Full steam ahead for Patriot loco project
IT is now 10 years since a group of steam enthusiasts embarked on a major project to build, from scratch, a Derby-designed Patriot locomotive.
At its launch back in 2008, the team was hoping to have a fullyworking replica of this loco class, which was designed at Derby Loco Works in 1930, in steam by the centenary of the Armistice.
The loco, to be named The Unknown Warrior, is dedicated to all service personnel who have given their lives for their country.
Unfortunately, the project missed its original target of steaming the engine by last month and Neil Kinsey, a member of the charitable project team, was keen to update readers on its progress.
He said: “We hit a number of problems on the engineering front. However, the good news is that the build is still moving forward at a healthy rate and, on the weekend of November 10-11, the loco was displayed at Crewe Heritage Centre in what looks like an almost complete condition.
“Looks, of course, can be deceptive and there is still a lot to do, but you can see by the accompanying photographs we are certainly not far away from the finish line!”
Setbacks suffered by the team over the last 18 months included having to find a new contractor to complete the boiler and build the rolling chassis, the most complex part of the loco.
New name plates for the engine have been created and, during the Crewe weekend, Simon Weston, the Falklands War veteran, who is the project patron, unveiled the new badge.
Neil added: “Going forward, our new boiler contractors are doing a fantastic job and should have a completed boiler by spring next year.
“We also have a new company working on the tender chassis which, again, is on target for completion within six months, whilst the tender tank contract has two interested parties to do the job.
“That leaves the rolling chassis, the contract for which has gone out to tender to four railway engineering firms. Another option we are also currently exploring is doing the job ourselves.
“Our new target date for steaming the engine is now the end of 2019.
“The project continues to have tremendous support from railway enthusiasts who, like me, are keen to once again see and hear the sound of an LMS Patriot class steam locomotive.”
If you would like to find out more about the project, you can visit www.lms-patriot.org.uk or phone 01785 244156.