The LMS Patriot Project

We welcomed Colin Hale who is the Current Chair of the LMS-Patriot Project for our April Meeting. The presentation commenced with a brief history of the Patriot locomotives. The first of the class were rebuilds of LNWR “Claughton” locomotives however the majority of the class were built as new locomotives. In their working life they operated all over the former LMS Region rather than being linked to specific routes. Naming of the class was erratic however a number of the class had military connections the first of the Class being named “Patriot”. As there was no vacant number in the LMS numbering system, 5551 which was the last member of the class, has been chosen and will be named “The Unknown Warrior” as a memorial to those killed in the First World War and subsequent years.

The project was launched in 2008. The intention was to raise funds and then contract assembly to Llangollen Railway Works. Parts were manufactured from a large number of suppliers throughout the UK. There have been a number of setbacks the first major one being the Boiler which had been contracted to LNWR Heritage at Crewe. Subsequently the work was transferred to Heritage on Boiler Services on Merseyside. Due to a number of issues 5551 left the Llangollen Railway in 2019. Subsequently the Llangollen Railway went into liquidation in 2021 and although a creditor it appears unlikely that the Project will receive any funds. The new base became the PRCLT at Swanwick.

At this point a new certification body was appointed and it was established that previous work had not been carried out with correct certification to allow the locomotive to work on the main line. This has resulted in a total reset of the project and has resulted in a number of components having to be made again including new driving wheels and tyres. The latest issue that has faced the Project has involved the project relocating to Tyseley Locomotive Works as the PRCLT are unable to continue with the work.

Colin Hale has been Chair for the last three years during the time when it became necessary to reset the Project. Although there is still an intention for 5551 to work on the mainline it has now been decided to initially complete the Locomotive to run on preserved lines before further fitting the additional equipment for main line running.

Our thanks go to Colin for giving this very interesting presentation during difficult personal circumstances.