NEW-BUILD NEWS
‘Patriot’ boiler to be built in 12 months
As the outer steel firebox sides and crownsheet were formed during January, and as Tyseley Locomotive Works prepares to start shaping the throatplate and doorplate, LMS Patriot Project Chairman David Bradshaw told Steam Railway: “Crewe has confirmed that they are absolutely committed to building the boiler by the end of January 2017.” The two barrel sections are to be riveted together shortly, with the foundation ring to be produced next. It will be the first main line steam locomotive boiler of such a size to be produced entirely from scratch, using traditional riveting and a copper firebox, in Britain since the 1960s (see panel). Meanwhile, on the ‘bottom half’ of the Fowler 4-6-0, the big-end strap has been machined by CMS of Coalville, and the centre connecting rod machined to fit it, while CMS is also manufacturing the bolts and pins required to finish the big-end assembly. A new set of valve and cylinder liners have been produced (after machining revealed the first castings to be porous) and were also expected to have been fitted by the time this issue reaches the shelves. Tyseley has been contracted to install them, as well as assembling the valves and pistons, machining the newly cast crosshead, and overhauling the two existing ex-‘Jubilee’ crossheads. Lubrication of the pistons, valves and the rest of the locomotive has already been taken care of, with the announcement that Morris Lubricants has agreed to provide oil for the locomotive in perpetuity once it is operational. In addition to this “very generous offer”, as Mr Bradshaw put it, the Shrewsbury-based firm is also supplying the
‘PATRIOT’ NO. 45551 The Unknown Warrior is now just one year away from receiving its completed boiler - with the final outstanding sections in production, and LNWR Crewe poised to construct it within the next 12 months.
metalworking lubricants during the engine’s construction, and sponsored the pattern for the bogie centre casting. Two live steam injectors to the GWR/BR Standard pattern have been ordered for the ‘Patriot’ by Premier Patterns, as part of a job lot produced for Tyseley and scheduled to be cast in mid-January. These are seen as more reliable for main line operation tha n the LMS live steam and exhaust injectors, which are now surplus to requirements and for sale.