The breathtakingly scenic section of Welsh Highland Railway through the Aberglaslyn Pass is now open. On May 24, NGG16 Garratt No. 87 threads the gorge with the 14.30 Caernarfon-Hafod y Llyn . RICHARD W. JONES Contents

August 2009. No. 1,300. Vol 155. Britain’s top-selling rail title.

A journal of record since 1897

On the cover

FOR EVERYTHING THAT RUNS O N RAILS

The Class 90 story

The Class 90 story The Class 90 story

MAIN IMAGE : The 90s are the subject of our main modern image feature this month. An immaculate No. 90029 poses at Crewe International depot on April 8, 2003. ANDY FLOWERS

Headline News Main line operators bid to reverse some Beeching cuts; Virgin unhappy at WCML performance; DBS wins back Royal Mail contract; Govia retains Southern franchise; ‘Javelin’ preview trains begin; Proposal to un-rebuild a ‘Merchant Navy’; New EU rules prompt train crash demo; NRM chief to call it a day.

BIZARRE ELECTRO-STEAM:

Kettles on wheels!

Gresley Society N2 re-creates Great Northern suburban era

Also inside:

NRM chief to retire Two tenders for Bittern!

Air-smoothed ‘Merchant’?

Eastleigh round-up

INSET : GCR-based N2 No. 1744 has been outshopped in GNR livery. PAUL BIGGS Right: ‘Javelin’

service test runs - p6.

Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest 54 Steam News Strathspey facing £1million bill; South Devon to sell surplus locos; Record receipts for heritage lines. 64 Railtour News 6233 nears end of ticket; ‘Hogwarts’ for Paddington.

Left: Days numbered for the ‘Duchess’ – page 64.

69 Narrow Gauge News Leighton Buzzard celebrates 90th birthday; Lilla visits Penryhn Castle; Lineside fi res in Snowdonia. 72 Traction & Stock News F1 ace launches ‘Pit Stop’; Engine falls off Class 142.

78 Network News New Virgin lounge at Lime Street; Further use for platform ‘humps’; Anger over Waterloo cuts. 80 Classic Traction News Debut for 37418; Electric museum launched; Plymouth home for LMS ‘Hoover’; ELR mega-mix details confi rmed. 83 World News Russian ICE3 sets record; Delhi deal for Siemens; Greek rack railcars on test; 25 GE locos for Nigeria. 86 Operations News Our monthly round-up of news from the train operating companies. 93 Disposals and Stock Spot Repainted, sold or scrapped? The most trusted and widely-followed loco & rolling stock update.

Regulars

29 Subscriptions Ad Lots more readers are reaping the benefi ts of subscribing. Why not join them?

35 Readers’ Platform Topical letters from readers, including your comments on our Eastleigh open days.

43 Location, Location, Location Our linesider’s guide tells you how to reach the best ‘photspots’ for main line railway photography. 45 Heritage Diary Where to go for steam and classic traction this summer 96 Events Diary A summary of club meetings and fi lm shows. 98 Prize Crossword Your chance to win £50 worth of books from the Nostalgia Collection in our popular prize quiz.

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Features 14 Locomotive 1300 In line with our tradition for issues ending in 00, we take a look at locomotives that have carried the number 1300 through history.

18 To Mallaig: 25 years of steam This month’s Practice & Performance features preserved steam on the main line from Fort William to Mallaig, marking 25 years of operation.

C O N T I N U I N G A N R M T R A D I T I O N

1 . L N W R W E B B 0 6 0 ( 1 8 7 3 )

T H E L o n d o n & N o r t h W e s t e r n R a i l w a y u s e d t h e n u m b e r 1 3 0 0 o n t w o l o c o m o t i v e s . T h e fi r s t w a s a W e b b 0 6 0 ‘ C o a l E n g i n e ’ b u i l t a t C r e w e i n 1 8 7 3 u n d e r w o r k s n u m b e r 1 6 5 2 . I t s t w o i n s i d e c y l i n d e r s w e r e o f 1 7 i n d i a m e t e r a n d 2 4 i n s t r o k e , i t s c o u p l e d w h e e l s 4 f t 5 ½ i n a n d i t s t o t a l w h e e l b a s e 1 5 f t 6 i n . T o t a l h e a t i n g s u r f a c e w a s 1 , 0 7 4 s q f t .

