News Archive


10th June 2008

THE WEST SHED STEPS BACK IN TIME
FOR A 1940’S KNEES-UP!

On the weekend of the 7th & 8th of June the West Shed went back in time to the 1940s as part of an event organised by the Midland Railway. Union Jack bunting, flags and wartime posters helped to create the look visually, whilst the music blaring out really made the 1940s atmosphere. On each day a special ‘V E Day’ street party took place at the Shed with classics such as spam sandwiches and dandelion and burdock. Many cries of “I haven’t had this for years!” could be heard. A special ‘VE Day’ cake was also generously contributed, which was cut by our very special guest – Sir Winston Churchill himself!

Special Saloon 45000 provided much interest for visitors, especially the costumed 1940s re-enactors who enjoyed guided tours inside the vehicle that Sir Winston Churchill almost certainly travelled in during the Second World War.

A fantastic weekend was had by all, and thanks must go to all the volunteers who helped to organise activities at the West Shed and entered into the spirit by dressing up!

Announcement

The winner of the ‘guess the number of peas in the pot’ competition was Simon Elliott from Belper. The actual number of peas was 3,583.

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4th June 2008

THE ‘WEST SHED’ MUSEUM
GAINS A NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD

The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust’s West Shed Museum been officially ‘Accredited’ by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).

The MLA’s Museum Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for all museums in the UK. The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust’s award proves that it measures up, meeting guidelines on how it is run, how it looks after its collections and the services it provides its visitors.

Mark Wood, Chair of MLA, said: “Being awarded Accreditation is an impressive achievement. It recognises the high standard and service that the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust provides and acknowledges the hard work of the staff and volunteers”.

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2nd February 2008

It is becoming quite exciting at the West Shed as the 2008 tour season looms. Much work is being done to 6233 Duchess of Sutherland after maintenance to her motion and rods.

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6233 stands on Road number 1 inside the workshop at West Shed
awaiting the refitting of her motion. Paul Wood

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Standing inside the Matteson jacks on road number 3,
6233's tender awaits re uniting with the locomotive
after having the wheelsets re-profiled and
the axle boxes re-metalled. Paul Wood

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A view across the workshop from the public viewing gallery.
80080's frames can just be seen to the
right of 6233's tender. Paul Wood

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LMS Special saloon 6320 stands in the West Shed museum
large exhibits gallery. Trust volunteers have been trained
in the skill of coach painting, which is finished, and they have almost
completed the lining out of the vehicle. Paul Wood

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Another view from the public gallery overlooking the workshop
showing 'George' in the distance (its boiler can just be seen beyond)
and 80080's frames in the centre with her drivers
in the immediate foreground. Paul Wood

 

With the 2007 Tour season over for 6233 Duchess of Sutherland, the winter maintenance programme is now well underway, with the tender lifted on the jacks and the wheel sets removed for sending away for re-profiling due to flange wear reaching maximum tolerance. All outside motion and valve linkage has been removed for new brass bushes and white metal replacement. The valves have been removed for checking and ring replacement where necessary. Prior to this the boiler was washed out thoroughly and is now ready for cold examination by our boiler inspector.



6233 stands over the pit on road number 1 in
West Shed with the outside motion removed. Photo: Malcom Baker


6233 with valves and valve gear removed. Photo: Malcom Baker


The valves and rings. Photo: Malcom Baker

 

80080 has had its boiler despatched to the Severn Valley Railway for a full overhaul which will take approximately 12 months. The driving wheels have been cleaned and painted with primer and the horns are currently being rectified with shimming and new fitted bolts. The bunker water space repairs have been completed, tested, shot blasted and painted with primer.


The wheelsets of 80080 in the process of being
painted on road number 4. Photo: Malcom Baker

 

Work is ongoing with industrial locomotive “GEORGE” with the new saddle tank temporarily fitted to allow the injectors and associated pipe work to be assembled.



'GEORGE' stands outside West Shed
(what's missing?!). Photo: Paul Wood


6320 Inspection Saloon has had its roof painted and is awaiting a full body repaint following the completion of some significant remedial work to body sides and window frames.


Situated on road number 2 6320 can be seen
with the painting complete on the roof. Photo: Paul Wood

21” gauge 6203 Princess Margaret Rose is awaiting the re-fitting of the gearbox which has been assembled in the new casting that was necessary after the original was broken beyond economic repair.


