Coronation locomotive 6220 (Bassett-Lowke)

Star Exhibit
Coronation locomotive 6220 (Bassett-Lowke) The Museum's Bassett-Lowke Coronation 6220, on Train Running Day Spring 2012 (i)
location:
Arch Three , Area 61 1930s Layout, station side

= Coronation Scot at Brighton Toy and Model Museum =
This exhibit was on display between November 2012 and early 2013

Original loco details:

LMS	No.6220	4-6-2
Originally built:		1937

Contemporary Bassett-Lowke catalogue from around 1937/38. The same image was re-colorised to red and yellow for the version of the catalogue released in 1939 [image info]

6220 Coronation, at home on the layout [image info]

Coronation Scot Exhibition
the locomotives
trains: 1937 - 1939 - 1940
greatest? - streamlining - advertising - trivia - models and kits

A sleek, futuristic, gauge 0 model of the streamlined, bullet-nosed 4-6-2 "Pacific" LMS "Coronation" locomotive 6220 in "coronation blue" with silver lining, built by Bassett-Lowke in the 1930s.

Manufacture

Bassett-Lowke advert in Meccano Magazine, 1939, showing the model. Note that the "LMS" letters have been blocked out

Bassett-Lowke produced their gauge 0 model of Coronation 6220 in 1937, and it appears proudly on the cover of their gauge 0 catalogues in ~1937/38 (colourised in blue) and 1939 (colorised in red and yellow. The model was also heavily promoted in those years' advertising as their new "flagship" piece (see example above).

These locomotive models were handmade and hand-finished and handpainted, including all the lettering. They also had factory numbers stamped into or scratched into their undersides, presumably so that the builders could work on a few items at a time, and not confuse which parts had been hand-tailored to fit which locos.

The Museum's Director, Chris Littledale, has restored a number of examples, and so far the highest number encountered has been "twenty-five", which suggests that perhaps only around thirty were made.

The original locomotive

This class of locomotive was known as "Coronation" class The first batch of Coronation Class locomotives was designed to haul the Coronation Scot train, and their blue and silver lining ran along the full length of the train.

Number 6220 "Coronation" was built in 1937.

Manufacturer's information

Bassett-Lowke 1937 catalogue page [image info] PACIFIC TYPE STREAMLINERS SPECIFICATION for ALL MODELS FRAMES AND BODY. -- Constructed from best steel plate. WHEELS. -- Driving and Tender wheels in turned cast-iron, Bogie wheels in anti-friction material. The centre driving wheels with flanges removed for negotiating sharp corners. MOVEMENTS. -- Clockwork, best quality 6-coupled with latest pattern controlled governor, reversing motion and brake activated from rail or cab. Electric, D.C. Standard spur-driven permanent magnet motor with tripolar armature, bronze commutator, wound 8-10 volts Electric, A.C. 20 volts standard mechanism with tripolar armature, reversing from cab FINISH. -- Hand-enamelled in the correct colours, lining, numbers and lettering of the engine in question

PRICES Length overall 20 in. Wheel base 16 3/4 in. No. 3606/0. Clockwork £12 12 0 No. 5606/0. D.C., 8-10 volts £12 12 0 No. 4606/0. A.C., 20 volts £12 12 0

See also:

• Coronation Scot
• Duchess of Gloucester locomotive (gauge 0)
• Train Running Day

External links

• Bassett-Lowke’s Coronation sells at Surrey auction, for £7800 (antiquestradegazette.com)

• LMS Streamliners (locos-in-profile.co.uk)
• 1937 film of the 6220 Coronation being built at Crewe, and rolled out.