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Steam Locomotive BR 30777 SIR LAMIEL Ex SR 777 4-6-0 Class N15  King Arthur Class Heritage & Preserved Steam Locomotive Engines My Archive Steam Photos from the 1960s [Author © Dr Phil Brown PhD plus help from AI these days, page updated May 11th 2026] Trainspot locations  *  TOPS class links A history of steam locomotive 30777 My Main Railways Index Nostalgic Steam Train Photos from the 1960s  *  Email: chem55555@hotmail.com SR N15 Class “King Arthur” BR No. 30777 Sir Lamiel at Quorn and Woodhouse station on the Great Central Railway (GCR, 2017)  (photo courtesy of Kentish Bob YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@kentishbob6423 ) SR N15 Class “King Arthur” BR No. 30777 Sir Lamiel Sir Lamiel is the sole survivor of the Southern Railway’s N15 “King Arthur” class of 4-6-0 express passenger locomotives. Built in June 1925 by the North British Locomotive Company, she entered LSWR service as E777, was renumbered 777 under SR, and became BR 30777 after nationalisation. Today she belongs to the National Collection and is based at the Great Central Railway under the care of the 5305 Locomotive Association. 1. Construction and SR/BR Service of SR N15 Class “King Arthur” BR No. 30777 Sir Lamiel Sir Lamiel was designed by Robert Urie (later modified by Richard Maunsell) and built at NBL Glasgow in June 1925. She wore the LSWR “King Arthur” livery and carried the Drummond water cart tender from new. Smoke deflectors were fitted in December 1927. Upon grouping, E-prefixes were dropped in 1932, and she became SR 777. After nationalisation in 1948, she was renumbered BR 30777. She hauled premier expresses from Waterloo through the West Country and on routes to Exeter until her withdrawal in October 1961. 2. Shed Allocations of SR N15 Class “King Arthur” BR No. 30777 Sir Lamiel Nine Elms (London) – June 1925 onward Battersea – early 1930s Bournemouth – mid-1930s Dover – late 1930s Feltham – early 1940s Basingstoke – 1940s until withdrawal in 1961 3. Technical Specifications of SR N15 Class “King Arthur” BR No. 30777 Sir Lamiel Key technical specifications are summarized below. Feature Specification Wheel arrangement 4-6-0 Designer Robert Urie / Richard Maunsell Builder North British Locomotive Co. Build date June 1925 Gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm) Driving wheel diameter 6 ft 7 in Cylinders Two outside; 20½ in × 28 in Boiler pressure 200 psi Tractive effort 25,320 lbf Locomotive weight 80 long tons 19 cwt Tender type Drummond water cart (5,000 gal) Length over buffers 66 ft 5¾ in 4. Preservation and Operational History of SR N15 Class “King Arthur” BR No. 30777 Sir Lamiel After withdrawal in October 1961, 30777 went to Woodham Brothers, Barry, arriving December 1965. In June 1978 she moved to the Humberside Locomotive Preservation Group at Dairycoates, Hull, and was restored to main-line standard, first steaming on 21 February 1982 and hauling her inaugural preservation main-line working over the Settle & Carlisle on 27 March 1982. An overhaul in 1989 preceded a successful main-line career—including a role in the 1994 film The Cruel Train—before she joined the National Collection under the 5305 Locomotive Association. She arrived at the Great Central Railway on 5 October 1995, ran until a 1996 overhaul, then returned to traffic in May 2006. Heavy maintenance and repainting into SR malachite green as 777 took place in Autumn 2012. She ran regular services until August 2017 and is now under overhaul with a target return to steam in 2026. 5. Liveries, Numbers, and Names of SR N15 Class “King Arthur” BR No. 30777 Sir Lamiel LSWR olive green with lining as E777 (1925–1932) SR lined olive green as 777 (1932–1948) BR Brunswick green with late crest as 30777 (1948–1961) SR olive green (preservation, early 1980s) BR green (late crest, preservation post-2006) Southern malachite green as 777 at 2012 Autumn Gala (first time since 1940s) Number carried: E777 → 777 → 30777; name “Sir Lamiel” carried ceremonially on the cabside * * Great Central Railway: 30777 SIR LAMIEL, waiting to depart from Loughborough Central Station. British Railways 30777 is an ex Southern Railway (SR 777) and British Railways locomotive (ex Southern Region) was withdrawn in 1961. Locomotive 30777 is an SR 4-6-0 designed by R.E.L Maunsell from an earlier Urie LSWR design, this only surviving N15 King Arthur Class locomotive and was built by the North British Locomotive Co. Glasgow in 1925. Technical detail specifications of locomotive 777/30777: Boiler pressure of 777/30777: 200 lbf/sq.in., Weight of 777/30777: loco 80.7 tons, tender 57.5 tons, Wheel diameter of 777/30777: 3' 7¾, 6' 7'', Valve gear of 777/30777: Walschaerts piston valves, Cylinders of 30777 (diameter x stroke): 20½" x 28" (O), Tractive effort of 777/30777: 25320 lbf., BR Power classification of 777/30777: Class 5P Southern Railway green liveried 777 SIR LAMIEL (GCR Loughborough, Sept. 2017) as it would have looked from 1925 to at least 1948.   