LMS Princess Coronation Class

The Princess Coronation Class was designed by William Stanier, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). The locomotives were introduced in the late 1930s to compete with the LNER's streamlined A4-class express locomotives on prestigious passenger services.

Yes, several Princess Coronation Class locomotives are preserved, including No. 6229 "Duchess of Hamilton," which is displayed at the National Railway Museum in York. The streamlined casing of Duchess of Hamilton has been both removed and restored at different points in its preservation history.

The streamlined casing was applied to select members of the class to reduce air resistance at high speeds and create a striking visual statement for the LMS's premium express passenger service, particularly the "Coronation Scot" train. Some locomotives later had the streamlining removed for easier maintenance.

The Princess Coronation Class was capable of speeds exceeding 100 mph, with recorded test runs reportedly reaching over 110 mph. They were among the most powerful British steam locomotives ever built, designed for heavy express passenger service on the West Coast Main Line.