Covid- 19 fails to halt Patriot progress
THE LMS- Patriot Project has continued to progress theconstruction of its new- build4- 6- 0No. 5551 TheUnknown Warrior– despitethe restrictionsof the coronavirus lockdown. Both the boiler and tender chassis have advanced in recentweeks.
The locomotive’s boiler contractor, Heritage Boiler Steam Services
( HBSS), had recently paused the work for the time being for budget reasons while other work was prioritised on No. 5551.
“However, good progress has been made on the boiler cladding and with fitting the stays. We appreciate the cooperation of HBSS at this time,” said a spokesman for LMS- Patriot Project.
The replacement castings for both the dome and cover have been fully tested and approved.
Tender
Work on the tender frames has continued at LeakyFinders inSouth Devon, although atamuch slowerpace thanwas thought, due to the lockdown restrictions. All the hornguide fitting and riveting has been completed. The chassis has been paintedtoprotect all the majorwork undertaken, with everything in undercoat andasingle top coat, apart fromthe areawhere the Rear
Drag Boxwill be riveted inthe future. Brake and spring components are alsobeing paintedtoprovide surface protection. Thetender frameswere expectedtobecompleted around the endof June.
The Princess Royal Class LocomotiveTrust ( PRCLT), the main contractor for assembly of No. 5551 was set to recommencework at the West Shed on July 1 after the lockdown period.
Following the arrival of the chassis at the PRCLT’sWest Shed at the Midland Railway – Butterley in August 2019, the initial task had been a thorough assessment of the work undertaken so far, with many components being taken off the chassis to allow checks to be made. Rectification work had already started before the lockdown period. Indeed, the middle driving wheelset/ crank axle has already been rectified at Ian Riley & Sons workshops in Heywood.
A contract has been signed with the PRCLT and plans are being made in conjunction with them to establish priorities that will enable the chassis to be completed to mainline standard. Funding has been agreed for three months and will continue to be managed carefully on a rolling basis. This will include the next phase of work at the PRCLT – such as the brake installation and axlebox refurbishment.
In anticipation of the West Shed’s reopening, plans are being made to move components such as the middle driving and bogie wheels, motion, valve castings, reverser etc., to the shed from various contractors wherework had been completed before the lockdown intervened.
The next stage
Work is to be undertaken on the drag boxunder thecab to fit themounting studs for the brake cross shaftbracket andthe steambrake cylinder. PRCLT engineers arealsoworking on the designand specification for the air braking system. Drawings are being preparedtosubmit to Ricardo for approval.
The LMS- Patriot Company’s annual general meeting has been provisionally diarised for October 31 at the Kidderminster Railway Museum, but this is subject to change as the coronavirus restrictions evolve.
➜ Donations to help complete No. 5551 TheUnknownWarrior can bemadevia the LMS- Patriot Project websitewww. lms- patriot. org. uk – newmembers canalso nowjoin via thewebsite.