L o c o m o t i v e 1 3 0 0 W e l c o m e t o t h e 1 , 3 0 0 t h i s s u e o f T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e . A s u s u a l w h e n t h e i s s u e n u m b e r e n d s i n 0 0 , w e a r e p u b l i s h i n g a n a r t i c l e a b o u t l o c o m o t i v e s c a r r y i n g t h a t n u m b e r , s o h e r e i s a s u m m a r y o f a l l t h e r e l e v a n t B r i t i s h m a i n l i n e l o c o m o t i v e s w e ’ v e b e e n a b l e t o t r a c e .

T h e l o c o ’ s w e i g h t i n w o r k i n g o r d e r w a s 3 2 t o n s a n d i t s t e n d e r , w h i c h h a d c a p a c i t y f o r t h r e e t o n s o f c o a l a n d 1 , 5 0 0 g a l l o n s o f w a t e r , w e i g h e d a f u r t h e r 2 0 t o n s 1 0 c w t .

W h e n t h e l o c o w a s fi r s t b u i l t , b o i l e r p r e s s u r e w a s 1 4 0 l b p e r s q i n , c o n t r i b u t i n g t o a n o m i n a l t r a c t i v e e f f o r t o f 1 5 , 4 3 0 l b , b u t t h e c l a s s l a t e r r e c e i v e d 1 5 0 l b b o i l e r s . N o . 1 3 0 0 h a d a s t e a m b r a k e a n d w a s n o t v a c u u m fi t t e d . I t w a s w i t h d r a w n i n J a n u a r y 1 9 0 4 , a c q u i r i n g ‘ c u t u p ’ n u m b e r 3 6 0 4 f o r a c c o u n t a n c y p u r p o s e s .

2 . N B R D R U M M O N D 0 6 0 ( 1 8 7 6 )

D E S I G N E D b y D u g a l d D r u m m o n d , N o r t h B r i t i s h R a i l w a y C l a s s ‘ C ’ 0 6 0 N o . 2 4 2 w a s b u i l t a t C o w l a i r s i n 1 8 7 6 a n d g a i n e d t h e n u m b e r 1 3 0 0 o n t h e N B R d u p l i c a t e l i s t i n 1 9 1 9 . I t s t w o i n s i d e c y l i n d e r s w e r e 1 8 i n b y 2 6 i n , t h e c o u p l e d w h e e l d i a m e t e r 5 f t 0 i n a n d t h e l o c o w h e e l b a s e 1 5 f t 6 i n . B o i l e r p r e s s u r e w a s 1 5 0 l b p e r s q i n a n d t h e t o t a l h e a t i n g s u r f a c e 1 , 0 9 9 s q f t , a l t h o u g h t h i s l a t e r b e c a m e 1 , 2 3 5 s q f t w h e n t h e l o c o w a s r e b u i l t w i t h a n e w b o i l e r i n 1 9 0 1 .

T h a t r e c o n s t r u c t i o n a l s o r e d u c e d t h e fi r e b o x g r a t e a r e a f r o m 2 1 t o 1 7 s q f t b u t i n c r e a s e d t h e l o c o w e i g h t f r o m 3 8 t o n s 1 5 c w t t o 3 9 t o n s 1 0 c w t . T h e t e n d e r , c a r r y i n g f o u r t o n s o f c o a l a n d 2 , 5 0 0 g a l l o n s o f w a t e r , w e i g h e d 3 2 t o n s . N o m i n a l t r a c t i v e e f f o r t w a s 1 7 , 9 0 0 l b a n d t h e l o c o w a s fi t t e d w i t h a s t e a m b r a k e o n l y .

A f t e r t h e 1 9 2 3 G r o u p i n g , i t w a s c l a s s i fi e d J 3 2 b y t h e L N E R a n d a l l o c a t e d t h e n u m b e r 1 0 3 0 0 , w h i c h i t n e v e r c a r r i e d a s i t w a s w i t h d r a w n i n J a n u a r y 1 9 2 4 .

4 . M . R . J O H N S O N 0 4 4 T ( 1 8 8 4 )

M I D L A N D R a i l w a y N o . 1 3 0 0 w a s a n 0 4 4 T c o m p l e t e d a t D e r b y i n M a r c h 1 8 8 4 a s N o . 1 6 4 6 , g a i n i n g i t s l a t e r n u m b e r i n 1 9 0 7 . D e s i g n e d b y S a m u e l J o h n s o n f o r s u b u r b a n s e r v i c e s , i t w a s o n e o f a s e r i e s o f 2 0 5 l o c o s a n d w e i g h e d 5 0 t o n s 1 0 c w t , w i t h t w o i n s i d e 1 8 i n b y 2 4 i n c y l i n d e r s , 5 f t 3 ½ i n d r i v i n g w h e e l s , 1 4 0 l b b o i l e r p r e s s u r e a n d a n o m i n a l t r a c t i v e e f f o r t o f 1 4 , 5 7 0 l b .

