New steam engine previews at Llan Railway

* The Unknown Warrior with smokebox fitted.

 

Visitors to Llangollen Railway's Remembrance weekend will be able to view progress on the exciting project to built an example of the Patriot class of express locomotive to commemorate the sacrifice of World War One.

To be known as The Unknown Warrior, the basic frames of the locomotive have been erected in the heritage railway's own engineering workshop and, with additional parts made and fitted, the locomotive is beginning to take shape.

When the main driving wheels are added in a few weeks time, it will be recognisable as an example of the Patriot class built by the London Midland & Scottish Railway in the 1930s.

Visitors taking part in escorted tours of the work shops next weekend will be able to see the fitted out frames with the smokebox attached to the front end.

The intention is to have the locomotive completed in time for the centenary of the Armistice in 2018 when it will be presented as the National Memorial Engine.

The largest item still required to complete the project is the boiler and an appeal to raise £400,000 this will cost is being promoted by the LMS-Patriot Project.

Details of the project will be on show at Llangollen station throughout the weekend as an appropriate theme to the annual Remembrance commemoration.

During the weekend Llangollen Railway will be operating steam train services departing Llangollen at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Members of the Royal British Legion and Army Cadet Force will be on hand to promote the annual Poppy Appeal and the steam locomotive hauling the train will be wearing a Remembrance headboard.

Andrew Laws, from The LMS-Patriot Project, said: "Visitors to the Llangollen Railway Remembrance weekend will be able to see how the new build project has forged ahead.

"The latest progress on the Unknown Warrior can be seen inside the Llangollen Railway Works, as guided tours are being organised by volunteers from The LMS-Patriot Project. 

 

"The prospect is that a really impressive piece of engineering will be on display later in November when the rolling chassis of the new Patriot is taken for display at the NEC, Birmingham, during the Warley National Model Railway exhibition on November 23/24."

 

As part of the weekend's activities, on the Saturday evening the LMS-Patriot Project will be running a special steam-hauled fish n chip fundraising special.

 

This will leave Llangollen station at 6.30pm with one round trip to Carro.. Fish and chips will be served shortly after departure from Llangollen.

 

A booking form is available to download from:www.lms-patriot.org.uk/FishnChipNov2013.pdf