LMS Patriot Project Updates

Its as simple as this, not that a lot of people on nat pres like to massively over complicate things....

Our previous engineering team made decisions (that they thought were the right thing at the time, not criticism of them as individuals) on many parts that unfortunately cant be used on the locomotive on the mainline. Our choices are, to make completely new and keep on paying for replacement parts which will add a few years onto the time of the first steaming, or, use the parts we have on a heritage only basis at first, noting exactly what needs to be changed, and keeping on with everything else being done correctly and paperwork done etc etc, but reducing the first steaming by a few years. Then the charity continues to fundraise to build all the missing parts etc so that after a few years of steaming we can take it out of service, replace those parts, new boiler ticket and if mainline is still possible, go on the mainline.

This way our members, who are not getting any younger, at least get to go behind a patriot in a more reasonable time scale.

 

This seems to be a reasonable pair of choices, but you haven't made it clear which option is being followed!

IMHO, both paths have their flaws/risks - if focusing on heritage line use there's a risk that there won't be enough work for it at a realistic rate, as lines increasingly look to get the best value from their home based fleets. On the other hand would there be enough main line work to be viable?

 

Well seeing as the board meeting was yesterday it was difficult to answer that question before the meeting had taken place.

And the answer is the second option.

Now all we need to do is to continue to raise the money required to finish it.

We are looking at all options and wish to be doing a lot more hands on volunteering on the locomotive, so if there are people out there that want to get involved to help reduce costs then please get in touch.

 

Here is our progress report for July 2023.

Engineering
Chassis Recovery

July saw most encouraging progress.

William Cook delivered the new driving wheels at the beginning of the month, after completing the rectification work identified in their quality inspection at the end of May. We made two inspection visits and now have all the necessary certification documents. The wheels have been shipped to Riley and Son at Bury for the assembly of the driving wheelsets.




Our Chairman, Simon Scott, Keith Riches and the William Cook Quality Controller with the wheels at William Cook’s foundry during inspection

Meanwhile Riley and Son have completed the rectification work identified on a range of chassis component defects identified in our MPI testing programme earlier in the year . Meanwhile, our competent volunteer metallurgist Mike Ames re-ran some final hardness testing on some of the chassis components, with no issues identified. This means that all the chassis mainframe components removed for testing and not requiring replacement can now be refitted to the frames.

At West Shed, chassis reassembly has already picked up pace this month. The smokebox components, the cab frame, along with the horn guides ties and keeps and the valance have now been refitted to the frames.




The chassis frames at West Shed with the cab and smokebox refitted

The sale of scrap metal has been arranged, with scrap loading performed by our volunteers, which we much appreciate.

 

The gist of the latest update seems to be that with the Princess Royal Trust going to concentrate exclusively on their own fleet the Patriot may have to seek a new home again. I hope this can be resolved.

 

Has Colin Hall been replaced as chairman?

 

Nope, that wording is slightly misleading. The pic of our chairman on his own with the wheel is Colin.

 

Are you referring to Gav's report above? I don't see anything in the report about a possible need to move.

 

Thanks.

 

PRCLT Contract
While all the above was happening there were unexpected developments at West Shed. On 27th July we were formally notified by PRCLT that West Shed is withdrawing from third-party contract work (at present ourselves and the LSL 9F 92212) to focus on the development of their own locomotives.

This followed the news a week or so earlier that Simon Scott, PRCLT’s Chief Mechanical Engineer and our Lead Engineer, has accepted an appointment as General Manager of Wyvern Rail (the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway) at Wirksworth, Derbyshire.

PRCLT is undergoing major change, with the loss of many Trustees, employees and volunteers since 2020.

Chris Powell, PRCLTs new interim chair told us that “PRCLT is very different to what was three/four years ago, and that they are in the process of rebuilding what the Trust was and is all about, which is their collection of locomotives and related artefacts”.

At its regular quarterly meeting on 29th July, our Trustee Board noted steps taken to safeguard the 5551 chassis and all components with volunteer help, and agreed on actions now under way to determine the way forward for our Project.

Simon Scott is a keen supporter of our project and will continue to act as our Lead Engineer as a volunteer during the transitional period. That is a major plus for us and we wish him well in his new role.

We have been assured of an orderly transition by the new PRCLT management. 5551 will remain at West Shed for the time being and accessible to working volunteers. What ends with immediate effect is the services under the existing contract. Communication will continue with PRCLT on the next steps.

We will keep you updated, with more in the next edition of the Warrior.

 

Bummer.

 

Just as well there's an established, and said to be wanting to grow, "new build centre" not too far away , then! It would certainly make a lot of sense for all concerned.

 

Thanks Gav, not good news

 

Is the Patriot team already a member of the (recently formed, whatever they call it) club?

 

I don't believe that the group has a name but they share technical information, also lists of suppliers and experiences of dealing with these, they also discuss certification and documentation. Useful collaboration and potentially rather valuable and the Patriot does appear to be involved.

 

Said facility does not have a pit, or at this stage even rails but the latter has certainly been discussed. Fast turning into the Class 6 Steam loco assembly shop...

 

From the pictures it looks very interesting. While im not going to comment on what will or wont happen with the 5551 build, as it hasnt been decided, and most places havent been contacted yet as far as i understand, when we were informed about the situation, it was the first place that came to mind for me. The pictures that the Clan group post regularly look fantastic, plus the video that was posted recently on YouTube where it mentions that they would like to have about 4 locomotives there looks very promising.

 

Is this a 4-7-0 or is there a spare wheel casting?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

There is actually 8 wheels. 2 are not for the lms patriot project.

 

I note that the Patriot has been transferred to Tysley today, which seems to be becoming a home of new build steam.