‘Lizzie’ returns to main line following Carnforth boiler repairs

Stanier ‘Princess Royal’ Pacific No. 6201 Princess Elizabeth is back and ready for a return to main line duties following the completion of boiler repairs at West Coast Railways’ Carnforth workshops.

The welcome return of the 6201 Society locomotive came on March 14 when Princess Elizabeth completed its initial light test run from Carnforth to Hellifield and back. This was the first time ‘Lizzie’ had been in steam on the national network since being withdrawn with weeping small boiler tubes in November 2016. 

6201 Princess Elizabeth Society said on their website: “We are very pleased to report that on the 14^th March 2019, 6201 ‘Princess Elizabeth’ had her initial light test run after various repairs were carried out at Carnforth.  This was the first time ‘Lizzie’ had been in steam on the national network since being withdrawn for repair at the end of 2016, and the loco ran steadily to Hellifield and back during ‘running in’.

Then on the 28^th March, after the team at Carnforth worked on the teething issues found on the initial run, 6201 embarked on a loaded test run.  Lizzie headed back to Hellifield again, returning along the Ribble Valley line and then through Preston and Lancaster, arriving back at Carnforth some 3 hours early!

We would like to sincerely thank everyone for their continued support and donations towards the cost of repairs, and we look forward to seeing ‘Princess Elizabeth’ back in service on the mainline soon.”

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