2012 Fundraising begins!

This coming weekend (27th Jan to 29th Jan) sees the start of our 2012 fundraising at Heritage railway galas and events, and what a way to start it. We're off to the Great Central Railway for their biggest ever Steam gala, with no less than 10 locomotives in Steam. Our sales stand will be located at Loughborough station in our usual spot next to the “Clan Project”. Please come down and say hello, make a donation or purchase one of our fabulous sales items. You can also join up as a member or donor on the day, which of course saves buying a stamp, to help support the building of “The Unknown Warrior”.
We hope to see you there and I hope to report on a great weekend at the Start of next week.
Thank you Gavin

6 Driving wheel Springs completed by Owen Springs

Six all new driving wheel springs have now been made by Owen Springs in Rotherham. These will be delivered to the Llangollen Railway Works to enable the rolling chassis, minus front bogie truck, to be assembled this year. Photo's by Oakwood Visuals.

Frame Stretchers arrive in Llangollen

During December 2011 4 of the 5 frame stretchers arrived at Llangollen ready to be fitted to the frames of 45551. This is a major step towards having the 6 driving wheels fitted to the frames, hopefully before our members day on 7th of July (originally the 9th June but that date clashed with Llangollen 150 so its moved to july)

Photo by Andrew Laws.

Some pictures of the Frame stretchers and patterns before arrival

Membership Matters!

As we start this New Year (Happy New Year to you all) I wanted to talk about membership. As everyone in the heritage scene knows, Tornado showed us all what is possible, many people giving small amounts soon adds up to a lot of money. For instance 1000 people giving just £5 pounds
per month soon adds up to £60,000 pounds per year + gift aid on top. We really need to get more monthly donors on board to help the project grow from strength to strength. What we have achieved in just 3 1/2 years is fantastic. But to meet our target of completing the engine by the end of 2017 (this gives us 12 months of testing before official naming ceremony) we need to expand our membership. If you're already a member then do you know anyone who can be persuaded to join the cause? And if you're not a member would you like to sign up? Remember when were built its our MEMBERS who will vote to decide the locomotives livery. If your interested in joining as a member please see LMS Patriot membership or if you would like to make a donation see Donate now

Cheers Gavin

Small picture update

Hear we have a few pictures of the Axle-box bearing and Keeps.

More engineering pics to appear soon...... and more frequently with your support. See LMS Patriot project Membership for more details

Progress in 2011.

Hello, well here is an update on our progress in 2011.


Locomotive:

 All six driving axleboxes have been cast – at contractors in Southam (Warwicks) awaiting machining
 One axlebox keep and one bearing have been cast and await checking before we order five more of each
 All hornguides cast – those for the leading driving wheel which are different from the rest have been machined and trial fitted. The remaining eight await machining. The four ties (stretchers) for these have been machined.
 All horn ties have been cast and are at Llangollen awaiting machining
 Six driving wheel springs have been manufactured at Owen Springs Rotherham
 Twelve spring hanger brackets have been cast and are at Llangollen awaiting machining and fitting to the frames
 Six spring hangers and the pins have been machined and are at Llangollen waiting for delivery of the springs
 The pattern for the Tee Piece (which connects axlebox to spring) has been made and the six Tee Pieces cast
 The four main frame stretchers have been cast and machined and are at Llangollen awaiting fitting to the frames
 The wheels have been machined and are at the South Devon Railway to be made into wheelsets
 The two axles have been machined and work on the crank axle is proceeding.
 Manufacturing drawings for the running plate, motion girder and motion bracket are in preparation
 Quotes have been obtained for the two remaining connecting rod forgings and the inside cylinder end cap
 All buffers have been refurbished
 The chimney from 45539 E.C. Trench has been acquired at Sheffield Raiwayana auctions
 One bogie wheelset complete with axleboxes and hornguides has been acquired with the other one promised.

Tender

 The tender wheels have been refurbished at Tyseley
 The tender springs have been refurbished by Owens Springs in Rotherham
 Quotes have been obtained for new inside and outside frame plates and front and rear dragboxes
 The order has been placed for a new axlebox pattern and four axleboxes to be cast
 Drawings for the revised tender tank have been completed


Have a great Christmas, thanks for your support in 2011

And lets hope 2012 will be the year the Patriot becomes a rolling chassis and really moves forward in both support and awareness.