I t w a s w i t h d r a w n b y t h e L M S i n J u n e 1 9 3 8 , s t i l l b e a r i n g t h e n u m b e r 1 3 0 0 .

3 . G W R 2 4 0 T ( 1 8 7 8 )

6 . L N W R W E B B 0 8 0 ( 1 9 0 4 )

5 . L & Y A S P I N A L L 0 6 0 ( 1 8 9 6 )

L A N C A S H I R E & Y o r k s h i r e R a i l w a y ‘ A ’ c l a s s ( o r 2 7 c l a s s ) N o . 1 3 0 0 w a s a n A s p i n a l l 0 6 0 , b u i l t a t H o r w i c h u n d e r w o r k s n u m b e r 4 2 0 . E n t e r i n g t r a f fi c o n J a n u a r y 8 , 1 8 9 6 , i t h a d t w o 1 8 i n x 2 6 i n c y l i n d e r s , 1 8 0 l b b o i l e r p r e s s u r e , 5 f t 1 i n c o u p l e d w h e e l s a n d a c o u p l e d w h e e l b a s e o f 1 6 f t 2 i n .

T h e l o c o ’ s w e i g h t i n w o r k i n g o r d e r w a s 4 2 t o n s 3 c w t , t o t a l h e a t i n g s u r f a c e 1 , 2 1 0 s q f t a n d n o m i n a l t r a c t i v e e f f o r t 2 1 , 1 3 0 l b . T h e t e n d e r h e l d t h r e e t o n s o f c o a l a n d 1 , 8 0 0 g a l l o n s o f w a t e r . I t b e c a m e L o n d o n M i d l a n d

& S c o t t i s h R a i l w a y C l a s s 3 F N o . 1 2 3 2 2 , a n d t h e n B r i t i s h R a i l w a y s N o . 5 2 3 2 2 , b e f o r e w i t h d r a w a l i n A u g u s t 1 9 6 0 .

U p o n w i t h d r a w a l , i t w a s p r e s e r v e d p r i v a t e l y b y a L a n c a s h i r e b u i l d i n g c o n t r a c t o r a n d c i v i l e n g i n e e r , L . M . F a i r c l o u g h , w h o p a i d f o r i t t o b e r e s t o r e d t o i t s o r i g i n a l L & Y c o n d i t i o n ( c o m p l e t e w i t h c o m p a n y c r e s t s o n t h e m i d d l e s p l a s h e r s ) a t H o r w i c h W o r k s . I t w a s m o v e d t o h i s c o m p a n y ’ s y a r d a t W h i t e B e a r , A d l i n g t o n , w h e r e i t w a s d i s p l a y e d w i t h t h e f a l s e n u m b e r 1 1 2 2 .

S e v e r a l y e a r s l a t e r , i t w a s a c q u i r e d b y A n d y B o o t h a n d r e s t o r e d t o w o r k i n g o r d e r , a n d h a s s i n c e o p e r a t e d o n n u m e r o u s h e r i t a g e r a i l w a y s , i n c l u d i n g t h e K e i g h l e y & W o r t h V a l l e y , R i b b l e S t e a m R a i l w a y , S t e a m t o w n C a r n f o r t h a n d N o r t h N o r f o l k R a i l w a y . I t h a s w o r k e d b o t h i n L & Y g u i s e a n d a s B R N o . 5 2 3 2 2 .

1 4 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e A u g u s t 2 0 0 9

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: All the 1300s – p14

A u g u s t 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 1 5

24 The Class 90 Story Viewed originally as ‘super Class 87s’, the Class 90s were far more independent than that, as Andy Flowers explains.

30 How the ‘Duchess’ regained her fi gure John Whitehouse tells of how the plan to re-streamline Duchess of Hamilton was achieved.

