LMS No.6233 'Duchess of Sutherland'
Locomotive No 6233 DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND is one of the Princess Coronation
Class Locomotives introduced in 1937 by the London Midland and Scottish Railway.
The class was so named as it was introduced in the year of the Coronation of His
Majesty King George V1, and a total of 38 locomotives of the type were built.
The design of the class was carried out under the direction of the Chief
Mechanical Engineer Mr (later Sir) William A Stanier who in 1946 became a Fellow
of The Royal Society (FRS).
She was completed in 1938 in non-streamlined form with a single chimney at a
total cost of £11,094.
A double chimney was fitted in 1941, and she was one of the first to be
fitted smoke deflectors in LMS livery.
She first appeared in LMS Crimson Lake (non-standard with cabside gold block
numerals), changing to Lined Black in 1947, Caledonian Blue in May 1950 and BR
Brunswick Green in November 1952. Locomotive Details Name: DUCHESS OF SUTHERLAND
The locomotive burns up to 1 ton of coal every 40 miles run, evaporates about
45 gallons of water per mile. As much as two tons of coal will be burning at
once when the locomotive is working hard on a heavy train.
Duchess of Sutherland was employed hauling the heaviest of express passenger
trains on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Glasgow, until she
was withdrawn from Liverpool Edge Hill motive power depot in February 1964,
having covered a recorded mileage of 1,644,871 when official recording ceased in
1962.
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.
The locomotive has been restored in LMS Crimson Lake livery with gold leaf
lining, letters and numerals, and is seen now as she was in 1946 -fitted with a
double chimney and smoke deflectors.
Number: 6233 (In British Railways days 46233)
Class of Locomotive: Princess Coronation Class
Type: 4 Cylinder Pacific
Valve gear: Walschaerts
Tractive Effort: 40,000 lbs (at 85%) boiler pressure
Braking system: Air brakes (was vacuum but this was changed at the recent
overhaul)
Built: 1938 at Crewe Works
Locomotive Weight: 161 tons 12 cwts
Length: 73 ft 10 inches
Height: 13ft 1 inch
Coal Capacity in the tender: 10 tons
Water Capacity: 5000 gallons in the tender and 2100 in the boiler
Boiler pressure: 250 lbs per sq. inch
The locomotive's maximum speed is 75 M.P.H. today although in service days
this was a high as 100 miles per hour.