Great Central Railway Winter Gala: 30777 waits and then departs in style at Quorn and Woodhouse on the GCR with a train for Leicester!   Great Central Railway: Ex SR/BR Class N15 4-6-0 locomotive 777/30777 SIR LAMIEL, bringing empty coaching stock into Loughborough Central Station. Here 30777 is painted in British Railways Brunswick green livery.   Great Central Railway Winter Gala 2009: In a blaze of steam and smoke ex SR King Arthur Class 30777 SIR LAMIEL heads south departing from Loughborough Central Station with a train for Leicester.   Great Central Railway Winter Gala: Ex Southern Railway King Arthur Class locomotive 30777 SIR LAMIEL entering Quorn and Woodhouse Station.   At Loughborough Station 34007 WADEBRIDGE meets fellow ex SR locomotive 30777 SIR LAMIEL   30777 SIR LAMIEL at York station A brief history of King Arthur Class 30777 Sir Lamiel Sir Lamiel (Southern Railway N15 “King Arthur” Class No. 777 / BR 30777) is the sole surviving member of the once‑numerous King Arthur 4‑6‑0 express passenger locomotives. Built in 1925, she worked premier Southern Railway expresses, survived withdrawal in 1961, and went on to enjoy one of the most successful preservation careers of any main‑line certified steam locomotive. Identity and Significance of 30777 Sir Lamiel Why Sir Lamiel matters most: She is the only preserved King Arthur class locomotive out of 74 built, representing the Southern Railway’s principal 1920s express design. Class: N15 “King Arthur” Designer: Robert Urie (later refined by Richard Maunsell) Builder: North British Locomotive Co., Glasgow Completed: June 1925 Original number: E777 (LSWR/SR Eastern Section) Later numbers: 777 (SR), 30777 (BR) Name origin: Sir Lamiel of Cardiff, a minor knight in Le Morte d’Arthur. Construction and Technical Profile of 30777 Sir Lamiel Sir Lamiel was one of 30 N15s built by NBL with narrower cabs for the Eastern Section clearances. Key specifications: Wheel arrangement: 4‑6‑0 Driving wheels: 6 ft 7 in Cylinders: 2 outside, 20½ × 28 in Boiler pressure: 200 psi Tractive effort: 25,320 lbf Tender: Drummond 5,000‑gallon water cart tender (remarkably, still original) Length: 66 ft 5¾ in Modifications of 30777 Sir Lamiel: Smoke deflectors added December 1927 “E” prefix dropped 1932 Working Life of 30777 Sir Lamiel (1925–1961) Early SR Service Allocated first to Nine Elms, she worked the Southern Railway’s top expresses from London Waterloo to the West Country, Bournemouth, and Exeter. Later allocations included: Battersea Bournemouth Dover Feltham Basingstoke (final shed) BR Service Renumbered 30777 in 1948, she continued express and secondary duties until the Modernisation Plan accelerated steam withdrawal. She was taken out of service in October 1961, after only 36 years—short for a main‑line express engine. Preservation Story of 30777 Sir Lamiel (1961–present) Early Preservation of 30777 Sir Lamiel Initially stored at Fratton, Stratford, and Ashford. Adopted by the Humberside Locomotive Preservation Group in 1978 and moved to Dairycoates, Hull. First preservation steaming: 21 February 1982. First main‑line run: 27 March 1982 over the Settle & Carlisle. National Collection Although another King Arthur (No. 30753) was originally earmarked for preservation, the lack of a suitable tender meant Sir Lamiel was chosen instead. She is now part of the National Railway Museum’s National Collection, cared for by the 5305 Locomotive Association. Great Central Railway Era of 30777 Sir Lamiel Arrived at the GCR (Loughborough) in 1995. Returned to traffic in 2006 after overhaul. Operated regularly until 2017, when withdrawn for her next 10‑year overhaul. Liveries in Preservation of 30777 Sir Lamiel SR Olive Green (as 777) BR Brunswick Green (as 30777) SR Malachite Green (from 2012) Sir Lamiel in Film & Television Sir Lamiel has appeared in several productions, often standing in for other companies’ locomotives: Agatha Christie’s Poirot – The Plymouth Express & The Double Clue (1991) Cruel Train (BBC, 1995) Current Status of 30777 Sir Lamiel (as of latest available information 2026) Undergoing overhaul Based at the Great Central Railway, Loughborough Maintained by the 5305 Locomotive Association Summary Timeline of 30777 Sir Lamiel Year Event 1925 Built by NBL, numbered E777 1927 Smoke deflectors fitted 1932 Renumbered 777 (SR) 1948 Renumbered 30777 (BR) 1961 Withdrawn from service 1978 Adopted by Humberside Loco Preservation Group 1982 First steaming & first main‑line run in preservation 1995 Arrived at Great Central Railway 2006 Returned to traffic 2012 Repainted into SR malachite green 2017 Withdrawn for overhaul My Archive Steam Photos from the 1960s Luxury rail tours of Scotland Rail holidays in Continental Europe Luxury train travel bookings Trips on Scotland's heritage railways rail tours of Wales Railway tours in France Germany Austria Switzerland America USA Canada  Trips on Welsh heritage railways Trans-continental journeys by luxury train great