LMS Coronation Class

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LMS Princess Coronation Class
46229 in semi-streamlined condition at Tyseley, 6 May 2006.
Power type Steam
Designer William Stanier
Builder LMS Crewe Works
Build date 1937–1948
Total produced 38
Configuration 4-6-2
UIC classification 2'C1'h
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading wheel
diameter		 36 in (0.914 m)
Driver diameter 81 in (2.057 m)
Trailing wheel
diameter		 45 in (1.143 m)
Length 73 ft 10 1⁄4 in (22.511 m) (conventional),
73 ft 9 3⁄4 in (22.498 m) (streamlined)
Locomotive weight 105.25 long tons (106,939 kg) (conventional),
108.1 long tons (109,835 kg) (streamlined),
108.5 long tons (110,241 kg) (6256/57) .
Tender weight 56.35 long tons (57,254 kg)
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
Firegrate 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 London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Coronation Class is a class of express passenger steam locomotives 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 Duchesses, though to enginemen they were often known as Big Lizzies.

They were the most powerful passenger steam locomotives ever to be built for the British railway network, estimated at 3300 horsepower and making them far more powerful than the diesel engines that replaced them.[1]

Contents

[edit] Overview

[edit] Initial construction

The first five locomotives, Nos. 6220–6224, were built in 1937 at Crewe. 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 reminiscent of an upside down bathtub and was fitted 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 gained at high speed.

Prior to the introduction of the Coronation service, No. 6220 underwent speed trials with a special train in 1937. Just south of Crewe, the train achieved a speed of 114 miles per hour (183 km/h), beating the previous record for a steam train (held by the LNER) by a slim margin. Insufficient braking distance had been left before entering a series of crossover points at Crewe, and although the train held the rails, much crockery in the dining car was smashed. After this incident, the LMS and LNER agreed to stop dangerous record-breaking runs which were in effect publicity stunts.[citation needed]

6229 "Duchess of Hamilton" on display at York after re-streamlining at Tyseley

The second five locomotives of the class, Nos. 6225–6229, were also streamlined, but were painted in the more traditional crimson lake, with gilt horizontal lining. This was to match the 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 the outbreak of the Second World War.

The next batch was built without streamlining. They were considered to be very handsome locomotives.

World War Two initially interrupted the building of further locomotives, but given the dire shortage of express motive power, several more were then completed during the war and were turned out in unlined black. Nos. 6253–6256 were turned out in 1946 in LMS lined black. The last two locomotives were constructed to a modified design, with roller bearings, by George Ivatt and were built in 1947 (No. 6256) and 1948 (No. 46257). In 1948, British Railways were nationalised, and the class's numbers were changed; in common with other LMS locomotives, 40000 was added to the original numbers. No. 46257 was completed after nationalisation and was turned out in BR black.

[edit] Early modifications

Single chimneys were initially fitted to Nos. 6220–6234 when built. These were replaced with double chimneys between 1939 and 1944. From No. 6235 onwards, the locomotives were built with double chimneys.

Smoke deflectors were added from 1945 due to drifting smoke obscuring the crew's forward vision. The last five locomotives were completed with smoke deflectors fitted.

An unusual feature of Coronation Class 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. This equipment greatly helped the loco's fireman to meet the high demands for power during the non-stop run of 299 miles (481 km) between London Euston and Carlisle Citadel, when operating the Royal Scot train to and from Glasgow Central.

[edit] De-Streamlined Locomotives

Coronation Class locos changing over at Carlisle on the southbound Royal Scot in 1958. 46221 Queen Elizabeth (left) and 46240 City of Coventry with headboard ready to climb Shap

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 employees as it caused difficulty of access to maintenance staff. Only three locos were still streamlined 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 while streamlined.

Initially de-streamlined locomotives could readily be recognised by the sloping top to the front of the smokebox. All were eventually re-equipped 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 12 variations.

