No. 6115 Scots Guardsman is a LMS Royal Scot Class 4-6-0 steam locomotive that was built for the London Midland and Scottish Railway by North British Locomotive Company in 1927.
Operational History[]
TBC
Preservation[]
Following withdrawal from service the engine was purchased direct from British Railway for preservation by Bob Bill and was moved to Haworth on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, but due to the engines weight and restictions on a number of the railways structures in the early days of preservation, the engine didn't see much use on the railway. It was eventually moved to the Dinting Railway Centre which at the time was the home base of The Bahamas Locomotive Society who kept 45596 Bahamas there. Following Dinting's closure in 1991, 45596 would later be moved to 6115's former home at the K&WVR.
By 1978 the engine was restored to working order and was outshopped in it's original LMS Lined Black livery (being rebuilt in 1947 the engine only wore this livery for a brief period before going into BR Lined Green). It's first mainline career in preservation however was short lived as the engine only hauled two mainline railtours before it needed to be withdrawn for major boiler repairs (it's first trip being "The Anniversary Express" where it ran from Guide Bridge to York and back via Chinley and Sheffield & it's second trip "The Yorkshire Venturer" on 11/11/78 where it hauled the tour one way from Guide Bridge to York via Chinley and Sheffield).
The engine was later sold by Peter Bill (son of Bob) to the 46115 Scots Guardsman Trust, which delivered it to the Birmingham Railway Museum in Tyseley in 1989 for overhaul – however, it was neglected as other work was deemed higher priority. The engine was eventually sold in 2002 to the Waterman Railway Heritage Trust and moved to Crewe Heritage Centre for an overhaul, the engine however once again remained stored awaiting work.
Returned to Steam & Mainline[]
Evnentually the engine was purchased by David Smith (chairman of West Coast Railways) and was moved to Carnforth Motive Power Depot to be overhauled to modern mainline standards with the engine being outshopped in June 2008 to commence it's mainline test runs from Carnforth to Hellifield and back while still wearing it's old LMS Lined Black. After completing it's loaded test run from Carnforth travelling via Hellifield, Blackburn and Preston to Carnforth the engine was moved into the paintshop for a new coat of paint. The engine emerged wearing BR Lined Brunswick Green with the late crest and it's BR number 46115 before appearing at Carnforth's open weekend on 26/27 July. The engine hauled it's first railtour since 1978 on Sat 16 Aug 2008 which was "The Settle-Carlisle Venturer" from Hellifield to Carlisle and back.
In 2010, 46115 was chosen to haul three Railway Touring Company railtours called "The Cotton Mill Express" with all starting in Lancaster, but on all three occasions the engine suffered mechanical problems. The first trip on 30 January saw the engine failed in Preston on the outward leg with brake problems, the second attempt on 13 February saw the engine suffer from a serious failure where the engine was failed in Eccles with a problem to it's center cylinder and big end. A third and final attempt was made on 17 July, the engine completed the first circuit of the tour from Lancaster to Blackburn via Wigan NW, Manchester Victoria, Stalybridge, Huddersfield, Brighouse and Copy Pit. On arrival at Manchester Victoria after travelling from Blackburn via Darwen and Bolton the engine was once again suffering from cylinder problems. The rest of the tour was cancelled as a result. A fourth attempt at completing "The Cotton Mill Express" would be made 10 years later on 29 February 2020 just prior to going into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but this trip was instead run with 45699 Galatea (The fourth attempt proved successful). A fifth was planned for 2021 but was cancelled due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
The engine was withdrawn from service in August 2017 following the expiry of the engines boiler certificate and was taken straight into Carnforth shed for it's overhaul (this included the casting of a new inside cylinder being made for 46115 as it's existing cylinder had previously cracked and had been stitched up). The locomotive returned to the mainline in July 2019 following it's overhaul to begin it's mainline test runs which commenced in August of the same year. A goal had been set to have the engine ready before 3 August 2019 to have the engine take part in a re-opening train for the Conwy Valley Line which was to be called "The Conwy Quest" and run from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog and back via Llandudno Junction (the tour being run to mark the re-opening of the Conwy Valley Line which had been shut since March 2019 following damage inflicted by Storm Gareth which had washed away the trackbed in places), the engine was to double head with fellow Carnforth based engine 48151 for the trip but on a test run just prior to the trip 46115 suffered a hot axlebox which couldn't be repaired intime to take part in the trip (it's place as a result had to be taken by 45690 Leander which would double head with 48151). As a result the locomotives first railtour post overhaul took place the following month and was a double headed "Dalesman" trip from Hellifield to Carlisle with 46115 acting as pilot to 35018 British India Line.