T R A C T I O N D A T A B A S E

T h e C l a s s 9 0 s t o r y

TH E C l a s s 9 0 s ( t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e E a s t C o a s t C l a s s 9 1 s ) r e p r e s e n t t h e t h i r d g e n e r a t i o n o f m a i n l i n e a . c . e l e c t r i c l o c o m o t i v e s b u i l t f o r B r i t a i n ’ s r a i l w a y s . T h e y h a v e t h e d i s t i n c t i o n o f b e i n g t h e m o s t w i d e l y u s e d e l e c t r i c s , h a v i n g s e e n s e r v i c e o n t h e W e s t a n d E a s t C o a s t M a i n L i n e s , t h e G r e a t E a s t e r n a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r r o u t e s . O n e h a s e v e n v e n t u r e d a s f a r a s C o n t i n e n t a l E u r o p e . P e r m i s s i o n t o b u i l d t h e fl e e t o f 1 1 0 m p h m a c h i n e s w a s g r a n t e d t o B r i t i s h R a i l i n 1 9 8 5 a n d t h e c o n t r a c t f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s a w a r d e d t o B R E L a t C r e w e W o r k s w i t h G E C T r a c t i o n u s e d a s s u b c o n t r a c t o r f o r m u c h o f t h e e l e c t r i c a l e q u i p m e n t . T h e y w e r e e n v i s a g e d a s a r e p l a c e m e n t f o r t h e a g e i n g C l a s s e s 8 1 t o 8 5 , w h i c h w e r e b e c o m i n g i n c r e a s i n g l y u n r e l i a b l e a n d p r o n e t o fi r e d a m a g e . T h e n e e d t o t r a n s f e r s o m e C l a s s 8 6 / 2 s t o E a s t A n g l i a a l s o l e f t a f u r t h e r p o t e n t i a l s h o r t a g e o f e l e c t r i c l o c o s .

W h e n o r d e r e d , t h e i n t e n t i o n w a s t h a t t h e y s h o u l d b e C l a s s 8 7 / 2 s , r a t h e r t h a n 9 0 s , b e c a u s e

2 4 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e A u g u s t 2 0 0 9

T h e y w e r e c o n c e i v e d a s ‘ S u p e r C l a s s 8 7 s ’ b u t b e c a m e m u c h m o r e t h a n t h a t . t r a c e s t h e h i s t o r y o f o n e o f B r i t a i n ’ s m o s t v e r s a t i l e l o c o t y p e s

t h e y w o u l d u s e t e c h n o l o g y p r o v e n i n t h e t e s t b e d C l a s s 8 7 / 1 l o c o , N o . 8 7 1 0 1 . B u t , a t t h e d e s i g n s t a g e , i t b e c a m e c l e a r t h a t t h e n u m b e r o f i n t e r n a l a n d e x t e r n a l d i f f e r e n c e s – n o t t h e l e a s t b e i n g t h e r a k e d b a c k c a b s g i v i n g a f a r m o r e s t r e a m l i n e d a p p e a r a n c e – w a s g o i n g t o b e s i g n i fi c a n t a n d t h i s l e d t o t h e n e w fl e e t b e i n g d e s i g n a t e d C l a s s 9 0 . T h e t e c h n o l o g y b o r r o w e d f r o m N o . 8 7 1 0 1 i n c l u d e d t h e u s e o f s e p a r a t e l y e x c i t e d ( S e p e x ) t r a c t i o n m o t o r s , w h i c h h a d b e e n t e s t e d i n e a r l i e r t r i a l s u s i n g N o s . 4 7 5 4 3 a n d 5 8 0 5 0 . T h e m o t o r s ’ a b i l i t y t o d e t e c t w h e e l s l i p a n d r e d u c e t r a c t i v e e f f o r t a c c o r d i n g l y m a d e 8 7 1 0 1 m o r e s u r e f o o t e d t h a n t h e 8 7 / 0 s , w h i c h h a d a r e p u t a t i o n f o r w h e e l s l i p . N o . 8 7 1 0 1 a l s o h a d a t h y r i s t o r c o n t r o l ,

r e m o v i n g t h e n e e d f o r a t a p c h a n g e r , w i t h w h i c h t h e d r i v e r h a d t o n o t c h u p o r d o w n t h r o u g h 3 8 p o s i t i o n s w h i l e w a t c h i n g t h e a m m e t e r t o p r e v e n t h i g h l o a d l e v e l s . T h e r e w e r e o t h e r a d v a n t a g e s , i n c l u d i n g r e g e n e r a t i v e b r a k i n g a n d t h e a b i l i t y t o s h u t o f f p o w e r q u i c k l y , w h e n a p p r o a c h i n g a n e u t r a l s e c t i o n f o r i n s t a n c e . I n a d d i t i o n , a s l i g h t l y h i g h e r c u r r e n t i s f e d t o t h e r e a r a x l e o n t h e b o g i e s t o a l l o w f o r w e i g h t t r a n s f e r w h e n a c c e l e r a t i n g . C l a s s 9 0 w a s a l s o t h e fi r s t fl e e t b u i l t c o m p l e t e w i t h T i m e D i v i s i o n M u l t i p l e x e q u i p m e n t , f o r p u s h p u l l o p e r a t i o n f o l l o w i n g t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f d r i v i n g v a n t r a i l e r s o n t h e W C M L .

