In 1964 the Duchess of Hamilton retired after steaming over a million and a half miles for the LMS and then British Rail. She went into retirement as a star attraction at Butlins Holiday Camp at Minehead for the next 12 years.
1976 brought her back to the National Railway Museum at York when the Friends of the NRM took responsibility to finance the 20 year lease from Butlins and organise a public appeal to fund her restoration for main line operation.
This culminated in her steaming again on 10th May 1980 with a full train load of partners under the ' Limited Edition headboard.
Find out about Friends contributions here
Frank Paterson