LMS 4-6-2 Princess Royal

6201 Princess Elizabeth

Built : Crewe 1933

Withdrawn : 1962

Restored : 1965

Images : click on an image to enlarge

6201 was built at Crewe in 1933. It was the second engine of its class which was officially designated by the LMS as the "Princess Royal" class after the first engine. However, the class developed the nickname of the "Lizzies".

A number of alterations were made including changes to the boiler and superheating arrangements. The locomotive went on to achieve fame with its epic feats performed on a high speed test run in November 1936 when it ran the 401 miles between Glasgow and London in 5 hours 44 minutes at an average speed of 70 mph.

6201 and its sister 6200 The Princess Royal were regardrd as prototypes and a further 10 'production engines' were built with detailed modifications (6203-6212). The locomotives were designated power classification 7P which was later changed under BR ownership to 8P. They were allocated the heaviest express trains on the LMS West Coast Anglo-Scottish route until they were largely displaced by the larger "Princess Coronation" engines which were a further development of this class. Nevertheless the class still supported the "Big Lizzies" and were often found on the heavy Liverpool to Euston boat trains as well as working heavy expresses from Crewe to Carlisle.

LMS 7P 4-6-2 6201 Princess Elizabeth is owned and managed by Locomotive 6201 Princess Elizabeth Society Limited. The society was formed initially as a fund to preserve the former LMS Railway Class 7P locomotive as a monument to the work of Sir William Stanier. It was purchased from BR in February 1963.

After restoration to working order in 1965, the locomotive was initially used on private sites/railways but subsequently it was restored to mainline standards and eventually returned to the mainline and is a popular choice of rail tours.

The locomotive was used on a Vintage Trains railtour in March 2010 when it was the first Princess to haul a train out of Euston since the early 1960s - "The Doric Olympian". See pictures >>

Subsequently the locomotive has moved to Tyseley Locomotive Works and will receive attention there as well as haul a number of further railtours. It stood in for indisposed Britannia locomotive 70013 Olver Cromwell on "The Britannia Banker" which included an assault of the Lickey assisted by Tyseley pannier 9600. See photo feature >>

It will be a star attraction at the Tyseley Works Open Days 26/27 June 2010. See details >>