PRCLT News

After a boiler inspection carried out on 6233 Duchess of Sutherland on Wednesday
25th November 2009 in the workshop at the West Shed, an eight month extension
to the mainline boiler certificate has been granted by the HMRI. This now
enables the locomotive to be run on the mainline until November 2010.
The current ‘Crimson Lake’ livery of the locomotive is in dire need of a repaint,
and due to this particular colour of paint being extemely expensive, and that it will
only be in use for one running season, it has been decided by the board of
Trustees to outshop Duchess of Sutherland in LMS black as it is quicker and easier
to apply, and significantly reduces the cost of the paint. It is also a tribute to
Henry George Ivatt who became the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LMS on
1st February, 1946 following the death of Charles E. Fairburn. Ivatt oversaw
the modifications incorporated into the last two Pacifics, including roller bearings
on all axleboxees and the adoption of the ‘Delta’ trailing pony truck, the first of
which was named Sir William A. Stanier F.R.S. in honour of the designer of the class,
and which emerged from Crewe Works in this new Ivatt livery on 13th December, 1947.
It was followed later by City of Salford in a British Railways form of the livery.
See the tours page for details of the Spring tours.

Foundations have been dug and steelwork is being contructed to form a coal bunker for exclusive use by PRCLT. This will make the coaling of our locomotives more efficient in the future. Currently coal stocks are tipped on the ground which inevitably creates wastage. With the cost of coal increasing steadily this wastage will be minimised. A teleporter has been purchased to carry out the loading.

With the boiler of 80080 currently at the Severn Valley Railway Boilershop, where much progress is being made, work continues to have the rolling chassis ready to accept
the boiler on its return to West Shed.

The pony truck is seen immediately after its refitting under the frames
of 80080 in the workshop at West Shed. 30th July 2009.
Photo: Simon Towell

9th July 2009

CARING FOR
COLLECTIONS AWARD
has been won by
The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust
for the project conserving the 1912 London,
Midland & Scottish Railway Dynamometer car 45050 at the Renaissance Heritage Awards for Derbyshire.

The Renaissance Heritage Awards were launched in the East Midlands in 2007 and are supported by Renaissance East Midlands (led by the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council). The aim of the awards is to celebrate all the wonderful work taking place in museums, historic houses and heritage sites across Derbyshire and to reward best practice. The awards run separately in each East Midlands county and categories include best event; best exhibition; caring for collections; inspiration award for best special project; and museum of the year. All the awards are judged by key county representatives who visit the short-listed museums. The awards ceremony took placeon Thursday 9th July 2009 at Creswell Crags, where we received a plaque and cash prize, and we will get promotion regionally and nationally through Renaissance East Midlands and local media. We entered our project for the Caring for Collections category as the dynamometer car has now been conserved for the future whilst also enabling public access inside the vehicle, including school groups, to be able to interpret its history. We would like to thank all our volunteers for their vital input!

Brian Radford and Kate Watts with the
'Caring For Collections Award'
Photo: PRCLT

This project was made possible following a grant
of £154,000 being awarded by the
Heritage Lottery Fund in March 2008

It has been necessary for the tyres of 6233 Duchess of Sutherland to be re-profiled. On Tuesday 30th July she left West Shed, with support coach and made the journey to Ilford. The motion was removed on arrival and she was shunted onto the underground wheel lathe at Bombardier on the morning of 1st July. All of the locomotives tyres are to be turned. The tender tyres do not require attention although the opportunity is to be taken to reprofile the tyres of the support coach.

6233 Duchess of Sutherland on the underground wheel lathe
at Bombardier Ilford, 11.16am on 1st July 2009. Photo: Simon Towell

With Dynanometer car 45050 now in the large exhibits hall at West Shed after the completion of the exterior paint work, the opportunity to repaint the trusts support coach 99041 has been taken. The vehicle is being prepared for the first of 2 coats of undercoat.

Replacing 45050 on road 2 in West Shed workshops, coach No. 99041,
the regularly used support coach behind 6233 Duchess of Sutherland is
being prepared for painting. Trust volunteer and Patron Charlie Teer
is pictured wearing his 'romper' suit and using his recently aquired
skills restoring the exterior of this hard working vehicle. Photo: Malcolm Baker

At the East Lancashire Railway 'January Steam Event' 80098 was busy taking part in an intensive timetable. Other locomotives in use were 45231, 45407, 47324, 71000,
Austerity 2183 and Pecket 1370. The locomotive will return to West Shed after Easter.

