‘The LMS Patriot Project’, followed by ‘Rob’s Railway Years: the 1980s’, 6th September 2022
6th September 2022 Meeting.
Our booked speaker had to call off and is re-scheduled for next year, so Colin Hall stepped into the breach for the following talk.
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 1960s 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 frank talk, covering the many problems encountered, was followed by a brisk Q&A session to close the first half.
Lizzie, our Mistress of the Urn then served refreshments for the first time since the March 2020 meeting, and she was so thrilled about it!!
33112 passing Dudswell with just one coach of unit 5851 (Class 455) and barriers, presumably bound for Wolverton. Image Credit: Rob Freeman.
Our Other Committee member Rob Freeman took the second half with a talk entitled "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".
Wonderful photos followed, many near Tring on the WCML as he was a teacher at Tring School, he lived in Berkhamsted and took them every day. We saw many unusual stocks and formations with a variety of motive power and quite a few different locations.
As is usual with Rob, each photo told a story and we all saw some things we hadn’t before. Sadly, many of the locations are now overgrown or the sidings and depots have disappeared, but nostalgia is a wonderful thing.
Thank you to both speakers for stepping in at late notice to give excellent presentations.
Rob Davidson, Watford Branch Secretary.