LMS Stanier Class 7P "Princess Royal" - Gateway to the LMS

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Stanier Class 7P "Princess Royal"
Technical Data
Introduced : 1937
No. Built : 12 (6202 became the 13th member of the class after being rebuilt in  1952)
Wheel arrangement : 4-6-2 "Pacific"
When Stanier was appointed CME in 1932, one of his design briefs was for a  heavy passenger locomotive for the West Coast Main Line. Although the "Royal  Scot" class locomotives were capable of putting in good performances on the  Euston-Glasgow run, they did have a few design flaws that affected performance  after 6 or 7 hours of continuous running. With the relationship between the  design department and the motive power department now favouring the former, and  infighting in the design department being reduced by his appointment, Stanier  was able to succeed where Hughes and Fowler had failed; he got approval for a  Pacific design, this being the most feasible design to improve on the Royal Scot  class. An initial run of three locomotives was agreed and the first examples  were delivered in 1933.

Of the initial three engines, numbering from 6200, only the first two were  built as standard Princess Royals; the third became Turbomotive. The designs  reflected Stanier's GWR background (tapered boiler for example), but there were  also some LMS features (e.g Derby-type injectors) and some fresh ideas of his  own (e.g 4 independent sets of Walschaerts valve-gear). The only thing that  spoilt the design initially was Stanier's first attempt at a tender which lacked  high sides and had lower capacity than the standard 4000 gallon tenders later  involved. The LMS eventually built 12 of these locomotives (with 6202  "Turbomotive being rebuilt as a standard "Princess Royal" by British Railways in  1952). All were built at Crewe. It is interesting to note that smoke deflectors  were never added to the class, as visibility was never a concern (unlike most of  the other LMS express locomotive designs).
Number
Name
Built
6200
The Princess Royal
1933
6201
Princess Elizabeth
1933
6203
Princess Margaret Rose
1935
6204
Princess Louise
1935
6205
Princess Victoria
1935
6206
Princess Marie Louise
1935
6207
Princess Arthur of Connaught
1935
6208
Princess Helena Victoria
1935
6209
Princess Beatrice
1935
6210
Lady Patricia
1935
6211
Queen Maud
1935
6212
Duchess of Kent
1935
Preservation
6201 "Princess Elizabeth" and 6203 "Princess Margaret Rose" survived into preservation.  6201 is owned by the Princess  Elizabeth Locomotive Society Ltd, and is currently operational in LMS Maroon  livery.  6203 is owned by the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust, and is not  currently operational; it has generally worn a BR Maroon livery as 46203 in  preservation.   
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