steam trains of Europe Trips on England's heritage railways railway Trips on UK heritage railways steam tours in Europe railway tours of Spain Sweden Finland Norway Luxury rail tours of Ireland images of steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips photos of steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips photographs of steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips pictures of steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips © Dr Phil Brown * Treyn Railway Holidays to France, Italy and Spain from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips Booking tickets for Great Railway Journey luxury Rail Trip holidays Train travel in Europe Rail holidays from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips to the USA & Canada luxury train through the Rocky Mountain Canadian rail railway holidays through the Rockies US Cities by train from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips  Continental rail holidays to France Germany Italy Austria Switzerland Glacier Express Treyn Holidays from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips from Eurostar to Paris Brussels Avignon Turin Turino Rome Roma Florence Firenze TGV fast trains Railway travel holidays special steam excursions from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips Travelling by train always seems a pleasure, especially if through wonderful scenery  to steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips in England, Scotland, Wales or on holiday in the rest of Europe! The railway trip from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips involves seeing or travelling behind a 'real' steam locomotive in action and there is nothing like the sight and sounds of a steam train to invoke feelings of nostalgia in some of us to steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips even more luxury by having a special trip out on a steam dining train! 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The railway trip involves seeing or travelling behind a 'real' steam locomotive or heritage diesel in action on a special trip from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips Booking Eurostar Continental Rail Travel Tour Tickets Stuttgart Brussels Eurostar Brussels from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips by TGV to Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International Stratford International, St Pancras International Paris Gare du Nord Paris Gare de Lyon Paris Gare de L'est Paris Gare Montparnasse by Eurostar from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips London to Paris, Eurostar London - Brussels Eurostar London to Lille deals bargain city breaks steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips Great Railway Journey holidays in Italy, Spain and France by TGV booking from steam locomotive 777 30777 Sir Lamiel express passenger train trips Good trainspotting 'TRAINSPOTS' Good trainspotting and photographic locations  Barnetby Station, North Lincolnshire  *  Carlisle Station  *  Clapham Junction Station, London  *  Colton Junction, south of York  *  Crewe Station  *  Doncaster Station, South Yorkshire  * Hellifield station - Carlisle to Settle line * Lancaster station  * Newcastle Station  *  Northallerton Station  *  Nuneaton Station  *  Sheffield Station  *  Stratford Station, East London * Warrington Bank Quay station * Wigan North Western - WCML *  York Station See other TOPS classes of diesels and electrics * Class 01 * Class 02 * Class 03 * Class 04 * Class 08 * Class 09 * Class 10 * Class 11 * Class 14 * Class 20 * Class 24 * Class 25 * Class 26 * Class 27 * Class 31 * Class 33 * Class 35 * Class 37 * Class 40 * Class 43 * Class 44 * Class 45 * Class 47 * Class 50 * Class 52 * Class 55 * Class 56 * Class 57 * Class 58 *  Class 60 * Class 66 * Class 67 * Class 68 * Class 70 * Class 71 * Class 73 * Class 76 * Class 77 *  Class 84 * Class 86 * Class 87 * Class 88 * Class 90 * Class 91 * Class 92 * Derby Lightweight * Class 101 * Class 108 * Class 114 * Class 117 * Class 120 * Class 121 * Class 122 * Class 127 * Class 141 * Class 142 * Class 144 * Class 150 * Class 153 * Class 155 * Class 156 * Class 158 * Class 159 * Class 165 * Class 166 * Class 170 * Class 172 * Class 175 * Class 180 * Class 185 * Class 195  * Class 196 * Class 197 * Class 220 * Class 221 * Class 222 * Class 252 * Class 313 * Class 315 * Class 317 * Class 319 * Class 320 * Class 321 * Class 322 * Class 323 * Class 325 * Class 331 * Class 332 * Class 333 * Class 334 * Class 350 * Class 357 * Class 360 * Class 365 * Class 373 * Class 375 * Class 376 * Class 377 * Class 378 * Class 379 * Class 380 * Class 387 * Class 390 * Class 395 * Class 414 * Class 423 * Class 442 * Class 444 * Class 450 * Class 455 * Class 458 * Class 460 * Class 465 * Class 466 * Class 489 * Class 507/508 * Class 700 * Class 730  * Class 755 * Class 800 * Class 801 * Class 802 * Class 803 *  Class 805 * Class 3000 * IMAGES OF PRESERVED STEAM LOCOMOTIVES