6233 Duchess of Sutherland
LMS Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2 Pacific
Unlike the majority of other members of her class that were cut up as scrap, DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND was acquired by Butlins Holiday Camps and, after being repainted in LMS livery, she was moved to their camp at Heads of Ayr, in Scotland. There she remained on static display until 1971 when following a change in Butlins' policy, the several locomotives that they owned and were on display at various holiday camps throughout the United Kingdom, were moved to museums where they could be cared for and housed in accommodation befitting their importance. No 6233 was moved to Bressingham Steam Museum where she was used on the one third of a mile line at Bressingham for footplate rides during the next three years, until being taken out of service due to firebox problems.
6233 remained on display at the museum until 1996 when she was acquired by The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust.
Over the subsequent years 1998-2001 the locomotive has been restored to full working order with the aid of a Heritage Lottery Grant totalling £352,508. She was steamed in 2001 after a 900 day restoration project in which over 25,000 man hours were worked on her, 15,000 of these by volunteers.
Working Life - Restoration - Preservation
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