Cylinder Appeal Launched for ‘The Unknown Warrior’

The LMS-Patriot Project, the charitable group who are building the Royal British Legion endorsed National Memorial Engine ‘The Unknown Warrior’ – has launched a £50,000 appeal for the cylinders. The appeal has been launched as a result of the discovery of a pattern maker – Precision Patterns of Oldbury who can make polystyrene patterns at a fraction of the cost of traditional wooden patterns. This will result in a significant saving in the overall costs of building the new ‘Patriot’ class 4-6-0 steam locomotive ‘The Unknown Warrior’.

The Cylinder Appeal was first launched to Members of the LMS-Patriot Project in the ‘Warrior’ newsletter, but funds are being sought from anybody who wants to see the continued rapid rate of progression of ‘The Unknown Warrior’. Around £21,000 is needed to make one inside cylinder patter, two outside cylinder patterns and the three castings. A further £30,000 is required before the 3 cylinder castings can be machined.

“The ability for us to source polystyrene patterns at a fraction of the cost of wooden patterns means that we are already in a position to order the middle cylinder pattern and casting,” explained David Bradshaw, LMS-Patriot Company chairman. “The new casting will require machining and the proceeds from the Cylinder Appeal will be used for this, together with funding the patterns and castings for the two outside cylinders. I urge everybody to consider supporting the fastest progressing new build project. Any donation however small or large will be gratefully received”.

All three cylinders will be cast at the Coupe Foundry, in Preston, Lancashire.

Donations can be made towards the cost of the patterns (£2280 for the inside and £2000 each for the outside cylinders. Or the cylinder castings can be sponsored (£5170 for the inside cylinder and £4750 for the outside cylinders). There is also the opportunity for donors to sponsor a cubic inch of the cylinder capacity for £1.15 / cubic inch, with a total of 19,851 cubic inches available to sponsor.

A Donations and Membership Form can also be downloaded by following this link, or requested from: LMS-Patriot Co. Ltd., PO Box 3118, Hixon, Stafford, ST16 9JL, to which donations can also be sent.

CAD drawing of middle cylinder showing the 9 separate layers that are bonded together to form the complete cylinder.

Sections of middle cylinder pattern cut on CNC machine from polystyrene.

New polystyrene pattern for middle cylinder completed.