SR 777 N15 4-6-0 'Sir Lamiel'
The King Arthurs were originally designed by Robert Urie as N15s under the London and South Western Railway. They were built between 1919 and 1926 and designed to haul heavy express trains. They became part of Southern Railway and the Publicity Department gave the class, names associated with the Arthurian Legend of the Knights of the Round Table. Hence becoming known as King Arthur class. Richard Maunsell modified the locos and increased their numbers to 74.
The new locos were built at Eastleigh or Glasgow and the became known as Eastleigh Arthurs or Scotch Arthurs. Sir Lamiel, named after a Welsh Knight was built in June 1925 as a Scotch Arthur by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow and was withdrawn from service in October 1961..
| Designer | Richard Maunsell based on designs from |
| Wheels | 6′ 7″Driving Wheels |
| Overall Length | 66ft 51/4″ |
| Weight | 138 tons 10 cwt Engine & Tender in working order |
| Boiler Pressure | 200 Lbs/sq” |
| Grate Area | 30.0 ft2 |
| Flue and Tube Area | 167 smoke tubes each 2″ diameter |
| Superheater | 24 Elements, 1 3/8″ diameter, 24 Flues 51/4″ diameter |
| Tractive Effort | 29,860 (lbf) |
| Tender Capacity | 5 tons coal; 5,000 gals water |
| Valve Gear | Outside Walschaerts |
| Cylinder Bore/Stroke | Two, Outside Bore/Stroke 20 1/2″ / 28″ |
Allocations
Nine Elms (1925-1942), Bournemouth (1943-1950), Battersea (1951-1960), Feltham (1960-).
Class
Southern Region N15 4-6-0 King Arthur Class. One of the ‘Scotchmen or Scotch Arthurs having been built in Glasgow)
BR Class 5P
Owner
National Railway Museum, York, Maintained and operated by the 5305 Locomotive Association.
Builder
North British Locomotive Company (NBL) of Glasgow for the Southern Region as they had run out of build capacity.
Built in June 1925
Entered Service
Summer 1925
Withdrawal
30777 was withdrawn from service in October 1961
Upon withdrawal she was saved for the National Collection (now the National Railway Museum) instead of class mate 30453 ‘King Arthur’ as she had the correct tender for the class.
Restoration From Withdrawal
After withdrawal in 1961, Sir Lamiel became part of the National Collection, which later formed the National Railway Museum. The locomotive was stored in various locations before entering the custodianship of 5305LA in 1978 (then based in Hull at Dairycotes as the Humberside Locomotive Preservation Group).
First Steaming in Preservation
777 returned to steam and mainline condition on 21st February 1982 in Maunsell green livery. The first mainline trip in preservation was over the Settle and Carlisle line on 27th March 1982. Following this, 777 has had a varied and successful mainline career.
Main Line and Film Work
It appeared (as a Great Western Railway engine) in the ITV crime drama series Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Series 3 episodes: The Plymouth Express and The Double Clue broadcast in 1991. In 1995 it featured in the BBC Television play Cruel Train, an adaptation of the novel La Bête Humaine telling a tale of a murderous engine driver.
Overhauls
The HLPG completed major overhaul of 777 in 1989, then in 1995, 777 moved to the Great Central Railway. She was withdrawn from service again in 1996 for another overhaul.
The 5305 Locomotive Association, the successor to the HPLG, then undertook yet another major restoration and overhaul of 777 returning it to traffic in 2006. Following further mainline and preserved railway work the engine was withdrawn for overhaul in 2017 and stored in the loco shed at Loughborough.