The gearbox awaits re-fitting. Photo: Paul Wood


The final coat of paint on 6201. Photo: Paul Wood

 

The new sales shop has been officially opened by Eddy Dolby, who was responsible for the majority of its construction. It is hoped that this facility will increase sales of souvenirs and enable visitors to view them in a much better environment.

Patrons Day

On Saturday 28th September at the West Shed was this years Patrons Day. With both 46203 Princess Margaret Rose and 6203 Duchess of Sutherland outside on the apron to the front of the shed. Many of the Trusts Patrons attended and were given tours of the West Shed and brought upto date with the many projects underway. A barbeque, as is the custom, was provided with refreshments available. During the morning Duchess of Sutherland was steam tested after some minor scheduled maintenance prior to its tour from Derby to London Kings Cross, and was kept in light steam for the rest of the day. Many photographic opportunities were available including a nightime photoshoot during the interval of a presentation in the library by Chris Hillyard of the Royal Train.


6233 Duchess of Sutherland stands outside
West Shed during the morning of Patrons Day. Photo: Paul Wood


A view from inside West Shed of Princess
Maragaret Rose and Duchess of Sutherland
with the popular barbeque seen to the left. Photo: Paul Wood


Patrons taking photographs of the two
pacifics at night. Photo: Paul Wood

If you would like to be part of the exclusive PRCLT Patrons Club
please visit the PATRONS CLUB page for details.

 

West Shed News
Spring 2007

With the 2007 Tour season nearly upon us, work is continuing with the preparation of 6233 Duchess of Sutherland. Special Saloon 6320, due to a very busy few years working the Trusts tours and spending much time out on hire requires remedial work due to ingress of water. Body work is underway with a partial re-paint due in the next few months.

80080 has had her boiler removed which is currently being assessed to establish how much work is required to bring it back to working condition.

Credit must be given to the team who have been working for many years on the restoration of the Trusts 21 inch gauge locomotives 6203 'Princess Margaret Rose' and 6201 'Princess Elizabeth'. (click HERE for the history of these locomotives). As you can see from the photograph below, Princess Elizabeth has now been assembled and looks very impressive stood next to her sister in the 21" gallery.

During the winter period, the Trust sales team have been building a new shop within West Shed as the shed adjacent to the main entrance has become inadequate for our needs. After giving many years of service, the shed will have a new home in the workshop where it will be put to good use by the Trust engineers.


6233 stands on Road No.1 on 3rd March 2007
Photo: Paul Wood


Malcolm Baker and Barrie Wheatley discuss the work needed
on 80080's boiler, with 6320 on the left of the photograph.
Photo: Paul Wood


6201 'Princess Elizabeth' (left) and 6203 Princess Margaret Rose (right)
stand in the 21" gallery at the West Shed
Photo: Paul Wood


The new shop nearing completion with only plastering,
glazing and fitting out required to be completed.
Photo: Paul Wood

6233 News


Whilst 6233 Duchess of Sutherland was returning 'engine + support coach' from Glasgow the day after hauling 'The Great Briton' from Preston to Glasgow Central, a request was made for her to collect a 'dead' '47' at Beattock summit which had failed a few days earier. The footplate crew obliged after encountering a few problems with the points frame. The 47 was hauled to Carnforth where 6233 laid over before continuing on to West Shed. The photograph shows 6233 reversing onto the 47. Photo: Malcolm Baker

 

 

A message from the Trust Chairman

Now that our 2006 PMR Tours programme has been completed I, on behalf of the Trust wish to thank all those passengers who supported our Tours in 2006. Without this support we could not run DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND on the mainline.

Throughout the year we have given many people the thrill of being hauled by a Princess Coronation Locomotive or seeing one in full cry as she hauled our trains on these tours.

To be able to do this in 2006 and now 2007 is nothing short of miraculous. If we, for a moment, cast our minds back to 1963 and 1964 when these locomotive last ran in service, it would have been sheer fantasy to say after their demise then, that in 2006 a Princess Coronation Locomotive would haul 12 and 13 coach trains on the West Coast and East Coast main lines over Shap and into Kings X respectively.

So with your help we can keep the ‘Fantasy’ going in 2007.

We thank you for your past support and hope you are inspired to continue this support in 2007.

Finally I would like to record our thanks to all those who make our operations on the mainline possible.