C o n s t r u c t i o n a n d i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e fl e e t w a s p r o t r a c t e d , t a k i n g f o u r y e a r s i n t o t a l . T h e d e l a y w a s p a r t l y b l a m e d o n t h e p r e s s u r e t o p r e p a r e t h e C l a s s 9 1 s f o r t h e n e w l y e l e c t r i fi e d E C M L . W i t h b o t h c l a s s e s b e i n g d e v e l o p e d a t t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e r e w e r e s o m e s i m i l a r i t i e s i n t h e d e s i g n , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e i r e l e c t r i c a l e q u i p m e n t .

C o n s t r u c t i o n o f N o . 9 0 0 0 1 b e g a n a t B R E L C r e w e i n l a t e 1 9 8 6 a n d i t w a s e x h i b i t e d a t t h e W o r k s o p e n d a y o n J u l y 4 , 1 9 8 7 , l a b e l l e d a s N o . 8 7 2 0 1 a n d w i t h a t e m p o r a r y m o u l d e d c a b f o r d e m o n s t r a t i o n p u r p o s e s . I t w a s c o m p l e t e d i n S e p t e m b e r a n d t r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e R a i l w a y T e c h n i c a l C e n t r e i n D e r b y f o r t y p e t e s t i n g . T h e n e x t l o c o , 9 0 0 0 2 , w a s n o t c o m p l e t e d u n t i l F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 8 , b u t l o s t t i m e w a s t h e n m a d e u p

C L A S S 9 0 T E C H N I C A L D E T A I L S

w i t h N o . 9 0 0 0 5 h a u l i n g t h e fi r s t r e v e n u e e a r n i n g p a s s e n g e r s e r v i c e j u s t a m o n t h l a t e r .

D r i v e r t r a i n i n g r u n s w i t h e m p t y s t o c k t r a i n s , m a n y b e t w e e n C r e w e a n d C a r l i s l e , c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h o u t 1 9 8 8 a n d b y t h e e n d o f t h a t y e a r , s i x p a s s e n g e r d i a g r a m s o n t h e W C M L h a d b e e n e n t r u s t e d t o t h e c l a s s , a l t h o u g h t h e r e w e r e r e l i a b i l i t y p r o b l e m s w i t h e l e c t r i c a l e q u i p m e n t p r o v i n g f a u l t y a n d G E C e n g i n e e r s h a d t o b e c a l l e d i n t o s o l v e t h e p r o b l e m s . T h e n e x t y e a r , w o r r i e s a b o u t t h e l o c o s ’ b r a k i n g s y s t e m s c a u s e d a t e m p o r a r y w i t h d r a w a l o f t h e fl e e t f o r c h e c k i n g . I n M a y 1 9 8 8 , N o . 9 0 0 0 8 ( t o g e t h e r w i t h 9 1 0 0 3 , 8 9 0 0 1 , a C l a s s 1 5 0 / 2 a n d a n u m b e r o f M k 3 c o a c h e s ) w a s d i s p l a y e d a t t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l T r a n s p o r t & T r a f fi c e x h i b i t i o n i n H a m b u r g , G e r m a n y , b e i n g t r a n s p o r t e d f r o m D e r b y t o H a m b u r g v i a t h e D o v e r t r a i n f e r r y .

B y 1 9 9 0 , t h e fl e e t w a s b e c o m i n g m o r e w i d e s p r e a d i n t h e U K w i t h d r i v e r t r a i n i n g a l s o b e g i n n i n g i n E a s t A n g l i a ( b e t w e e n I p s w i c h a n d I l f o r d ) u s i n g r a k e s o f c o a l w a g o n s .

