George V Project
The LNWR George the Fifth Steam Locomotive Project aims to build a replica of Bowen Cooke’s iconic 4-4-0 George V class locomotives that were built by and for the London North Western Railway between 1910 and 1915. The locomotive is to be named Prince George and numbered 2013 (the year the prince was born).
Keyte Smith Ltd which has a close association with the AST Group through one of its directors, Jamie Keyte, has been engaged by the George V Trust to fabricate components for the locomotive as and when funds are available. So far, the work undertaken extends to a left hand splasher set, name and number plates and smokebox door and door fittings. Work is now progressing on the fabrication of the smokebox itself.
Meanwhile the AST Group is preparing a Feasibility Study for the Trust that will suggest means by which the performance of the locomotive may be enhanced, with particular reference to its drafting, taking account of the need for its chimney height to be lowered by some 4 inches (100mm).
Fabrication work being undertaken by Keyte Smith Ltd is illustrated below: