LMS/BR Ivatt Princess Coronation (Duchess) 8P Pacifics

Ken Cooper/Andrew Vines Collection

These are the last two Duchesses built to a slightly modified design from H G (George) Ivatt (appointed 01/01/1946) who succeeded Charles Fairburn as LMS Chief Mechanical Engineer. Number 6256 named Sir William A Stanier FRS entered service in December1947 in the LMS period but 46257 City of Salford did not complete until May 1948 in the BR period. These engines differed in a number of respects from the earlier Stanier Duchesses including:

• Modified rear chassis frames
• Timken Taper Roller bearings on all axles
• Cast steel trailing truck (later changed to a fabricated welded version) replaced the outside axlebox trailing wheel axle frames
• Cut down lower cab sheet sides
• Part welded/part riveted tender deep front side sheet cut-outs and fitted with roller bearing axleboxes
• AWS battery box fitted under left side cab sheet

Due to strong demand for these models we have decided to increase production to 43 models of 46256 Sir William Stanier FRS and 7 models of 46257 City of Salford. The enlarged availability list, including details of each model, appears below.

To reserve your model, scroll down to the foot of the page for the reservation form.

Electric (head lamp code) lighting together with a small steam operated generator were fitted when first built, but these were removed in later life. While fitted with electrical lighting, the electrical cabling on the right side of the firebox, boiler and smokebox was not especially attractive from an aesthetic view-point. 

6256/46256 Sir William Stanier FRS was painted in LMS lined black (October 1947), BR Lined Black (October 1948), early BR lined blue (May 1951), BR lined green with the Lion over Wheel emblem on the tender (June 1954) then BR maroon lined yellow LMS style (May 1958). The Yellow Stripe (forbidding operation under the overhead wire catenary) on the cab side was painted in August 1964 – if you would like to have the cabside stripes applied to your model, just note this in the 'Comments' box on the reservation form. 

Details of the Ivatt-designed cabside of No. 46256 while in BR maroon livery, showing it with and without the diagoinal yellow stripe added in 1964 to denote that the locomotive was prohibited to run under the electrified wires south of Crewe. This can be applied to your model if you wish.

This locomotive was very popular with steam enthusiasts and undertook a number of steam specials towards the end of its operating life. No. 46256 was the last Duchess to steam and was withdrawn on 3 October 1964 having covered 1.016 million miles. Its first and last sheds were Crewe North. The locomotive was scrapped in December 1964 at J Cashmore’s yard at Great Bridge. A last-minute attempt to rescue it for preservation just failed, as cutting-up had already started. Sadly, the one Duchess that should have been preserved was lost to the scrapman’s cutting torch.

No. 46257 'City of Salford' painted in LMS lined black with BR lettering which it carried from May 1948 to December 1952.

46257 City of Salford was painted in LMS lined Black with BRITISH RAILWAYS on the tender (May 1948), BR lined green with the Lion over wheel emblem (December 1952) and finally BR lined green with the Totem emblem (January 1958). It was never painted in BR maroon. Its first shed was Camden and its last Carlisle Kingmoor. Recorded life mileage was only 0.8 million miles. It was withdrawn for service in September 1964 and broken-up at West of Scotland Shipbreaking’s yard at Troon in December 1964. 

46257 was somewhat overshadowed by 46256 in terms of enthusiasts’ popularity, its name not being particularly distinguished as Salford was only deemed to be a city by virtue of its Roman Catholic Cathedral. Nevertheless, in its lined green later livery, the engine perfectly complemented its more distinguished sister 46256.

This our first build of these two locomotives as sadly they were omitted from the earlier batch of Masterpiece Models Duchesses made in 2010/11. These models will incorporate all the technical improvements that we have made in recent years including much more powerful aerospace grade coreless motors, our much improved ball bearing helical gearboxes, split axles and horn-block pickups, fully working inside and outside valve gear, ball bearings on all axles, sprung working horn-blocks and switchable DC/DCC Sound facilities.  A choice of O Gauge Finescale and Scale 7 (33mm) gauges will be offered to customers. These models will be a substantial upgrade in terms of performance and detail on the earlier Duchesses.

We plan to make a maximum of 30 locomotives. Provisionally we have decided to build 25 models of 6256/46256, and five of 46257, but this could change depending on final customer choice.

Use this form to reserve your model. Once we receive your reservation we will contact you to confirm your choices and then request a deposit if you decide to proceed: