LMS-Patriot Project

The LMS-Patriot Project aims to build a full-size replica of an LMS Patriot Class steam locomotive. No Patriot in either rebuilt or unrebuilt forms survived into preservation but a new 'Patriot' is under construction at the Llangollen Railway. The LMS-Patriot Project, a registered charity, is appealing for donations or regular contributions to build the new, 3 cylinder, Fowler designed, parallel boiler, 4-6-0 express passenger locomotive. The new build Patriot will carry the number of the last built – LMS number 5551 or British Railways number 45551. After a public poll, the new Patriot locomotive will be named The Unknown Warrior, whose tomb is located in Westminster Abbey.

The project was formally launched at the Llangollen Patriot Gala in April 2008, by the project's first commercial sponsor, John Buxton, Managing Director of Cambrian Transport. The Frames Appeal was also announced at the gala and a Membership scheme was later launched.

Although most parts are new, the group will use the leading wheelset from a scrapped LMS 8F locomotive. Two surviving LMS Fowler Tenders from Woodham Brothers Barry scrapyard are also being used for the project. The first parts of the engine to be constructed were the frames, followed by the wheelsets, while the Fowler tender is being restored by Rowlescourt Engineering at Alfreton Derbyshire. The driving wheels were fitted to the frames by Tyseley Locomotive Works during May 2014. The cab was constructed by R D Moore Ltd at Coalville Leicestershire and was fitted to the frames in November 2013.

On 31 March 2009, two frame plates were cut at Corus Group plc Steel, Cradley Heath in the West Midlands. Measuring 39 ft in length 4 ft high and 1 1/8 in thick (28 mm), the frame plates were then taken to the Boro Foundry, at Lye, West Midlands, for machining and drilling, before being taken to the Llangollen Railway Works where assembly is in progress. The dragbox has been fitted to the frames, the front buffer beam fitted, the bogie bolster has been cast and has been fitted, all five of the five frame stretchers have been cast and are fitted to the frames.

In September 2010, the first driving wheel was cast at the Boro Foundry, using the pattern made for LMS Jubilee Class 45699 Galatea. The two classes share the same size 6'9" driving wheels. The six new driving wheels have been cast by The Boro Foundry Stourbridge and machined and assembled by the South Devon Railway, who machined and fitted the plain axles, crank axle, tyres, and crank pins. The six driving axle boxes have been cast by Johnson Porter of Stourbridge, machined at FHT Southam Warwicks and final machined and fitted to the wheels at Tyseley Locomotive Works.

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