New build Patriot 'The Unknown Warrior' Celebrates First Birthday at Llangollen

The new ‘Patriot’ steam memorial engine, 45551 ‘The Unknown Warrior’, reached another milestone on 31st March - its first Birthday. A year ago, the frames were cut at Corus Steel in the West Midlands, signifying the start of the construction of the new 4-6-0, three cylinder locomotive.

In the last 12 months a significant rate of progress has been achieved with the construction of a new dragbox, buffer beams and associated bracket work, a new pattern for the bogie bolster and new drawings for the frame stretchers. Progress has also been made with the driving wheels, with three axles about to be ordered . A wheel pattern that was made for casting new driving wheels for ‘Jubilee’ number 45699 ‘Galatea’, has also been made available to the Project, enabling six new driving wheels to be cast. It is planned this will happen later this year if sufficient funds can be raised.

Visit lms-patriot.org.uk to make a Card donation, or to download a Membership and Donations form.

45551 ‘The Unknown Warrior’ can be viewed during ‘The Corwen Patriot Gala’, 23rd – 25th April at the Llangollen Railway Works.

 

I feel very proud, as someone who has just left military service after over 30 years, that this locomotive is being built to honour our comrades both from the railways who contributed so much to the war effort and to honour the military past, present and future. If ever there was a good reason to build a "Patriot" (and there are many) then this is it. Just donate now, please.

 

Well done & the best of luck with this project. If you have the will ,& the funds of course , it will be done. I for one cant wait to see an original 'Baby Scot'!

 

Great to see the wheels have now been ordered.

 

Its coming up to the second birthday now and things are progressing well for the short time its being going. On page 14 of the latest Railway herald it states that £40,000 will see the wheel sets finnished down at south devon railway. Are there many unknown warrior members on this forum. Or people who would be interested in joining? If so please join up so we can get closer to filling another gap in British locomotive history. And remember the sooner the money is raised the sooner we can have the discussion of what livery it will be in. Haha. But in all seriousness MEMBERS will all get to vote on what livery, so if you join you actually have your say.
Cheers Gav

 

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why did you edit. was much better the first time comment.

 

The project team are at two different events this weekend. Im at Llangollen fri and Sat so come say hi if your around. The other group are down at the ecclesbourne valley re opening gala.

Llangollen Railway Spring Steam Gala
Friday 8th - Sunday 10th April
Llangollen Station, North Wales

Ecclesbourne Valley Railway Grand Opening of the Duffield Line
Saturday 9th, Sunday 10th April
Wirksworth, Derbyshire