  • Network Rail - Train Planners, Timers, Signallers, Station Staff, Depot Staff and a host of others who quietly and professionally give us the support we need.
  • Our Vehicle Acceptance Body – RESCO
  • Our Train Operating Company – West Coast Railways
  • Our On-train Stewards and Volunteers
  • Our Locomotive Support Crew
  • AND above all 6233 DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND herself who performed without fault throughout 2006 at the age of 78!!

Compliments to all for the forthcoming season of goodwill and JOLLY GOOD STEAMING to all in 2007.

Brell Ewart
Chairman
The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust

DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND
at the SVR Autumn Gala

6233 at Hampton Loade on a Bridgnorth bound train at the SVR, along with the
'Royal Scot' coach tailboard of the Kidderminster train going the other way.
Both boards are part of the trust's collection. Photo: Ken Bull




6233 at Hampton Loade Photo: Ken Bull

DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND
runs on Southern metals for the first time
on Sir William’s birthday special

The venue was London's Victoria station and the occasion a celebration of Sir William ('Bill') McAlpine's 70th birthday, His wife, Lady Judy McAlpine had arranged a very special surprise in the shape of a party for Sir William McAlpine, a 'novice septuagenarian,' as she called him, aboard 'The Orient Express' which took over 140 guests on 'a magical mystery ride' through Kent and Surrey. During the journey they all enjoyed a sumptuous meal with all the trimmings served in the train of elegant and historic 'Pullman' carriages kindly loaned for the occasion by Jim and Shirley Sherwood, the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust providing its equally historic 'royal' Stanier 'Pacific' locomotive 6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' as the motive power.
 
After a champagne and canapes reception in the 'Orient Express Lounge' on platform 2, Bill was piped along the platform by Magnus Orr playing 'The Sir William & Lady McAlpine March' (originally written specially for their wedding) to be received by a hearty rendering of 'Happy Birthday' from the assembled company. After speeches and a posed cutting of the green 'Flying Scotsman' shaped special cake, all boarded the train, and a few minutes behind schedule 6233 set off from Victoria in spirited style, certainly the first Stanier 'Pacific' to visit the station so far as is known.
 
As guests partook of a superb silver service lunch, the unusual route took the train out through Putney and Kew and then down to Ashford, Staines, Pooley Green, Egham, Virginia Water, Chertsey, Byfleet & New Haw, Woking, Worplesdon, Guildford and Shalford Junction to Shalford station, arriving at 14.24. Here a water stop was made to replenish 6233's tender, which provided an excellent photo opportunity for Bill to be photographed with the locomotive and his many friends. On then through Gomsall, Beltworth, with a quicker run to Reigate and Redhill, and on to Merstham, Coulsdon South, Purley Oaks, South Croydon and thence via Clapham Junction back to Victoria arriving outside the station exactly on time and, after a short delay, to be platformed at 16.10.
 
Here Sir William and Lady Judy were photographed again in front of 'Duchess of Sutherland' and HRH Prince Michael of Kent visited the footplate along with Sir William who was presented with a ‘70’ speed restriction sign by Network Rail . The assembled company said their goodbyes after a truly memorable celebration for this very special man who has done so much in the world of railway preservation. Bill has been such a generous benefactor down the years, especially in respect of 4472 'Flying Scotsman,' the originally requested locomotive.

This was the first time 6233 had ever been on southern metals, the first time a princess Coronation has been into and out of Victoria.

His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester
opens the West Shed

HRH The Duke of Gloucester travelled to Butterley railway station, Midland Railway, on Wednesday 19th October 2005 to formally open The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust’s West Shed project.

This project, costing £678,000, was funded by a grant of £610,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund with additional financial support from Amber Valley Borough Council and The East Midlands Museums Libraries and Archives Council.

The project took 18 months to complete and includes new interpretive displays for the museum, a library, a mini theatre, archive stores and a new workshop with viewing gallery.

His Royal Highness spent about one hour on site, during which time he rode on one of the Trust’s steam locomotives and met representatives from the Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund.

Trust Chairman Brell Ewart said “This was a great honour for the Trust and all our volunteers, patrons and contractors who worked together to deliver this marvellous project. With the West Shed extension now open, the trust becomes one of the leading railway locomotive preservation groups in the country.”

Photograph courtesy of John Stiles