27/05/2026
What if...? | 46256 'Sir William A. Stanier F.R.S.'
, 150 years ago on 27th May 1876, Sir William Stanier was born. After staring his career in the railways working for the Great Western Railway, eventually becoming manager of Swindon Works in 1920, Stanier was selected by Chairman of the LMS, Sir Josiah Stamp, to take the position of Chief Mechanical Engineer, utilising his knowledge from working at the GWR. From 1932 to 1944, Stanier introduced several successful steam locomotives designs to the LMS, including the Princess Coronations, Princess Royals, the Jubilees, and the Black Fives.
The penultimate Princess Coronation and final LMS built Pacific to enter service, No.6256 in December 1947, was named in honour of Stanier, who by now had received a Fellowship of the Royal Society. 46256 became the final member of the class to survive in service, and despite being a favourite amongst enthusiasts with calls to preserve her, she was withdrawn in October of 1964 and scrapped by the end of the year.
Three members of the class were fortunate to survive in preservation, each representing different eras of the Duchess's lives. 46233 'Duchess of Sutherland', alongside 46229 'Duchess of Hamilton', was acquired by Sir Billy Butlin, and was displayed at the Heads-of-Ayr Butlins holiday camp. Today, 6233 is owned by the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust, and over the past two decades, has been the only operational example of the class, running mainline tours and occasional visits to heritage lines, though is currently out of service for an overhaul at The West Shed.
Pictured here outside The West Shed in September 2018, following a fresh repaint into LMS Crimson Lake livery, 6233 forms a basis for a photoshop job of 46256. This showcases how she would have appeared in the 1960s, sporting BR Standard Red with LMS lining, a livery which 46256 was one of 16 members of the class to carry. Note an attempt to represent the 'utility front' footplate and abridged cab sides, the latter being a unique modification to 46256 and 46257 'City of Salford'.
The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust
