Upperby before eventually being withdrawn from Edge Hill depot in February 1964. During its 25 years service Duchess of Sutherland ran 1,650,000 miles - the second highest mileage by any member of the class.

Preservation

Following withdrawal from service 46233 was acquired by Butlins Heads-of-Ayr holiday camp, Scotland, in October 1964. It was later purchased by Bressingham Steam Museum. In 1996 6233 was acquired by The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust arriving at the PRCLT's west shed at swanick junction on the Midland Railway at Butterley on 3 February 1996. In 2001 6233 returned to the mainline after an overhaul assisted by the heritage lottery fund. To allow it to run on the mainline in preservation 6233 was fitted with Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS) and on-train monitoring recorder (OTMR) equipment, alongside the BR fitted Automatic Warning System (AWS).

On 6 March 2010, 6233 was rolled out in LMS lined black livery, which was retained during 2010, before a major overhaul, taking 6233 out of service for the 2011 season.

On 3 March 2012, now renumbered 46233 was rolled out in "authentic (Brunswick) green" livery, as used by British Railways during the early 1950s, at the Midland Railway - Butterley following a major overhaul.

It is planned for it to remain in her BR Green livery for part of the 2015 season when 46233 will be repainted into the more recognized livery of LMS Crimson Lake for the remainder of the season.

Picture Gallery

• Steam locomotive 6233 Duchess of Sutherland Carlisle Royal Scot 10 Oct 2009 pic 5.jpg

  Steam locomotive 6233 Duchess of Sutherland Carlisle Royal Scot 10 Oct 2009

• 6233 Duchess of Sutherland Coney Green Derbyshire.jpg

  6233 Duchess of Sutherland Coney Green Derbyshire]]

• 46233 Midland Railway Centre.jpg

  6233 Duchess of Sutherland at her home base, the Midland Railway - Butterley in LMS crimson lake livery.

• 

  Duchess of Sutherland repainted in early 1950s Brunswick Green at Appleby railway station on a southbound rail tour in June 2012.

Royal Train

On 11 June 2002, the restored Duchess was the first steam locomotive to haul the Royal Train for 35 years, transporting Queen Elizabeth II on a tour to North Wales, from Holyhead to Llandudno Junction, as part of her Golden Jubilee. The trip also marked the 160th anniversary of the first Royal train in 1842.

On 22 March 2005 the Duchess again hauled the Royal Train, the second time for a steam locomotive in 40 years, transporting The Prince of Wales from Settle to Carlisle over the Settle-Carlisle Railway. The trip marked the 25th anniversary of the formation of the 'Friends of the Settle and Carlisle' pressure group. On the trip, the Prince spent a 15-minute spell at the controls of 6233.

External links

• Princess Royal Locomotive Trust