Collections
- Duchess of Hamilton
- Recreating a Legend
- Gallery
Duchess of Hamilton Streamlined: Styling An Era
Duchess of Hamilton Streamlined Styling An Era
20 May 2009 - 31 Dec 2010
TheDuchess of Hamilton exhibiton is now open.
This special exhibition sees The Duchess of Hamilton back in pride of place at the NRM and The exhibition documents the importance of streamlining in design and the science behind it.
Come and see the iconic Duchess of Hamilton locomotive restored to its original streamlined form. The locomotive is one of the stars of the NRM’s collections and currently takes pride of place in this new exhibition which tells the story of how her streamlined design provided a powerful and fast way to travel in the 1930’s and explores the links between fashion, engineering, design and the steam age. Other streamlined objects are also displayed reflecting the changes in social history and perceptions around the late 1930’s.
Information about other exhibitions and events at the National Railway Museum
History for Duchess of Hamilton
A stunning piece of Art Deco opulence has been recreated thanks to the National Railway Museum.
Back in 1938, locomotive 6229 ‘Duchess of Hamilton’ was built as an express locomotive, resplendent in LMS red; it made a bold statement as a modern machine, for a modern age. Its power and prestige were soon put to work flying the flag for Britain, when in 1939 it took a starring role in the 1939 New York World's Fair. American crowds gawped in amazement at its sleek lines and fashionable carriages, whilst back in Europe, war clouds closed in.
The streamlining process required heavy steel casings to be fitted over the engine’s boiler, creating a distinctive curved bullet shape. Although this design epitomised the fashion of the time, it’s an open question whether the streamlining process actually brought about any substantial improvement in speed. What is not open to question is the fact that these locomotives were the most powerful steam locomotives ever to run in Britain.
When Duchess returned to a war torn Britain her lavish Art Deco style was replaced with a wartime black livery. In 1946 her streamlined casing was removed, as it made maintenance awkward. Those locomotives that had previously been streamlined were still identifiable by their tapered smoke-box fronts - giving the class its nickname of ‘semi-streamlined’ or simply ‘semi’ - but even these were gradually phased out over the next ten years.
Duchess of Hamilton was eventually withdrawn from service in 1963. She had a varied life in preservation, initially as a static exhibit at Butlins in Minehead, before being restored to steam in 1980 by the Friends of the National Railway Museum. She went on to enjoy nearly two decades on the main line before returning to the Museum's Great Hall for display.
Now, after more than 60 years, Duchess of Hamilton has been restored to her original streamlined design, thanks to support from the Friends of the National Railway Museum and the readers of Steam Railway magazine. An appeal to readers brought about an amazing response and money poured in.
The locomotive has returned back to the NRM and will take her place at the heart of new exhibition ‘Streamlined Styling An Era’ running until 31st December 2010.
