LMS Turbomotive

The LMS Turbomotive was an experimental steam turbine locomotive, a modified member of the Princess Royal Class designed by William Stanier and built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1935. It was inspired by the Swedish Ljungstrom turbine locomotives first introduced in 1922 and used steam turbines in place of cylinders. Its forward turbine produced 2,400 horsepower at 7,060 rpm, while a small reverse turbine allowed only light manoeuvring, so the engine always had to be turned to face forwards to pull a train. It was relatively successful, saving coal compared with a conventional reciprocating engine and giving no hammer blow on the track, but after a turbine failure in 1949 repair was judged uneconomic. In 1952 it was rebuilt as a conventional locomotive, number 46202 Princess Anne, and after only two months in service it was damaged in the Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash of 8 October 1952 and scrapped.