The London Midland Scottish Railway was created in 1923, the companies which merged together to form the LMS was the London and North Western, the Lancashire and Yorkshire and Midland Railway in England, in Scotland the Caledonian, Glasgow and South Western and the Highland Companies all joined up.

In 1927 Sir Josiah Stamp, became Chairman and he wanted to produce more powerful locomotives to save on engines being used to double-head every 17-coach train. So Henry Fowler was forced to produce more powerful locos, but his Royal Scots were only just good enough for the job. When Fowler retired William Stanier from the GWR was brought in, in 1932. By 1938, Stanier had totally modernised the loco and carriage workshops, plus also saved the company £2 million, Stanier was going to be a god to the LMS.

Stanier would also speed up the passenger and freight services with his ingenious engine designs, the passenger engines were the Streamlined Coronation Scot’s and the Pacific’s, the freight engines included, the Black Fives, the standard 2-8-0’s, plus other engines improved Stanier’s image as a loco designer.

Crewe was the home of the LMS and this was the place where the famous names like ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ and ‘Princess Elizabeth’ was going to be rolling out.

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