The Royal Scot: 1955

In 1955, at the age of 16, and in my final year at school, I was very dependant on pocket money for any rail journeys I wished to make. Which meant modest itineraries based on Birmingham. One itinerary that I devised included a Rugby to Crewe journey on the down "Royal Scot", though it had to be done during the winter timetable, when the train called at both Rugby and Crewe. And an interesting way of getting to Rugby in time for the 11.24am departure time was to take either the 9.00am or 9.20am service from Birmingham Snow Hill to Leamington Spa General, then walk over to the adjacent Leamington Spa Avenue station, and catch the 10.37am push-pull service to Rugby, where arrival was at 11.11am. There was a choice of afternoon services from Crewe back to Birmingham New Street in the afternoon.

So, on 21st February 1955, during the school half term break, 6949 Haberfield Hall took me from Snow Hill to Leamington on the 9.20am Oxford service, Ivatt 2-6-2T no 41228 took me from Leamington Spa Avenue to Rugby Midland, where I waited for the down Royal Scot. Whilst I waited, 70031 came through on the down Comet, and 45528, a rebuilt Patriot, called on the 8.20am Manchester to Euston. At 11.25am, 5 minutes late, in came 46236 City of Bradford on the Royal Scot, which, during the winter timetable, had 3 through carriages for Perth, making 14 in all. We ran steadily to Crewe, 7½ mins inside the public time, 2½ inside the working time, including a signal check on the approach to Crewe. We reached 81 mph near Betley Road.

I remained at Crewe until mid afternoon. Needless to say, there was the usual array of Pacifics, Royal Scots, Jubilees and Patriots. My best "cop" was probably 70040 Clive of India. I returned home to Birmingham on the 10.05am from Glasgow Central, with 46106 Gordon Highlander. An excellent day, and one to be repeated, if possible.

The next opportunity was the Autumn half term. So on 8th November 1955, 6014 King Henry VII took me to Leamington Spa on the 9.00am Paddington service from Snow Hill, & 41285 was on the 10.37am Leamington Spa Avenue to Rugby.

The short wait at Rugby produced 44829 and 46164 double heading the down Comet, and 46114 on the 8.20am Manchester to Euston.

		This time 46237 City of Bristol was on the down Royal Scot, again a 14 coach load. We were 7 minutes late away from Rugby, of which 4 minutes had been recovered by Stafford. But a slowing for bridge repairs at Norton Bridge cost us nearly 3 minutes, and we were 5 late into Crewe by the working time, though on time by the public time. I returned south on this occasion on the first available service, the 11.40am from Liverpool Lime Street, a service which had Rugby and Birmingham portions, separated at Stafford. 45567 South Australia took me to Stafford, and 45670 Howard of Effingham worked forward with the Birmingham coaches. And I was back at New Street at 2.52pm.

		Strangely, I never did Crewe to Rugby in the southbound direction by steam. But at least I can claim to have had steam on the Royal Scot.

		Headboard photos above courtesy Alan Taylor