Saturday Railtour Photos
A large number of photographs of Saturdays Class 37 railtours have arrived in our inbox after we 'went to press' on Saturday night.
These additional images have been added to Saturdays news article rather than todays - to view them please either scroll down, or click here - our grateful thanks to all who have contributed photographs of these workings.
These additional images have been added to Saturdays news article rather than todays - to view them please either scroll down, or click here - our grateful thanks to all who have contributed photographs of these workings.
NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 112
The Coronation of May 1937
Michael L. Roach
Mention “Kings” to any Great Western enthusiast and he will think of the Collett 4-6-0 express steam engines of 1927, but of course they were named after real people who happened to be the Kings of England and the British Empire over the years.
In November 1936 King Edward VIII made a visit to Wales using the Great Western Railway main line from Paddington to Cardiff. The special train was in the personal charge of Mr. Frank Potter, the Superintendent of the line, and departed Paddington on Wednesday 18 November at 12.55am just ahead of the ordinary passenger train at the same time. The train of six coaches was appropriately hauled by 5056 Ogmore Castle. The special arrived at Llantwit Major on time at 5.35am, and was berthed in one of the goods sidings. It was a perfect autumn morning with blue sky and brilliant sunshine.
The first scan shows King Edward VIII alighting from the Royal Train in the goods yard of Llantwit Major Station. The station is on the Vale of Glamorgan line from Barry to Bridgend. Just three weeks after his visit to Wales Edward VIII abdicated and as he had no children the title passed to his younger brother Albert Frederick Arthur George who took the regnal name George VI. In many ways George was a very reluctant King. He was a shy private man with a stammer who never expected, or wished, to be King, but he carried out his duties to the best of his abilities. He was the great-grandson of Queen Victoria and the father of two daughters, one of whom would become Queen Elizabeth II on the death of King George VI at the early age of 57 years in 1952. He had married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 and was crowned King at a Coronation on 12 May 1937.
The 1937 Coronation was a time of great celebration and the Great Western Railway rose to the challenge of moving thousands of people into London on the day by normal trains and special excursion trains which started out the evening before from all parts of the system. In all there were special trains from 25 locations, with some surprising starting points e,g Aberdare and Treherbert, and some surprising omissions e.g. Weymouth, and Paignton/Torquay. Having said that many of the stations beyond the starting points of the special trains sold tickets for the specials using connecting local trains. The second scan shows the handbill of the times and prices for the special starting at Plymouth on the evening of Tuesday 11 May 1937. The special started from Millbay at 10.00pm on the Tuesday and picked up at Plympton, Ivybridge, Brent and Totnes, and was due to arrive at Paddington at 3.15am on the morning of Coronation Day. The return special departed Paddington 23 hours later at 2.15am on the Thursday and was due to arrive Millbay at 7.40am. Further details can be see on the attached scan of the Plymouth pamphlet. The fare from Plymouth was 17 shillings and 6 pence (87½ p) at a time when the weekly wage for a tradesman was just a few pounds a week. For comparison the third class return fare from Plymouth to Paddington in Summer 1938 was 39/8 (nearly £2). The pound has lost 99 percent of its value since 1937.
The BBC covered the Coronation of 1937 with a live outside broadcast – it was their very first outside broadcast ever. Other notable events of the year were Neville Chamberlain becoming Prime Minister later the same month as the Coronation and Frank Whittle ground-testing the world's first jet engine in April 1937. On 10 December 1937 there was a serious rail crash in Scotland when an express ran into the back of a local train at Castlecary Station in falling snow; and there was a second accident at Castlecary on 9 September 1968.
In November 1936 King Edward VIII made a visit to Wales using the Great Western Railway main line from Paddington to Cardiff. The special train was in the personal charge of Mr. Frank Potter, the Superintendent of the line, and departed Paddington on Wednesday 18 November at 12.55am just ahead of the ordinary passenger train at the same time. The train of six coaches was appropriately hauled by 5056 Ogmore Castle. The special arrived at Llantwit Major on time at 5.35am, and was berthed in one of the goods sidings. It was a perfect autumn morning with blue sky and brilliant sunshine.
The first scan shows King Edward VIII alighting from the Royal Train in the goods yard of Llantwit Major Station. The station is on the Vale of Glamorgan line from Barry to Bridgend. Just three weeks after his visit to Wales Edward VIII abdicated and as he had no children the title passed to his younger brother Albert Frederick Arthur George who took the regnal name George VI. In many ways George was a very reluctant King. He was a shy private man with a stammer who never expected, or wished, to be King, but he carried out his duties to the best of his abilities. He was the great-grandson of Queen Victoria and the father of two daughters, one of whom would become Queen Elizabeth II on the death of King George VI at the early age of 57 years in 1952. He had married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 and was crowned King at a Coronation on 12 May 1937.
The 1937 Coronation was a time of great celebration and the Great Western Railway rose to the challenge of moving thousands of people into London on the day by normal trains and special excursion trains which started out the evening before from all parts of the system. In all there were special trains from 25 locations, with some surprising starting points e,g Aberdare and Treherbert, and some surprising omissions e.g. Weymouth, and Paignton/Torquay. Having said that many of the stations beyond the starting points of the special trains sold tickets for the specials using connecting local trains. The second scan shows the handbill of the times and prices for the special starting at Plymouth on the evening of Tuesday 11 May 1937. The special started from Millbay at 10.00pm on the Tuesday and picked up at Plympton, Ivybridge, Brent and Totnes, and was due to arrive at Paddington at 3.15am on the morning of Coronation Day. The return special departed Paddington 23 hours later at 2.15am on the Thursday and was due to arrive Millbay at 7.40am. Further details can be see on the attached scan of the Plymouth pamphlet. The fare from Plymouth was 17 shillings and 6 pence (87½ p) at a time when the weekly wage for a tradesman was just a few pounds a week. For comparison the third class return fare from Plymouth to Paddington in Summer 1938 was 39/8 (nearly £2). The pound has lost 99 percent of its value since 1937.
The BBC covered the Coronation of 1937 with a live outside broadcast – it was their very first outside broadcast ever. Other notable events of the year were Neville Chamberlain becoming Prime Minister later the same month as the Coronation and Frank Whittle ground-testing the world's first jet engine in April 1937. On 10 December 1937 there was a serious rail crash in Scotland when an express ran into the back of a local train at Castlecary Station in falling snow; and there was a second accident at Castlecary on 9 September 1968.
King Edward VIII alights from his sleeping car in the goods yard at Llantwit Major Station on the Vale of Glamorgan line.
Scan of the GWR handbill printed for the special train starting from Plymouth Millbay.
Article from the April 1937 Magazine.
Cover of the May 1937 Magazine
Article from the May 1937 (click for enlargements)
Article from the July 1937 Magazine (click for enlargements)
Many thanks as always Mike - a well-researched article I'm sure all will appreciate.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
For more of Michaels articles, please click here.
Two Falmouths for the price of one
Dave Anthony
Saturday 27th June, the unit on the left was meant to depart Truro at 09.45 but didn't due to crew being delayed. On the right is the 09.45 from Falmouth which is about to depart at 10.15. 27.06.2026, copyright Dave Anthony.
Many thanks Dave - a reminder that amongst the excitement of the railtours on Saturday, it was business as normal elsewhere on the railway.
June 1976
Part 29
Roger Winnen
The unusual sight of a DMU at Nanpean. 27.06.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The BLS railtour preparing to depart Nanpean Wharves. 27.06.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
Nanpean shunters cabin. 27.06.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.
The BLS railtour heading back down the Parkandillack branch. 27.06.1976, copyright Roger Winnen.