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Ex-LMS 4-6-2 7P Coronation Class No 46225 'Duchess of Gloucester' passes beneath the Great Central 'Bird Cage' bridge during the summer of 1960. Built in May 1938 at Crewe works in streamlined form, No 46225 the streamlining was removed circa 1946. It had been found to be of little value at speeds below 90 mph, and had proved to be unpopular with running shed employees as it caused difficulty of access to maintenance staff. The Coronation Class were an enlarged version of the LMS Princess Royal Class with examples being built in both streamlined and non-streamlined form. The non-streamlined locomotives were often referred to as Duchesses, though to enginemen they were often known as Big Lizzies. They were the most powerful passenger steam locomotives ever to be built for the British railway network, estimated at 3300 horsepower and making them far more powerful than the diesel engines that replaced them. The first five locomotives, No 6220 to No 6224, were all built in 1937 at Crewe. They were streamlined and painted Caledonian Railway blue with silver horizontal lines to match the Coronation Scot train they were built to haul. The second batch of five locomotives of the class, No 6225 to No 6229, were also streamlined, but were painted in the more traditional crimson lake, with gilt horizontal lining. This was to match the standard LMS stock and a planned brand new Coronation Scottrain made up of articulated coaches. Although a prototype for this was built and exhibited in America it was never put into service due to the outbreak of the Second World War. Prior to the introduction of the Coronation Scotservice, No. 6220 underwent speed trials with a special train in 1937. Just south of Crewe, the train achieved a speed of 114 miles per hour, beating the previous record for a steam train (held by the LNER) by a slim margin. Insufficient braking distance had been left before entering a series of crossover points at Crewe, and although the train held the rails, much crockery in the dining car was smashed. After this incident, the LMS and LNER agreed to stop dangerous record-breaking runs which were in effect publicity stunts. After the formation of British Railways in 1948, some locos ran with tenders carrying BRITISH RAILWAYS lettering including No 46225 when it carried the LMS-style lined black livery. Duchess of Gloucester continued in service until October 1964 when it was withdrawn from 12B Upperby shed in Carlisle to be scrapped by Arnott Young of Troon.
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