6201 History

Built

6201, LMS lot number 99, was built at Crewe for the sum of £11,675 and named Princess Elizabeth. She left the works on 3rd November 1933

Record Run

The 1936 Record run made by ‘Princess Elizabeth’ is an enduring piece of railway folklore, and anyone wishing to discover the full story and detail could do no better than referring to the definitive publication on the Loco - “6201 Princess Elizabeth” - written by Society Chairman, Clive Mojonnier, and available via this website.

It is, however, interesting to reflect on the times in which that record was set (and remained unsurpassed in the days of normal steam working). There was no internet, and little access to television.  Some of the population had radio but for the most part news travelled – very slowly by modern standards – via newspaper.  The Railway Companies at the time naturally sought publicity and clearly some form of eye catching record was certain to bring the all important attention of the Press.  By 1936 the ‘Stanierisation’ of the LMS had really taken hold, and the Company was keen to present a public image which reflected the very necessary, radical, changes and improvements which Stanier had brought about.  This was set against a background of competition with the LNER which, with the advantage of the relatively flat and straight East Coast Route, was able to – and did – run very successful short formation, and thus lightweight, high speed trains.

The operating conditions confronting the LMS were very different, the route was altogether more demanding and the need to operate heavy trains was ever present.

In a direct attempt to steal the limelight from the LNER the LMS elected to go for an Anglo-Scottish record over the West Coast Route which would rival its competitors ‘Six Hour Edinburgh Expresses’.  So it was that the plans were drawn – clearly success depended on tightly controlled conditions and meticulous planning, and 6201 was selected to make what was unashamedly, and only, a record breaking attempt.

The record was achieved and there was what would today be described as a ‘publicity coup’ which resulted.  The rest as they say ‘is history’, but the fact remains that 6201 achieved lasting national and international acclaim as did its driver Tom Clark, of Crewe, who was awarded the OBE in recognition of his remarkable skills as driver.

In later life 6201 has notched up a few more ‘firsts’, but above all else she remains the Locomotive which set the record for the longest and fastest non stop run with a steam hauled passenger train.

Whilst in terms of pure fame this cannot expect to be as glamorous as Mallard’s outright speed record (also achieved under specifically created conditions) it was nevertheless equally – if not more difficult - to achieve and is without doubt of huge historical merit and significance in its own right.

Transition to British Railways identity

In the late 1940's the Big Four, namely LMS, GWR, Southern and LNER were nationalised under the new name of British Railways and 6201 was re-numbered to 46201 and re-painted initially into LNWR style BR black then in to Brunswick Green.

Withdrawn

6201 was placed in store in March 1961, and returned to service in May 1961.

In October of the same year 6201 was again placed into storage at Carlisle Kingmoor.

In January 1962 6201 was taken out of store at Kingmoor to cover for diesel failures and continued to work until September 1962 where it was once again placed into storage, it was subsequently withdrawn by BR in October 1962 and purchased by Roger Bell.

Preserved History of 6201

1963 - Purchased from British Railways for £2160

1975 - Attends "RAIL 150" at Shildon

1976 - First Mainline tours "Gwentman" and "Inter City"

1980 - Attends "Rocket 150 at Rainhill

1987 - Becomes 1st steam loco to enter the then new Crewe Heritage Centre & 1st Steam loco in the confines of Crewe Station for 20 years

1987 - Locomotive inspected by HM the Queen at the official opening of Crewe Heritage Centre. Understood to have been the first occasion that Her Majesty had seen the engine which had been named in her honour.

1988 - 1st steam loco to work out of Crewe for 20 years as a trial, initial trains 100% oversubscribed and effectively started the process of returning steam to the WCML

2003 - 1st Princess Royal to work out of Euston in 41 Years, & 1st steam hauled through train Liverpool - Euston via WCML since the 1960's

2009 - 6201 is granted extension of mainline boiler ticket until March 2012

2010 - 6201 is the first steam loco to work out of the modern Birmingham New Street (steam was officially banned there following the reconstruction in the 1960s), and also becomes the first steam loco to work from Birmingham into Euston in the preservation era.

2011 - The Engineering base for 6201 becomes Tyseley Locomotive Works, Birmingham.

6201 has now been in continuous ownership of the same group for 48 years.