Six new driving wheels for 'The Unknown Warrior' were ordered during July from the Boro Foundry, at Lye in the West Midlands.
The £58,000 contract is the largest single contract to date that has been placed by The LMS-Patriot Project, and demonstrates significant progress towards having a rolling chassis, hopefully during 2011.
The 6'9" driving wheels will be made from the same pattern that was used to make a pair of new driving wheels for Jubilee 45699 'Galatea'. The pattern has kindly been made available by Bob Meanley, CME Tyseley Locomotive Works.
Fundraising for the driving wheels has been supported by Heritage Railway magazine and the generosity of its readers as well as a direct appeal to the Patriot Project Membership.
David Bradshaw, LMS-Patriot Project Chairman, said, "This is a tremendous achievement as we are only in our second year of construction. We have worked very closely with the Boro Foundry, firstly with the frame drilling, then the bogie bolster casting, and we are pleased to announce that the single biggest order to date will also be going to the Boro Foundry".
The first driving wheel is now expected to be cast at the bginning of September, with all six driving wheels completed by the end of October.
After casting, the driving wheels will be taken to the South Devon Railway where the complete wheelsets will be assembled.
Fundraising continues for the crank axle, axles, tyres, and crank pins.
Photo by Bob Sweet/LMS-Patriot Project.
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