David Element's Railway Web Page 2 - Preserved BR Steam Locomotives 35028, 46229, 75069

David Element's Railway Web Page 2...

Steam Locomotives in preservation, 1990's

Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class 35028 'Clan Line'

Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class 35028 'Clan Line' speeds through the fog at East Wimbledon. At the time that this photograph was taken the air-brake and water capacity modifications to the tender had yet to be performed. The high-intensity headlight betrays this as being a preservation age photograph. See Steam Locomotives 8 for some more recent photographs of this superb locomotive.

BR Standard Class 4 75069

BR Standard Class 4 75069 at Victoria on a soaking wet and gloomy day. The black and white image disguises the (inappropriate) BR Brunswick green livery.

Princess Coronation Class 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton'

The National Railway Museum's flagship locomotive, Princess Coronation Class 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton' just about to make a rare departure from Waterloo. In the black and white photograph above the locomotive was observed at Clapham Junction earlier the same day. Unfortunately the modern flashing red lamp above the front buffer beam betrays the modernity of this picture (and also the reverse motion of the locomotive), but the elegant lines of this superlative design are shown to good effect despite the slight distortion of perspective associated with the use of a telephoto lens. This LMS Stanier Pacific locomotive is currently preserved by the N.R.M. in York and at the time of writing it is has recently (and rather controversially) been restored to its earlier streamlined form in red lined livery as No. 6229. Although this would seem to be an example of interference with perfection this locomotive does have a distinguished history. As a streamliner the locomotive was shipped to the United States for exhibition in the guise of No. 6220 ‘Coronation’ and it remained there for the duration of the Second World War. The original identities were reclaimed once the locomotive was returned to the UK. It is not known if the NRM has any plans to swap identities or liveries in order to represent 6220 during this period of (hopefully) temporary transformation. Whether the locomotive will be able to be steamed in this guise remains to be seen and there would certainly be a need to check bridge clearances despite a subtle height-reduction of several inches when compared with the original! Sister locomotive 6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' (for many years also on static display) has also returned to the main line and some superb performances have been recorded. See: Steam Locomotives 14 for pictures of this locomotive making a final departure from Euston. The differences in the front ends of these locomotives may be compared in these photographs. The third survivor of this magnificent class 46235 'City of Birmingham' is also in a museum, having never been returned to working order. In contrast to the other remaining Stanier Pacifics this latter locomotive is painted in late BR Brunswick green. The photographer is too young to have seen LMS pacifics in BR service and he is therefore extremely grateful to have had the chance to see these locomotives running on the main line in preservation and also to have been able to visit the enormous cab of 46229 prior to a trip from Marylebone shortly after this locomotive had been restored.

It should be noted that preserved locomotives undergo significant periods of inactivity for maintenance and the appearance of photographs of any particular example on these pages does not necessarily mean that it is currently operational. Newly restored locomotives may be used as replacements, locations or ownerships may change and if a locomotive undergoes a heavy overhaul it may be out of action for several years. This process is immensely expensive and labour-intensive and preserved railways always require significant financial assistance from visitors and benefactors, so any contributions towards the uptake of these marvellous machines will always be welcomed by their owners.

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