80098 taking water at Heywood on the East Lancashire Railway
on 24th January 2009 before running round her train for the
return trip to Bury Bolton Street Station. Photo: Paul Wood

To ensure the reliability of 6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' throughout the 2009 tour season much maintenance is being carried out on her in the workshops at West Shed. On Saturday 17th January she was lifted, using the Matteson jacks, to enable the front bogie to be removed to give access to the inside cylinders.

'Duchess of Sutherland', rising very slowly on the jacks in the workshops
at West Shed. The front bogie has been disconnected. Photo: Paul Wood

Once the locomotive has reached the desired height to give sufficient
clearance, the bogie is wheeled out. The locomotive is then
lowered back onto the rails. Photo: Paul Wood

With nearly 96 years difference in age, two coaches stand side by side in the workshops of the West Shed. A contract has been won for work to be carried out on a brand new London Underground coach. More details soon.

On the left, a modern London Underground coach and on the right the Trust's
L&Y Dynanometer Car 45050. Work continues with the painting of 45050 as
can be seen in the photograph. Photo: PRCLT

Another view of the brand new London Underground vehicle on the Trusts
Matteson jacks in the workshops at the West Shed. Photo: PRCLT

A fine three and a half inch gauge 'live steam' model has been gifted to the Trusts museum.
Michael Oliver received a Fathers Day present from his daughter - 2 tickets on a PMR Tours trip hauled of course by 6233 Duchess of Sutherland. He enjoyed his day so much he asked us whether we would accept a model of a 'Duchess' for display in our museum. The answer was of course 'Yes!' Representitives of the Trust were invited to Michaels factory for a tour of his business (very interesting it was too!) and to collect the model.

Left: Michael Oliver officially 'Gifts' the model to the Trust, shaking hands with
Simon Towell, a PRCLT engineer.
Right: Simon Towell, Kate Smith (Trust Curator),
Michael Oliver and Paul Wood (PRCLT Trustee).

Photo's: Paul Wood and the chap who was about to package the model for transportation!

The trust is most grateful for this gift which, at Michaels instruction, will be renumbered and named '6233 Duchess of Sutherland'. It will then be exhibited in the library and resource centre in the museum at the West Shed.

With the 2008 tours season finished, 6233 Duchess of Sutherland is back home at West Shed. During the winter period much maintenance will be done to ensure she is in tip-top condition for her last year of operation of her current certification.

Positioned over the pit at West Shed, 6233 is seen whilst her
boiler is emptied, with firebox, ashpan and smokebox emptying
and cleaning about to commence on 15th November 2008.
Photo: Paul Wood

Sometimes it is necessary to replace the headboards we use on the front of The Duchess of Sutherland. When this occurs, and with the permission of the Trust Patron who makes them for us, the opportunity to include them in a raffle on a train is taken. On the 'Cathedrals Express' from London to Exeter St. Davids and return on 20th August the headboard pictured below was won by Freddie Wright. Unfortunately it is far too large to fit on his bedroom wall so it now takes pride of place on the family's conservatory!

Proudly holding his headboard, Freddie Wright is pictured with
fireman Graham Bunker (centre), and PRCLT
engineer Simon Towell (right), 20th August 2008.
Photo: Tina Wright

PATRON'S WEEKEND SEES ROYAL SPECIAL SALOON 45000 AND SPECIAL SALOON 6320 IN USE ON MRT METALS

Both preserved coaches were included in the consist for two days of running of the scheduled services on the Midland Railway Centre's metals. Exclusively for the use of the Trust's Patrons, they made a very impressive sight coupled to 6233 Duchess of Sutherland. The re-wheeling of the chassis of 80080 was carried out on the Saturday, giving a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to the Patrons who were able to watch the operation in complete safety from the public viewing gallery in the West Shed workshops. See 80080 progress page for more details.

PRCLT 'Patron's Weekends' are held every year to give the Patrons of the Trust the opportunity to meet the Trustees and catch up on the progress first hand of the projects underway at West Shed. Should you be interested in becoming a patron please see the 'Patrons of the Trust' page.

6233 Duchess of Sutherland pictured crossing the reservoir at Butterley hauling
the Trusts 45000 Royal Special Saloon and 6320 Special Saloon on 12th July 2008.
Photo: Gareth Griffiths

The usual barbeque is enjoyed by the Trusts Patrons at the Patrons Weekend.
A big thank you to those who maintained the flow
of burgers, hot dogs and bacon rolls.
Photo: Paul Wood