Whilst the LNER took the low road, the LMS took the high road and had to build a fleet of specially designed locomotives to conquer some of the steepest gradients on the British Railway network.
2016 marked the first ever instance of a Stanier Corination Pacific doing battle against the Devon Banks, the usual residence of these beautiful and powerful machines being the relentless climbs of the Cumbrian Mountains. But here we have London Midland & Scottish Railway Coronation Pacific 46233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’, seen trundling slowly through Teignmouth with the Royal Duchy from Bristol Temple Meads to Par.
Taking a break from its work at Loughborough on the preserved Great Central Railway is LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48624. (20/02/2016)
48624 is the only surviving example built for the Southern Railway at Ashford Works in 1943, and after nearly 30 years of restoration work, the engine re-entered service in 2009, wearing an LMS Maroon Livery, a colourscheme no 8F’s originally wore as this was only set aside from express-passenger locomotives. It has since been repainted into a more authentic BR Black, and her boiler ticket expires in 2019.
Midland Railway 156 Class 2-4-0, 158A
Seen working merrily on the Chasewater Railway is Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST No. 1223 “Colin McAndrew”, built way back in 1911.
LMS Princess Royal Class 4-6-2 46203 “Princess Margaret Rose”
LMS Princess Royal Class 4-6-2 6201 “Princess Elizabeth”
Stood inside the shed at Brownhills West on the Chasewater Branch is Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST No. 2780 “Asbestos”, built way back in 1909.
Taking a break inside the shed at Brownhills West station is Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-6-0T No. 7684 “Nechells No. 4” , built in 1951.
Trundling south through Aston with the 1Z33 ‘London Explorer’ is preserved London Midland & Scottish Railway Coronation Pacific 46233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’. (14/11/2015)
LMS Fowler Class 3F 0-6-0T, 23
In a scene reminiscent of days gone by, we see from the window of our own train LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 46521, powering south from Loughborough with an afternoon luncheon Pullman service to Leicester North. (20/02/2016)
Blasting through Hampton-in-Arden with the 1Z33 ‘London Explorer’ is preserved London Midland & Scottish Railway Coronation Pacific 46233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’.
