Special Steam Train Post in Honor of Queen Elizabeth II
Greetings readers,
As you may have heard or not Queen Elizabeth II has passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday September 8th,2022. As we morn the lost of Queen Elizabeth together, I would like to honor her with a very special train post. As this blog is about steam trains, I would like to dedicated this to Queen Elizabeth II so for this special steam train post, I would like to take a look at a very special Steam train that was on hand for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee & Royal Train.
Ladies and Gentlemens viewers, I proudly present a historical viewpoint on LMS Princess Royal Class 6201 "'Princess Elizabeth"
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London,Midland & Scottish Railroad Princess Royal Class 6201 "'Princess Elizabeth" is one of two Princess Royal Class preserved steam engine with the other being LMS Princess Margaret Rose. (Who I'll focus on later on my blog).
Bit of History of LMS Princess Royal Class 6201:
LMS Princess Royal Class 6201 "'Princess Elizabeth" is steam locomotive with a wheel configuration of 4-6-2 that was designed by William Stanier and was built by Crewe Work in November 1993. Her length was 74 ft 4 1/4in and a height of 13 ft 3 in with a width of 9ft. Princess Elizabeth as she is known was withdrawn from service in October 1962 and is currently persereved by the 6201 Princess Elizabeth locomotive Socity Ltd.
Role of 6201 Steam Locomotive "Princess Elizabeth" in the Diamond Jubilee & Royal Train.
On June 3rd 2012, after arriving in London with a Vintage Trains rail tour from Tyseley thst was heading to Kensington Olympia, Princess Elizabeth's whistle signalled the start of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. While the locomotive was standing on Battersea Railway Bridge, Queen Elizabeth II was made aware of the locomotive and waved to the crew on the footplate. Then on July 11th , 2012, 6201 Princess Elizabeth hauled the Royal Train as part of through Diamond Jubilee Tour from Newport to Hereford and from Worcester to Oxford with the traditional four-lamp combination (which is used while conveying the Head of State).
Interesting Facts of 6201 Princess Elizabeth & Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II
•This is the only 2nd time during preservation that Queen Elizabeth had been conveyed on a steam-hauled Royal Train on the main line.
•2002 is the only other time the Queen traveled behind an LMS locomotive which was LMS Coronation Class 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland"
•Believed to be the first time Queen Elizabeth travelled behind a locomotive bearing her name which came few weeks before the 50th anniversary of 6201 preservation.
6201 Princess Elizabeth
•Was the standby engine for 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" in 2002
•Had a crown placed above Princess Elizabeth's name plate indicating the engine hauled/worked the royal train
•Had a plaque placed on the engine to marked the occassion of hauling the royal train for Queen Elizabeth II
•Carried the trandional 4 lamp combination of having 1 atop the smoke box and three across the buffer beam.
That concludes my special remarks regarding LMS Princess Royal Class 6201 Princess Elizabeth and her duties that she served with Queen Elizabeth II. May she rest in peace after a long and heartful journey as Queen of United Kingdom.
I thank you for reading this special post and to have a good one.
-Conductor Wolf
PS: I dedicate this Steam Train Post in memory of Queen Elizabeth II along with a mini series regarding LMS Princess Royal Class locomotives.
Tenture: February 6th 1952-Spetember 8th, 2022
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