I n S e p t e m b e r o f t h a t y e a r , t h e l a s t m e m b e r t o

e n t e r s e r v i c e , N o . 9 0 0 5 0 , m a d e i t s a p p e a r a n c e . W i t h r e g a r d t o l i v e r i e s , N o s . 9 0 0 0 1 t o 9 0 0 2 5 w e r e d e l i v e r e d i n f u l l I n t e r C i t y l i v e r y w i t h t h e n e x t 1 1 a p p e a r i n g i n t h e l a t e r M a i n L i n e v a r i a n t . T h e fi n a l b a t c h o f 9 0 0 3 7 t o 9 0 0 5 0 w a s c o m p l e t e d i n t h e t r i p l e g r e y o f R a i l f r e i g h t D i s t r i b u t i o n ( R f D ) . D r o p h e a d b u c k e y e c o u p l e r s a n d r e t r a c t a b l e s i d e b u f f e r s w e r e fi t t e d t o a l l c l a s s m e m b e r s f r o m n e w , b o t h b e i n g r e q u i r e d t o e n a b l e h i g h s p e e d p u s h p u l l o p e r a t i o n . R u b b e r b o a r d s w e r e a l s o p r o v i d e d n e x t t o t h e c o u p l i n g s t o r e d u c e f r i c t i o n d a m a g e b e t w e e n t h e l o c o a n d c o a c h e s w h i l e i n p u s h p u l l m o d e . O n t h e fi r s t 1 5 l o c o m o t i v e s , t h i s e q u i p m e n t i s s t i l l fi t t e d , a l t h o u g h t h o s e a l l o c a t e d t o f r e i g h t d u t i e s n o w h a v e fi x e d b u f f e r s . A s a p r e c u r s o r t o f u l l s c a l e p r i v a t i s a t i o n , B R b e c a m e i n c r e a s i n g l y s e c t o r i s e d i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 9 0 s a n d , i n l i n e w i t h m a n y o t h e r c l a s s e s a t t h e t i m e , t h e 9 0 fl e e t w a s s p l i t b e t w e e n f r e i g h t a n d p a s s e n g e r s e c t i o n s . T h e fi r s t 1 5 l o c o s r e t a i n e d t h e i r o r i g i n a l d e s i g n a t i o n a n d p a s s e d i n t o t h e I n t e r C i t y s e c t o r f o r u s e o n W C M L e x p r e s s p a s s e n g e r t r a f fi c . R o y a l M a i l t r a f fi c b e c a m e s p l i t f r o m t h e

A u g u s t 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 2 5

COATS OF MANY COLOURS: The Class 90s – p24

38 Kettles on Wheels Rex Carver tells the zany story of electro-steam. 40 Time Traveller A delve into The Railway Magazine’s archive reveals some classic diesel and electric photos. 48 Panorama A round-up of top quality photographs in our regular monthly showcase.

R E C R E A T I N G A N I C O N

H o w t h e D u c h e s s r e g a i n e d h e r fi g u r e

J O H N W H I T E H O U S E t e l l s h o w S t a n i e r P a c i fi c N o . 6 2 2 9 D u c h e s s o f H a m i l t o n w a s r e s t r e a m l i n e d

TH E r a i l w a y h e r i t a g e m o v e m e n t h a s a c h i e v e d m a n y n o t a b l e f e a t s o v e r t h e y e a r s , s o m e o f t h e m b e l o n g i n g t o t h e n e a r ‘ M i s s i o n I m p o s s i b l e ’ c a t e g o r y , b u t , a s t h e f r o n t c o v e r o f l a s t m o n t h ’ s i s s u e r e v e a l e d , t h e r e i s n o w a n e w m e m b e r o f t h a t e x c l u s i v e c l u b . . . a s t r e a m l i n e d ‘ D u c h e s s ’ . F o r t h o s e p e o p l e l u c k y e n o u g h t o b e a t t h e N a t i o n a l R a i l w a y M u s e u m o n M a y 1 9 , t h e t h r i l l o f s e e i n g a r e c r e a t e d i c o n o f t h e p a s t b e i n g u n v e i l e d w i l l b e r e m e m b e r e d f o r m a n y a l o n g y e a r . T h e r e a r e n o t m a n y a l i v e t o d a y w h o a c t u a l l y s a w a s t r e a m l i n e d ‘ D u c h e s s ’ i n a c t i o n a n d , u n t i l r e c e n t l y , t h e p r o s p e c t o f s e e i n g o n e a g a i n w a s j u s t a n i t e m n e a r t h e t o p o f e v e r y o n e ’ s w i s h l i s t .

N o w , t h a n k s t o t h e v i s i o n o f a n u m b e r o f i n d i v i d u a l s a n d o r g a n i s a t i o n s , t h a t ’ s o n e v e r y b i g i t e m t h a t c a n b e t i c k e d o f f t h e l i s t – f o r e x L M S S t a n i e r P a c i fi c N o . 6 2 2 9 D u c h e s s o f H a m i l t o n i s o n c e a g a i n r e s p l e n d e n t i n 1 9 3 0 s s t y l e L M S l i v e r y a n d l o o k s a b s o l u t e l y s t u n n i n g . . . a r g u a b l y a s m u c h a n i c o n f o r t h e f u t u r e a s t h e p a s t !

