LMS Princess Coronation Class 6233 Duchess of Sutherland

LMS Princess Coronation Class 46233 Duchess of Sutherland is a steam locomotive built in 1938 for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) at Crewe Works to a design by William Stanier. It is a 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive built as part of the LMS Coronation Class for its express passenger services, including the Royal Scot service from London to Glasgow.

LMS Princess Coronation Class 6233 Duchess of Sutherland
6233 Duchess of Sutherland at Monk Fryston
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerWilliam Stanier
BuilderLMS Crewe Works
Build date1938
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-6-2
 • UIC2'C1'h
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.36 in (910 mm)
Driver dia.81 in (2,060 mm)
Trailing dia.45 in (1,140 mm)
Length73 ft 10+14 in (22.51 m) (conventional),
73 ft 9+34 in (22.50 m) (streamlined)
Loco weight105.25 long tons (106.94 t; 117.88 short tons) (conventional),
108.1 long tons (109.8 t; 121.1 short tons) (streamlined)
Tender weight56.35 long tons (57.25 t; 63.11 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity10 long tons (10.2 t; 11.2 short tons)
Water cap.4,000 imp gal (18,000 L; 4,800 US gal)
Firebox:
 • Grate area50 sq ft (4.6 m2)
BoilerLMS type 1X
Boiler pressure250 psi (1.7 MPa) superheated
Heating surface:
 • Firebox230 sq ft (21 m2)
 • Tubes2,577 sq ft (239.4 m2)
Superheater:
 • Heating area822–856 sq ft (76.4–79.5 m2)
Cylinders4
Cylinder size16+12 in × 28 in (419 mm × 711 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts for outside cylinders with rocking shafts for inside cylinders,
Valve typepiston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort40,000 lbf (180 kN)
Career
ClassLMS Coronation Class
Power class7P, later 8P
Retired1964
DispositionOperational (Mainline Certified)

Withdrawn by British Railways in 1964, the locomotive was originally sold to Butlins holiday camp in Scotland.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

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6233 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 (equivalent to £1,113,003 in 2023).

 
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 (BR) 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 (2,660,000 km) - the second highest mileage by any member of the class.[1]

Preservation

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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 (PRCLT) arriving at the PRCLT's West Shed, at Swanwick Junction on the Midland Railway - Butterley, on 3 February 1996. In 2001, No. 6233 returned to the national network after an overhaul assisted by the heritage lottery fund and match funded by the PRCLT.

To allow it to run on the main line 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.[2]

On 9 September 2018, the engine regained its original number "6233" and LMS "Crimson Lake" livery to mark its 80th birthday.[3]

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Royal Train

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On 11 June 2002, the restored Duchess was the first steam locomotive to haul the Royal Train for 35 years,[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "46233 Duchess of Sutherland (LMS 6233 & BR 46233)". Preserved British Steam Locomotives. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Midland Railway's 'Royal' steam locomotive can ride again". BBC News - Derbyshire. 3 March 2012.
  3. ^ Devereux, Nigel (19 September 2018). "Duchess of Sutherland is back in its birthday suit!". Heritage Railway Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Jubilee tour diary: Wales walkabout". BBC News. 13 June 2002. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  5. ^ "Insight Magazine, The Queen's Golden Jubilee Journal". The Duke of York official website.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "HRH spends a day in Cumbria and Yorkshire". The Prince of Wales official website. 22 March 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
  7. ^ "Prince Charles takes steam train". BBC News. 22 March 2005. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
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