Re-streamlining 6229 Duchess of Hamilton

LMS 4-6-2 Princess Coronation - 6229 Duchess of Hamilton

Built Streamlined : Crewe Sept 1938

Identity Change : Dec 1938 - 6220 Coronation

Identity Change & Double-Chimney fitted : Mar 1943 - 6229 Duchess of Hamilton

Streamlining Removed ('Semi') : Oct 1947

Curved Smokebox Top Removed : Jan 1957

Withdrawn from BR service : Feb 1964

Mainline Certified : May 1980

Mainline Re-certified : Mar 1990

Last Appearance in final BR form : Sep 2005 - Crewe Works Open Day

Curved Smokebox Top fitted ('Semi') : Tyseley May 2006

Re-streamlined : Tyseley May 2009

Images : click on an image to enlarge

The project to re-streamline 6229 Duchess of Hamilton was partly funded by the success of a fund-raising appeal by the magazine "Steam Railway"

6229 was rolled out of the NRM's Great Hall on 03/09/2005 for appearance at Crewe's Great Gathering Open Weekend alongside other Crewe Pacifics including never streamlined sister 6233 Duchess of Sutherland. Following the event the engine was moved to Tyseley for the work to commence.

The first part of the re-streamling process of Duchess of Hamilton was to restore the sloping front to the smokebox top.

Those contributors who made significant donations to the Steam Railway Appeal were invited to Tyseley Locomotive Works to see the engine as it appeared in the years immediately after it was de-streamlined (1947-57). This was a one day only special viewing of the engine in a condition not seen for around 48 years.A one-off opportunity which maybe never be repeated.

The re-streamling of both the locomotive and tender then proceeded but took much longer than envisaged due to problems in obtaining sections of the streamling. A world-wide search was made to acquire the requisite sized and gauge steel plate in economic quantities within the scope of the project.

6229 Duchess of Hamilton was returned to its magnificent original streamlined form at Tyseley Locomotive Works. The work was completed in May 2009 and the re-streamlined locomotive returned to York on 18/05/2009 for display in the Great Hall at the NRM.