T h e f u l l D u c h e s s o f H a m i l t o n s t o r y f r o m 1 9 3 8 t o t h e p r e s e n t d e c a d e w i l l b e t o l d i n p a r t 2 o f t h i s f e a t u r e n e x t m o n t h , b u t i n t h i s i s s u e w e r e l a t e t h e s t o r y o f h o w t h e ‘ D u c h e s s ’ r e g a i n e d h e r fi g u r e i n w h a t i s a r g u a b l y o n e o f t h e m o s t c h a l l e n g i n g n o n s t e a m i n g p r o j e c t s t h e l o c o p r e s e r v a t i o n m o v e m e n t h a s a t t e m p t e d . N o . 6 2 2 9 , a m e m b e r o f t h e ‘ P r i n c e s s C o r o n a t i o n ’ c l a s s , w a s o r i g i n a l l y s t r e a m l i n e d a t t h e h e i g h t o f t h e l a t e 1 9 3 0 s a r t d e c o e r a , o f

3 0 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e A u g u s t 2 0 0 9

w h i c h s t r e a m l i n i n g w a s a n o t a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c . T h a t w a s t h e e r a o f t h e f a m o u s ‘ C o r o n a t i o n S c o t ’ e x p r e s s o n t h e L M S a n d t h e e n g i n e s – s o m e p a i n t e d b l u e & w h i t e , o t h e r s i n c r i m s o n l a k e & g o l d – v i e d w i t h t h e i r s t r e a m l i n e d L N E R r i v a l s f o r A n g l o S c o t t i s h s u p r e m a c y i n t e r m s o f s p e e d , g l a m o u r a n d p u b l i c i t y f r o m t h e n u n t i l t h e o u t b r e a k o f W o r l d W a r T w o . I t w a s a v e r y e x c i t i n g t i m e – c o n s i d e r e d b y m a n y r a i l h i s t o r i a n s t o b e t h e z e n i t h o f r a i l p r a c t i c e i n t h e U K – b u t i t a l l c a m e t o a n a b r u p t e n d u p o n t h e o u t b r e a k o f fi g h t i n g a n d a l t h o u g h N o . 6 2 2 9 i t s e l f e s c a p e d b y g o i n g t o A m e r i c a i n t h e g u i s e o f N o . 6 2 2 0 C o r o n a t i o n ( s e e n e x t m o n t h ) , i t s s i s t e r s w e r e p a i n t e d b l a c k u n t i l t h e w h o l e c l a s s w a s e v e n t u a l l y ‘ d e f r o c k e d ’ i n t h e l a t e 1 9 4 0 s – t h e n e e d f o r e a s i e r m a i n t e n a n c e i n t h e p o s t w a r a u s t e r i t y p e r i o d b e i n g m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e d u b i o u s a d v a n t a g e s o f s t r e a m l i n i n g a t a t i m e w h e n g l a m o u r a n d h i g h s p e e d s w e r e n o l o n g e r o n t h e a g e n d a . D u c h e s s o f H a m i l t o n w a s o n e o f t h r e e ‘ P r i n c e s s C o r o n a t i o n s ’ t o s u r v i v e i n t o p r e s e r v a t i o n u p o n w i t h d r a w a l b y B R L o n d o n M i d l a n d R e g i o n i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 6 0 s a n d , a f t e r r e s t o r a t i o n t o w o r k i n g o r d e r a n d m a n y y e a r s o f m a i n l i n e r u n n i n g i n c o n v e n t i o n a l f o r m i n t h e l a t e 2 0 t h

c e n t u r y , t h o u g h t s b e g a n t o t u r n i n t h e 1 9 9 0 s t o r e s t o r i n g i t t o p r e w a r g l o r y . T h e fi r s t s e r i o u s a t t e m p t w a s m a d e i n 1 9 9 8 a s p a r t o f a n a m b i t i o u s s c h e m e t o r e c r e a t e a n e n t i r e ‘ C o r o n a t i o n S c o t ’ t r a i n s e t f o r m a i n l i n e r u n n i n g . T h e V S O E ( ‘ O r i e n t E x p r e s s ’ ) o r g a n i s a t i o n w a s b e h i n d t h a t s c h e m e b u t i t w a s u l t i m a t e l y r e j e c t e d o n c o s t g r o u n d s . H o w e v e r , a l t h o u g h t h e p l a n w a s a b a n d o n e d , m e m b e r s o f t h e F r i e n d s o f t h e N a t i o n a l R a i l w a y M u s e u m ’ s 2 2 9 C l u b q u i e t l y c o n t i n u e d t o r a i s e f u n d s a n d , f o u r y e a r s a g o , a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e y h a d a m a s s e d a ‘ w a r c h e s t ’ o f a r o u n d £ 5 0 , 0 0 0 .