LMS Streamliner – Blue, Red, Shop Grey, Wartime Black (Code C22)
LMS Non-streamliner – Red (Code A11), Wartime Black (Code C22), Experimental Grey, 1946 Black (Code B12; a few early repaints Code B13)
BR Experimental – (Dark) Blue, Black
BR Standard – (Light) Blue, Green, Red

LMS Shop Grey was carried briefly in service on 6229 Duchess of Hamilton, between 7th September 1939 until returning to Crewe Works later that year, to be painted Red, in preparation for the 1939 visit to the New York World's Fair, USA.

LMS Experimental Grey (similar in colour to Royal Air Force blue) was only carried on 6234 Duchess of Abercorn, from March 1946 until May 1948 when she was painted BR Experimental (Dark) Blue.

BR Blue was carried by 27 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.

BR Green was introduced in April 1951 with 46226 Duchess of Norfolk. Between August 1955 to December 1957, all 38 locos carried it concurrently. Locomotives allocated to the Scottish Region remained green until withdrawal.

BR Red was carried on 16 locomotives from December 1957: Nos. 46225-6, 46228-9, 46236, 46238, 46240, 46243-48, 46251, 46254, 46256 allocated to the London Midland Region.

From September 1964, a yellow diagonal stripe under the cab panel denoted a restriction not to work under the 25kV overhead wires south of Crewe.

After the formation of British Railways in 1948, some locos ran with tenders carrying BRITISH RAILWAYS lettering. This was applied to three different liveries: the LMS-style lined black livery (nos. 46224, 46225, 46236, 46257);[2] the BR experimental dark blue livery (nos. 46224, 46227, 46230–2, 46241);[3] and the BR experimental lined black livery (nos. 46226, 46234, 46238, 46246, 46248, 46251, 46252, 46256).[4] The early BR crest was applied from 1949, this in turn was replaced by the later crest from 1956.

[edit] Gallery

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

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

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

  • Coronation 46241 "City of Edinburgh" with sloping front to boiler top, in BR green with early BR emblem at Winwick Junction, Warrington in February 1955

[edit] Stock list

[edit] Preservation

Three Duchesses have been preserved. (4)6229 Duchess of Hamilton, (4)6233 Duchess of Sutherland have both been in service on main line railtours. The third locomotive completed, (4)6235 City of Birmingham, was the centrepiece in the now defunct Birmingham science museum. The locomotive 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 has been re-streamlined. The locomotive was moved to Tyseley Locomotive Works, where the work was carried out. The project was completed in 2009, and the locomotive returned to York on 18 May, now wearing her pre-war number 6229 and taking her place at the heart of a new National Railway Museum temporary exhibition. She could well be restored to operational condition at some future date.

[edit] Sound

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Roden, p. 3.
  2. ^ Hunt et al. 2008, pp. 145,147–8.
  3. ^ Hunt et al. 2008, p. 148.
  4. ^ Hunt et al. 2008, p. 150.

[edit] References

  • Hunt, David; Jennison, John; Meanley, Bob; James, Fred; Essery, Bob (2008). The 'Coronation' Class Pacifics. LMS Locomotive Profiles. Didcot: Wild Swan. ISBN 978 1 905184 46 0. 
  • David Jenkinson (1980) The Power of the Duchesses Oxford Publishing Company ISBN 0-86093-063-7
  • Hugh Longworth British Railway Steam Locomotives 1948-1968 ISBN 0-86093-593-0
  • Roden, Andrew. The Duchesses: The Story of Britain's Ultimate Steam Locomotives. ISBN 1-845133-69-2. 
  • Rowledge, J.W.P. (1975). Engines of the LMS, built 1923–51. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0 902888 59 5. 
  • Ian Sixsmith The Book of the Coronation Pacifics ISBN 1-871608-94-5
  • Talbot, Edward (2002). The Coronation Scot, The Streamline Era on the LMS. Stafford: Edward Talbot. ISBN 0-9542787-1-2. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: LMS Princess Coronation Class
Hughes (1923–1925)
Fowler (1925–1931)
Stanier (1932–1944)
Fairburn (1944–1945)
Ivatt (1945–1947)
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