Gavin

Welcome to the New LMS Patriot Blog

Hello, and welcome to the new LMS Patriot blog where all things Patriot will be discussed. This Blog will feature our Volunteers out and about at different railways promoting the project, updates on the locomotive build and any other relevant news.

So where to Start. If your new to the LMS Patriot project, then our Aim is to Build a new 'Patriot' steam locomotive to the original Sir Henry Fowler parallel boiler design, capable of running on the mainline. To create the new National Memorial engine, named 'The Unknown Warrior'and to be complete in time for the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice in 2018.

Why a Patriot ?
The understandable failure to preserve a Patriot leaves a massive gap in the story of LMS express power. A Patriot would provide the link between the Royal Scot and Jubilee classes and would clearly enhance the UK steam collection. The class was in many ways the only link between Derby and Crewe until the advent of William Stanier.

Can it be done?
Categorically yes! The engineering skills and facilities necessary to produce a new steam locomotive in the UK are in place and proven with other new build projects and restorations. Many original LMS drawings from have been obtained for this project and with all the steam engineering expertise around the UK this project is possible. New drawings are being created using CAD techniques where the original drawings cannot be found.
Assembly of the 'The Unknown Warrior' began in 2009 led by Dave Owen, Chief Mechanical Engineer at the Llangollen Railway Works. Other workshops around the UK are now involved including the Boro Foundry, The South Devon Railway, L.N.W.R Heritage and Tyseley Locomotive Works.
Restoration began in November 2010 of the Fowler tender that was acquired from the Vale of Glamorgan Council. The frames and wheelsets from this will be restored by Cambrian Transport at the Barry Railway Centre, South Wales, and a brand new tender body will be built.

Creating the New National Memorial Engine
The new locomotive will serve as a permanent memorial to all those who fought and died in the First World War and all subsequent wars. This was the original intention of the L. & N. W. R. Claughton memorial engine and later LMS 'Patriot' number 5500, after which the class took the name.The new 'Patriot' will be named 'The Unknown Warrior' in keeping with the tradition of war memorial engines. The LMS-Patriot Project aims to continue this tradition in memory of all those brave men and women who courageously served their country.The LMS-Patriot Project has received the endorsement of The Royal British Legion, and 45551 will carry a Legion crest above 'The Unknown Warrior' nameplate, in recognition of this.

Mainline Running
'The Unknown Warrior' is being built for mainline running. A high profile engine such 'The Unknown Warrior' in its role as the national memorial engine will be be a huge attraction on the mainline. However, mainline running would require the locomotive to be built to a height of 13'1”. This is 1 ½” less than the original design. The design of the chimney and cab would be affected by the reduced height requirements and additional items that are required for mainline running including TPWS, OTMR and possibly air braking also need to be considered. The LMS-Patriot Project is already working closely with a Vehicle Acceptance Body (VAB) representative to allow 'The Unknown Warrior' to be mainline certified.

So thats prettt much the project as a whole.

So whats our progress to date?
What better way to tell you than with pictures.

This is one of our 6 brand new driving wheels which was cast at Boro foundry

Our 6 Driving wheels recently at the South Devon railway ready to be turned into wheelsets

Our frames at Llangollen railway

Another view of the frames at Llangollen

These are some of our cast parts including Driving wheels, frame stretchers, one axle box, the 2 webs for the crank axle, and 3 of the spring hanger castings.








So what does the Volunteer side of the project do??
We try our hardest to attend the best events in the railway world each year. Travelling Up north to the KWVR and south to Mid Hants, and west to Llangollen and east to Mid Norfolk. Can you help us visit more places?? If so email us on lms-patriot@hotmail.co.uk
Here are some pictures of us around the country.

Here we are at Crewe Heritage centre

Now were at Froghall station on the Churnet Valley railway

At the Mid Norfolk for their first ever Steam Gala

And also at Tyseley locomotive works for one of their open days.












Finally what will she look like when she is complete

The nameplate of The Unknown Warrior

Colin Wrights excellent painting of The Unknown warrior out side of Llangollen works

A computerised image of her in LMS crimson lake livery (missing the nameplates)







Well this is the end of my first Blog so i hope you come back regularly to see updates and news on our progress

Thankyou Gavin