T h e m e m b e r s h a d a c h o i c e t o m a k e a s t o h o w t o s p e n d t h e m o n e y – p u t i t t o w a r d s a n o v e r h a u l o r g o f o r s o m e t h i n g c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e n t v i a s t r e a m l i n i n g – a n d a l a r g e m a j o r i t y o p t e d f o r t h e l a t t e r . T h e i r k i t t y w a s f u r t h e r e n h a n c e d b y s u p p o r t f r o m r e a d e r s o f S t e a m R a i l w a y m a g a z i n e , w h o s t u m p e d u p a f u r t h e r

£ 3 0 , 0 0 0 . T h e p r o j e c t w a s u p a n d r u n n i n g . T y s e l e y L o c o m o t i v e W o r k s h a d b e e n a p p r o a c h e d t o u n d e r t a k e t h e w o r k a n d i t s c h i e f e n g i n e e r , B o b M e a n l e y , a c c e p t e d t h e c h a l l e n g e w i t h e n t h u s i a s m . H i s b r i e f ( w h i c h i n f a c t w a s a l s o a p e r s o n a l o b j e c t i v e d u e t o h i s k n o w n p r e f e r e n c e f o r ‘ P r i n c e s s C o r o n a t i o n s ’ ) w a s t o e n s u r e t h e fi n i s h e d p r o d u c t w a s a s c l o s e t o t h e o r i g i n a l a s w a s p o s s i b l e i n t h e 2 1 s t c e n t u r y . T h e m o v e o f t h e N R M o w n e d l o c o f r o m Y o r k t o T y s e l e y w a s a c c o m p l i s h e d v i a a v i s i t t o a C r e w e W o r k s o p e n w e e k e n d i n S e p t e m b e r 2 0 0 5 , w h i c h f e a t u r e d a l i n e u p o f f o u r o f t h e fi v e s u r v i v i n g S t a n i e r 4 6 2 s .

O n c e t u c k e d a w a y f r o m p r y i n g e y e s a t T y s e l e y , t h e w o r k o f r e m o v i n g s u p e r fl u o u s p a r t s b e g a n a n d , e i g h t m o n t h s l a t e r , m a t t e r s h a d p r o g r e s s e d t o t h e p o i n t w h e r e b y i t w a s p o s s i b l e t o s t a g e a s p e c i a l e v e n t f o r c o n t r i b u t o r s , a t w h i c h N o . 6 2 2 9 w a s w h e e l e d o u t o f

t h e w o r k s h o p s a s a ‘ S e m i ’ f o r t h e d a y . ‘ S e m i ’ w a s t h e n i c k n a m e g i v e n b y 1 9 5 0 s a n d ’ 6 0 s l o c o s p o t t e r s t o t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e c l a s s t h a t h a d p r e v i o u s l y b e e n s t r e a m l i n e d , t h e t e l l t a l e c l u e b e i n g a d i s t i n c t i v e fl a t t e n e d t o p e d g e t o t h e s m o k e b o x ( s e e p i c t u r e s o v e r l e a f ) . T o a d d s p i c e t o t h e T y s e l e y e v e n t , o n e s i d e o f t h e l o c o h a d b e e n l e f t i n t h e o r i g i n a l m a r o o n , b u t t o t h e s u r p r i s e a n d j o y o f t h o s e p r e s e n t , t h e o t h e r s i d e h a d b e e n fi n i s h e d i n L M S l i n e d b l a c k , t h e l i v e r y c a r r i e d w h e n fi r s t d e s t r e a m l i n e d i n t h e l a t e 1 9 4 0 s .

O n c e t h e c r o w d s o f s u p p o r t e r s h a d d e p a r t e d , t h e r e s t r e a m l i n i n g p r o c e s s g o t

A u g u s t 2 0 0 9 T h e R a i l w a y M a g a z i n e 3 1

GETTING HER CURVES BACK: How it was done – p30

August 2009 • The Railway Magazine • 5