LMS Royal Scot Class 6115 Scots Guardsman

History

6115 was built in 1927 by the North British Locomotive Company in Springburn, Glasgow. It was named Scots Guardsman in 1928 after the Scots Guards. After receiving smoke deflectors, it starred in the 1936 film Night Mail.

6115 was rebuilt in 1947 with a new tapered type 2A boiler, and was painted in LMS 1946-style black livery. It was the first of the rebuilt engines to receive smoke deflectors and the only one to run with them as an LMS engine. It was renumbered 46115 by British Railways in 1948 and was withdrawn in Jan 1966.

Overview

Scots Guardsman is one of two preserved Royal Scots, the other being LMS Royal Scot Class 6100 Royal Scot.

46115 was purchased by the West Coast Railway Company and in 2008, it was restored to main-line running standard. Her first test run from Carnforth to Hellifield was completed on 20 June 2008. The loco was then moved back into the depot at Steamtown and repainted BR Brunswick Green, appearing in this livery at the Steamtown Open Weekend on 26/27 July 2008. The loco then hauled its first railtour called 'The Settle-Carlisle Venturer' from Hellifield to Carlisle and return on 16 August 2008.

Allocations

The shed locations of 46115 on particular dates. (Needs Finishing)

Fame in Preservation

In the 1970s, she was based on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway during the mainline steam ban on BR (which was broken in 1971). Due to the branch being only able to operate small engines in the early days of preservation and the weight of 46115 being too much for some bridges, she didn't see that much use on the line and eventually departed from the KWVR in the mid 70's to operate on the mainline.

On 6 September 2009, 46115 worked "The Yorkshire Scot" from Liverpool Lime Street to York running via Manchester Victoria, Rochdale and Leeds. The tour was run as a special for the centenary of the Girl Guides; she was also for the occasion temporarily renamed to 46168's name The Girl Guide, she was however not re-numbered.

In May 2014, she made only her second visit to a heritage railway ever, when she visited the Mid Norfolk Railway at Dereham for their West Coast Railways steam gala, during which she ran alongside fellow Carnforth-based engines LMS Jubilee 4-6-0 45699 Galatea and LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48151. All three engines ran in Triple Headed formation from Carnforth to Dereham on Thursday 29 May. The three engines then ran during the three day gala from Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June and the following day, Monday 2 June, the three engines returned to Carnforth along with the nine BR Mark 1 coaches which had also been provided for the gala (due to most coaches at the Mid Norfolk Railway being air braked and the three visitors only being vacuum braked).

Over the summer, she also took turns alongside fellow Carnforth-based engines in working "The Fellsman" from Lancaster to Carlisle running via the famous Settle and Carlisle Line both ways. Other summer workings include "The Dalesman" from York to Carlisle running down the Settle and Carlisle with steam taking over at Hellifield, the Cumbrian Mountain Express from London Euston to Carlisle, with one way being worked over Shap Summit and the other traveling down the Settle and Carlisle Line, and the West Coast Railways "Scarborough Spa Express" from York to Scarborough running via Wakefield Kirkgate and Castleford.

On 16 July 2016, 46115 made her third visit to a heritage railway when she worked The Railway Touring Company's "West Somerset Steam Express" from London Paddington to Bishops Lydeard running via Reading, Newbury and Westbury. From Bishops Lydeard S&DJR 7F 2-8-0 no 53808 took over the train for the journey to Minehead and then returned the train to Bishops Lydeard where 46115 took over for the journey back to London via the outward route.

On 26 July 2016, 46115 made her first appearance on The Conwy Valley Line when she worked RTC's "Welsh Mountaineer" from Preston to Blaenau Ffestiniog running via Chester and Llandudno Junction. This was also the first time a Royal Scot had ever gone up the branch, as none of the class ran up the line in the steam era due to the fierce 1 in 47 gradient in the Blaenau direction being unsuitable for an express passenger locomotive. Because the train had to reverse at Llandudno Junction junction in order to attack the fierce gradients on the branch whilst running forward, the Chester to Llandudno Junction section was done with 46115 running tender first.

Olympic Torch run

In 2012 the Olympic torch was to be carried by LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman but due to her overhaul over-running 46115 took her place by taking the Olympic torch from York to Shildon.