The Patriot was the last class to be designed during Sir Henry Fowlers period as C.M.E. of the LMS. Only the first two were built during the tenure of his office.

Officially they were rebuilt from L.N.W.R. Claughtons but actually they were new engines, built as replacements. The enginemen immediately dubbed them "Baby Scots" and the name soon stuck.

The first 42 engines took the numbers of the locomotives they replaced. When the final batch was built in 1934, the decision was taken to re-number the whole class. The last ten came out carrying numbers 5542-5551 with the exsisting engines then being re-numbered 5500-5541.

The first two locomotives 5500 "Patriot" and 5501 "St Dunstans" differed from the rest of the class in that the wheelbase was shorter. There were also a number of detail differences. The Tower Brass Patriot depicts locomotives 5502-5551, so it is not suitable for the first two locomotives of the class.

The first of the Patriots were built without smoke deflectors but these were universally added later.

The Patriots were a true mixed traffic engine, light enough to be at home on suburban rails and equally useful on express passenger, local passenger, parcels, fish or fitted freight.

The choice of names given to the class appears rather haphazard. The Patriot class took it's name from the military named locomotives but many were named after holiday towns.

The Tower Brass Patriot only depicts the locomotive in it's un-rebuilt form. Hence it will represent 5502-5551 in LMS days, and all of the class in BR days except for the 18 that were later rebuilt. To assist with choosing a suitable locomotive name and number we have provided a list of locomotives at the foot of this section giving numbers, names, dates etc.

All of the Patriots were scrapped early to mid 1960's with none being preserved. Plans are currently underway to build a new Patriot (rather like the A1 Tornado project)

We have now sold out of both the early and late version of the Patriots but we still have a small number fully finished available either off the shelf or completing in the next few months. Check the list of RTR available of the shelf for details..

LMS / BR Unrebuilt Original Patriot 4-6-0 5502-5551 (45502-45551) Specifications.

The Tower Brass original (un-rebuilt) Patriot will be supplied fully assembled and ready-to-run. It will feature a compensated chassis, working inside motion, fitted flywheel motor, plunger pickups to all drivers, sprung buffers, all reasonable rivet detail, highly detailed backhead and all the usual features expected of the multi-award winning Tower Brass range.

Two versions were available.

TBL24 Early Version.

Suitable for LMS or very early BR period. The locomotive will be complete with a Fowler rivetted tender with the air vents in the original position in the coal space and complete with coaling rails. The locomotive will have plain (Fowler) type bogie and driving wheels and will have the ejector pipework in the original position. It will also feature a plain buffer beam. The model can be supplied in factory painted plain black with a red buffer beam. Alternatively our paintshops can supply the locomotive fully finished in any LMS crimson, LMS black or BR black fully lined livery with the customers choice of name or number.

We have now completely sold out of the early version of the Patriot with just one completing through the workshops in October.

TBL25 Late Version.

Suitable for either BR early or late crest period. The tender will carry the air vents in the later rear position behind the coal space and the locomotive will feature the later Stanier type vee rim bogie and driving wheels. The ejector pipework will be depicted in the later position and AWS equipment will be supplied but not fitted for models based on the 1956 or later period. the later type Patriot will be finished in factory painted plain green thus making it suitable for early or late crest BR green engines. Alternatively our paintshops will complete the locomotive to the customers requirements in any fully lined BR green livery (or early BR lined black livery if required.) including the customer's own choice of names, numbers and condition.

LMS / BR Unrebuilt Original Patriot Update.

You can follow this link Railway Modeller Patriot images for a beautiful series of images of the brand new Tower Brass Patriots which have recently been completed through the workshops. Thanks to both Craig Tiley and The Railway Modeller for allowing us to use their images.

I have created a list of all the Patriots covered by the Tower Brass model to aid customers with all the options available including name changes. Please note where locomotives have been rebuilt the Tower Brass Models is not suitable for that locomotive after that date.