The ‘LMS Patriot Project’, by Colin Hall, followed by ‘Rob’s Railway Years: the 1980s’, by Rob Freeman.

In place of John Day’s postponed presentation, we now have a two-part meeting.

Colin Hall is the Chair of the LMS Patriot Project and will be giving us a frank first-hand presentation on the experiences and challenges faced recently and what is being done to move the project forward.

The LMS-Patriot Project – Our aims and progress to date

We are building a working steam locomotive as a National Memorial Engine, recreating a Remembrance link established after the Great War and lost in the 1960s.

None of this type of express passenger locomotive – the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) ‘Patriot’ class – survived when steam traction ended in the 60s on British Railways. When complete, it will join a select family of other LMS express passenger locomotives that still operate on our UK railway.

Inspired by the Great War Centenaries of recent years – Armistice Day and the repatriation of the Unknown Warrior to Westminster Abbey  – the locomotive will be named The Unknown Warrior. This recognises its special Remembrance role as a National Memorial Engine, in memory of servicemen and women lost in the First World War and all subsequent wars. This special role was performed by the first of the original ‘Patriot’ class – named Patriot – in honour of railway employees who fell in the 1914 -1918 War.

We believe that this commemorative role, together with the importance of the locomotive type itself in the development of our railways, brings a special historical dimension to our work. Our Patron is Simon Weston CBE, the well-known Falklands War Veteran.

Our present forecast sees the locomotive completed by 2026, dependent on our donations trend.  Thereafter we intend that the locomotive will be visible as a working memorial on regular display and hauling heritage trains on tours and at special events for many years to come.

Practically all of the work is new construction, using traditional engineering and manufacturing skills and based on original drawings. All of the major manufacturing and assembly work is being done in the UK.  Our main assembly base is the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust (PRCLT) works at West Shed, Swanwick, Derbyshire, home of the celebrated “Stanier Pacific” Duchess of Sutherland  (the only express engine of its type still operating today). The boiler is being constructed at Huyton, Liverpool by Heritage Boiler Steam Services; and the tender by the Devon-based Leaky Finders Limited.

Funds are mostly being raised through private donations, with some corporate support.  To date we have raised and spent nearly £2.8 million towards an estimated cost of around £4.3 million to finish the job.

 This presentation will take up the first half of the meeting and following a refreshments break the second half will be a presentation by our own Rob Freeman – ‘Rob’s Railway Years: the 1980s. Some of my favourite shots and rarities taken all around the UK, but with particular emphasis on our local scene. Steam, Diesel and Electric.’

33112 passing Dudswell with just one coach of unit 5851 (Class 455) and barriers, presumably bound for Wolverton. Image Credit: Rob Freeman.

Doors open from 19:00 for a 19:30 start of proceedings.