Heritage Railway Visits[]
In May 2014, 46115 made its second visit to a heritage railway ever, when she visited the Mid Norfolk Railway for their West Coast Railways steam gala, during which she ran alongside fellow Carnforth-based engines 45699 Galatea and 48151. All three engines ran in triple headed formation from Carnforth to Dereham on Thursday 29 May (48151 as pilot engine, 45699 in the middle and 46115 closest to the coaches). The three engines then ran during the three day gala from Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June. The following day, Monday 2 June, the three engines in the same triple headed formation returned to Carnforth along with the nine Mark 1 coaches which had also been provided for the gala (this being due to most coaches at the Mid Norfolk Railway being air braked and the three visitors being only vacuum braked).
In June 2025 it was announced that 46115 was to make a guest appearance at the Severn Valley Railway for their Railway 200 "Trains through the Ages" event that runs on 5th and 6th July. 46115 is intended to cover for 60163 Tornado due to the A1 being needed on the mainline for railtour operations. This visit to the SVR will be the engines first visit to a heritage railway since 2014 when it appeared at a West Coast Railways themed steam gala at the Mid Norfolk Railway alongside fellow Carnforth based residents 48151 and 45699 Galatea. Scots Guardsman will be the third Carnforth based steam engine to visit the Severn Valley Railway within 12 months as resident LMS Black 5 number 44932 visited the SVR in September 2024 for that years Autumn Steam Gala and LMS Jubilee number 45699 Galatea (disguised as 45627 Sierra Leone) visited the SVR in April 2025 for the railways Spring Steam Gala. Fellow Carnforth based ex Severn Valley resident jubilee 45690 Leander visited the SVR in September 2010 & 45593 Kolhapur visited the SVR in March 1988. Additional ex Severn Valley resident black five 45110 resided at the SVR from 1970 until 2023 but last worked on the Severn Valley in 2008.
The Greatest Gathering[]
In February 2025 it was announced that Scots Guardsman was to be one of the locomotives to be placed on display at the upcoming Greatest Gathering event at Derby's Litchurch Lane Works as part of the Rail200 celebrations. 46115 is planned to be placed alongside other steam locomotives including fellow Carnforth based engines: Southern Railway Merchant Navy No. 35018 British India Line, LMS Stanier Class 5 No. 44932, LMS Jubilee Class No. 45699 Galatea (disguised as 45627 Sierra Leone) & LNER Class A1 No. 60163 Tornado. Other locomotives planned to attend include: Southern Railway Merchant Navy No. 35028 Clan Line, LMS Jubilee Class No. 45596 Bahamas, LNER Class A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley & LNER Class A3 No. 60103 Flying Scotsman aswell as numerous other steam locomotives. A Selection of diesel locomotives aswell as electric locomotives, multiple units, narrow gauge and miniature locomotives aswell as a selection of carriages and wagons will also be on display during the event.
The event is scheduled to take place from Friday 1st August and on Saturday 2nd August before ending on Sun 3rd August 2025.
Fame in Preservation[]
The locomotive carried the Olympic torch in 2012 in place of Flying Scotsman.
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- The engine is in the game ”TrainStation 2”.