LMS Patriot Project Updates

Oops!

 

Don't say that to the 4253 mob. They've spent half the weekend riveting the back onto the second tank. I wonder if they ever got Dave out afterwards.....

 

... or passed him a snorkel?

 

Well, if the public don't see him...how important is he...

Tom

 

He'll only need a snorkel if he's done a good job, otherwise it won't hold water........

 

I couldnt stop laughing at this!!!

But going to the original point about "if you cant see it etc etc" well for me and many in our project building the Patriot is not about building the biggest and most powerful loco in the world, they never were and never will be. We did have a brief flirtation about making a few adjustments to improve the performance, such kylchap or lempor exhaust (cant remember which now) but in the end we decided that it would change the sound of the engine, which really is a big part of what people remember. Were not out to break records, its more about being reliable and showing that the engine was good in its own right rather than change the whole thing and say its sort of like the original but completely different. So while you are right in that people would never know lets also point out that there are skills that apprentices need to learn here in the uk and doing jobs like this help to achieve this, and without keeping the skills alive there wont be many locos left running unless they get sent abroad to have full overhauls and nobody wants that!

 

With ORR getting prescriptive about loads, most recently saying 13 would have been (in their view) too many for Tornado to take over Sapperton, and the embarrassing crawl of a Jubilee up Shap on 30 May last year, what are the thoughts about the sorts of duties the Patriot will do on the main line?

 

There has been, only within the last couple of weeks, a loading update from ORR, effectively increasing the loads by one mk1.

 

I would have thought, loads will be exactly the same as a Jubilee, currently 9+pob, but as regards duties, I wouldn't think she will be doing TOO many Goods or Parcels turns...

 

Indeed not! The same load limits as a Jubilee would seem reasonable, but I would expect them to depend also on the route.

 

We are proud to have published the first pictures of The Unknown Warrior on its bogie on our website today.

The Unknown Warrior now a 4-6-0
Submitted by Kevin West on 24 February, 2016 - 14:59
Following the fitting of the bogie to The Unknown Warrior at Tyseley Locomotive Works in early February 2016 we are pleased to be able to publish these photos of The Unknown Warrior.in the yard at Tyseley.





The Unknown Warrior stands in the yard at Tyseley Locomotive Works, 4th February 2016. Photos by Kevin West



Chief Engineer Kevin West and Chairman David Bradshaw in from of The Unknown Warrior after fitting of the bogie at Tyseley Locomotive Works.. Photo by Andrew Kennedy

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I've been meaning to donate for so long and having seen all your excellent work has finally pushed me into spending 10 seconds clicking and typing! Good luck and I hope it continues to go well, it really does looks like a Patriot now.

 

Thank you for your donation mOrris.

To keep up the rate of progress we need to increase the donations into the project. We have many way you can help, either single donations, Monthly donations and component sponsorship. Component sponsorship is not just for very large, expensive parts. We need several thousand bolts and nuts at £1 each, over 1000 firebox stays from £7 each, right up to the Crank Axle at £10,000. Please see our website for more information.
http://www.lms-patriot.org.uk/
For Donations see the 'How You Can Help' tab
To sponsor a component see the 'Sponsorship' tab

Thank you all in advance.

Kevin West
Chief Engineer
LMS Patriot Project

 

A rolling chassis is a milestone! Looks amazing, keep up the good work.

 

Excellent progress, a very imposing machine is taking shape!
Just to refresh my ailing memory, have the cab and boiler mountings been lowered to fit the modern loading gauge, or is the cab as originally designed, and un-affected by current height issues?

That Fowler front-end profile from a low angle is absolutely unmistakeable, it conveys power even without the engine being steamable yet!

Richard.

 

Cab and Chimney being lowered to fit in the loading gauge. I do remember a long while back we looked at the option of possible lowering of the boiler but this was not able to be achieved.

I had a similar feeling the first time i stood next to her at the Warley model railway show with the front end all dressed up (minus cylinders and bogie) and i really felt that she does feel imposing at the front end with the blinkers on. I for one cant wait to see her in steam for the first time!

 

A lot of progress is happening at LNWR Crewe on the boiler at the moment. Our current appeal for funding is to pay for the steel stays. These cost £7 each and if you can afford to help us with this visit www.lms-patriot.org.uk

 

I did a double take when I figured out what that long tube was!

Wow! This is bloody impressive stuff!

 

Well last week the loco returned to Llan. We are all really happy to have her back so work can continue on the bottom end. Mean while also on site is the tender frames and the volunteer team have started painting the frames with a protective layer of paint. With progress on the boiler going well, awaiting the steel outer back and throat plate from Tyseley to start putting the inner and outer box together, how about visiting www.lms-patriot.org.uk and clicking donate now and donate just £7 for a steel stay. Alternatively you can look at the sponsorship page for items you might wish to sponsor. Cheers Gav