Class 8P 'Streamlined Coronation' 4-6-2 6244 "King George VI" in LMS crimson

The original streamlined shape of the Coronation class arose from tests conducted by the LMS Research Department on Sir William Stanier's previous development of the Princess Royal class locomotives. Stanier was said to be ambivalent about the economic value of streamlining, but was aware of the publicity value that such a design would generate.

6244 King George VI left Crewe works in July 1940 for Camden shed, having been originally named as City of Leeds and covered just over 33,000 miles during the rest of 1940. Loaned to Polmadie briefly for a month in 1940, the locomotive spent the war years allocated to Camden and it was whilst here that it was renamed as King George VI in April 1941. The streamlined casing was finally removed on September 4, 1947.