LMS Patriot Class

The first two were rebuilt in 1930 from the 1912-built LNWR Large Claughton Class, retaining the original driving wheels with their large bosses, the "double radial" bogie truck and some other parts. Of the subsequent 50 locomotives of the class 40 were nominal rebuilds of Claughtons, being in fact new builds classified as rebuilt engines so that they could be charged to revenue accounts, rather than capital. The last ten were classified as new builds.

The two former Claughtons retained their original numbers until 1934, when they were renumbered 5500–1.[1] The 40 built as replacements took the numbers of the Claughtons that they replaced; these were renumbered 5502–41 in 1934.[2] The remainder of the class were allocated nos. 6030–9, but were numbered 5542–51 from new.[3] The numbering of the similar LMS Jubilee Class continued on from where the Patriots left off. This was because 5552–5556 were ordered as Patriots (to be numbered 6040–4) but built with taper boilers as Jubilees on the orders of Sir William Stanier.[4]

Naming of the class was somewhat erratic. Some retained old Claughton names, whilst others continued the military associations of the names Patriot and St Dunstans, and 13 carried names of holiday resorts served by the LMS. Seven remained unnamed, although they had been allocated names in 1943.

5504 Royal Signals was built in 1932 and was originally numbered 5987 as a paper rebuild of an LNWR Claughton Class. Later renumbered 5504 and was named in 1937, finally becoming BR No. 45504, in which condition it is pictured at Bromsgrove. It was withdrawn in 1962 without ever being rebuilt.

Note some never received BR numbers as unrebuilt engines because either they were rebuilt by the LMS. In the table below BR numbers for BR-rebuilt engines are given, but some engines may not have received BR numbers while in an unrebuilt condition as renumbering took several years (sources should indicate these).

• On 13 March 1935, a milk train was in a rear-end collision with an express freight train at King's Langley, Hertfordshire due to a signalman's error. No. 5511 was hauling a freight train that collided with the wreckaged. A fourth freight train then ran into the wreck. One person was killed.[5]
• On 16 October 1939, No. 5544 was hauling a train that was in a collision with another train at Winwick Junction, Cheshire and was derailed.[6]
• On 13 October 1940, No. 5529 was hauling an express passenger train that collided with a platform barrow obstructing the line at Wembley Central station, Middlesex and was derailed. Several people were killed and many more were injured.[7]

All of the unrebuilt Patriots were withdrawn between 1960 and 1962[8] in accordance with the BR Modernisation Plan.

Replica under construction.

No Patriot in either rebuilt or unrebuilt form survived into preservation; however, a replica of no.5551 is under construction. The LMS-Patriot Project,[9] a registered charity, is building a replica which will carry the number of the last built – LMS number 5551 or British Railways number 45551. It will be named The Unknown Warrior.

This class of engine forms the basis of the Big City Engine from the Railway Series of children's books by the Rev. W. Awdry.[10]

Both Hornby and Bachmann have produced OO gauge models.

Hornby first introduced an original Patriot in the 1979 catalogue that has remained in production and now forms part of the 'Railroad' budget (i.e. toy) range. The following models have been produced:

Bachmann Industries make a more detailed and expensive model of the original Patriot, also in OO gauge. The following models have been produced:

• Earnshaw, Alan (1990). Trains in Trouble: Vol. 6. Penryn: Atlantic Books. ISBN 0-906899-37-0.
• Hall, Stanley (1990). The Railway Detectives. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0 7110 1929 0.
• Longworth, Hugh. British Railway Steam Locomotives 1948-1968. ISBN 0-86093-593-0.
• Nock, O. S. Royal Scots and Patriots of the LMS.
• Rowledge, J.W.P. (1975). Engines of the LMS built 1923–51. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-902888-59-5.
• Toms, George; Essery, R.J.; James, F. (2006). Historical Locomotive Monographs No. 3: Claughton & Patriot 4-6-0s. Didcot: Wild Swan. ISBN 1-905184-19-0.
• Whiteley, John S.; Morrison, Gavin W. The Power of the Patriots. ISBN 0-86093-232-X.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to LMS Patriot Class.

• Rail UK database
• The LMS Patriot Project