Review: LMS Pacifics & Royal Scots: Locomotive Performance


		Locomotive Performance
		Review: LMS Pacifics & Royal Scots

To those who trainspotted on the West Coast Main line in the 1950's the Coronations, or "Semis", as we called them, were the ultimate steam locomotives. And the Princess Royals were not far behind in adulation. The Royal Scots were also popular, and the Midland fans considered them to be at least the equal to a Great Western King.

Oh for a time machine to take me back to the 1950's, and sufficient funds for several Midland Railrovers per year.


	But below is what I did manage. And since I achieved Pacific Haulage from Euston to Carlisle, albeit in several stages, I consider myself fortunate indeed.

21st February 1955: 46236 City of Bradford: Rugby Midland to Crewe on the 10.00am Euston to Glasgow Central, the Royal Scot [view log of 46236]

8th November 1955: 46237 City of Bristol: Rugby Midland to Crewe on the 10.00am Euston to Glasgow Central, the Royal Scot [view log of 46237]

5th September 1961: 46227 Duchess of Devonshire: Carlisle to Preston on the 1.45pm Glasgow Central to Liverpool Exchange [view log of 46227]

21st June 1964: 46251 City of Nottingham: Coleham to Wolverhampton and Birmingham Snow Hill to Paddington on the LCGB North & West Railtour [view log of 46251]

12th July 1964: 46255 City of Hereford: Carlisle to Skipton & Leeds on the SLS Three Summits Railtour [view log of 46255]

1982: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton: Chester to Shrewsbury on 23rd October 1982, Newport to Hereford on 31st October 1982, and Hereford to Chester, on 6th November 1982, all on the SLOA Welsh Marches Express [view logs of 46229]

19th March 1983: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton: Carlisle to Garsdale on the SLOA Cumbrian Mountain Express southbound [view log of 46229]

29th October 1983: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton: Hellifield to Appleby on the SLOA Cumbrian Mountain Express northbound [view log of 46229]

7th January 1984: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton: Howes Siding to York on the SLOA Cumbrian Mountain Express southbound [view log of 46229]

4th February 1984: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton: Hellifield to Appleby on the SLOA Cumbrian Mountain Express northbound [view log of 46229]

6th April 1985: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton: York to Hull, Bridlington and Scarborough on the SLOA Yorkshire Pullman [view log of 46229]

25th May 1985: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton: Marylebone to Stratford on Avon and return on the SLOA Thames Avon Express [view log of 46229]

29th June 1985: 46229 Duchess of Hamilton: Marylebone to Stratford on Avon and return on the SLOA Thames Avon Express [view log of 46229]

PRINCESS CORONATION HIGHLIGHTS: To travel twice on the Royal Scot in 1955 with 46236 and 46237 was in itself a highlight. The running on each occasion was respectable. In 1964 there was some fast running from Shrewsbury to Paddington with 46251 on an LCGB Railtour. But the real highlights were in the 1980's with 46229 on the Settle & Carlisle line, and out of Marylebone. On the S & C there were superb climbs both southbound to Ais Gill and northbound to Ribblehead. And on services out of Marylebone, it was climbing up to Saunderton summit, together with plenty of fast running, which provided the fun.

5th April 1958: 46206 Princess Marie Louise: London Euston to Rugby Midland on the 1.30pm Euston to Glasgow Central, the Mid Day Scot [view log of 46206]

25th August 1980: 6201 Princess Elizabeth: Sellafield to Carnforth on the Southbound Cumbrian Coast Express [view log of 6201]

2nd September 1980: 6201 Princess Elizabeth: Carnforth to Ravenglass on the Northbound Cumbrian Coast Express [view log of 6201]

4th September 1980: 6201 Princess Elizabeth: Carlisle to Skipton on the Southbound Cumbrian Mountain Express [view log of 6201]

7th March 1981: 6201 Princess Elizabeth: Shrewsbury to Hereford, and on 25th April 1981, Hereford to Newport & return, on the Welsh Marches Express [view logs of 6201]

PRINCESS ROYAL HIGHLIGHTS: My single run in BR days was with 46206 from Euston to Rugby, and was rather a let down. 6201 Princess Elizabeth was a popular engine on the SLOA Welsh Marches trains, but with so many clearance slacks on the route rarely got a chance to shine. The best of my runs was southbound over the S & C in 1980, with a good climb to Ais Gill.

8th March 1958: 46122 Royal Ulster Rifleman: Rugby Midland to London Euston on the 8.20am Manchester London Road to Euston [view log of 46122]

15th March 1958: 46159 The Royal Air Force: Dudley Port to Crewe on the 9.15am Birmingham New Street to Liverpool & Manchester [view log of 46159]

15th March 1958: 46136 The Border Regiment: Crewe to Birmingham on the 10.05am Glasgow Central to Birmingham New Street [view log of 46136]

15th September 1958: 46115 Scots Guardsman: London Euston to Rugby Midland on the 4.30pm Euston to Manchester London Road [view log of 46115]

5th September 1961: 46102 Black Watch: Preston to Carlisle on the 9.30am Liverpool Exchange to Glasgow Central [view log of 46102]

10th March 1962: 46123 Royal Irish Fusilier: Birmingham New Street to St Pancras via Wigston Junction on a Birmingham to St Pancras football excursion [view log of 46123]

24th March 1962: 46125 3rd Caribinier: Shrewsbury to Pontypool Road on the 9.30am Manchester London Road to Swansea [view log of 46125]

12th July 1964: 46155 The Lancer: Crewe to Birmingham New Street on the SLS Three Summits Railtour [view log of 46155]

28th November 1964: 46160 Queen Victorias Rifleman: Carlisle to Skipton and Leeds on a Warwickshire Railway Society Railtour [view log of 46160]

ROYAL SCOT HIGHLIGHTS: The modest number of BR runs I had on the Royal Scots was a serious omission on my part. 46115 took me nicely from Euston down to Rugby in 1958, and I had 46102 from Preston to Carlisle in 1961, again competent running. My final BR run with a Scot was on a railtour in 1964, when 46155 came on at Crewe, and climbed up to Whitmore in fine style. I travelled on the second of 6115's railtours in 1978, though the route and weather conditions precluded anything spectacular.

RECOMMENDED READING: (1) THE WEST COAST PACIFICS (J F Clay & J Cliffe-1973 Ian Allan) (2) THE STANIER 4-6-0's OF THE LMS (J P Rowledge & Brian Reed-1977 David & Charles) (3) ROYAL SCOTS OF THE LMS (E S Cox, W A Tuplin, J Powell & P G Johnson-1970 Ian Allan)