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Having previously
covered Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, it is now the turn of classes 7
and 8, which covers the largest of the Express Passenger Locomotives. |
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CASTLE CLASS 4-6-0 no 5024 Carew Castle. On 5thSeptember 1958, I
travelled from Torquay to Paddington on the up Torbay Express. Being a
Friday, the normal 10 coach load wasn't enough, and 2 more coaches were
added at Exeter, causing a late departure of 5 minutes. Superb
running followed, and by Newbury, 5 minutes had been pulled back. But
from Theale onwards, there were signal checks, so we were 7 late into
Paddington. But the net time was just over 167 minutes, my best ever run
on the Western Region. |
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CASTLE CLASS 4-6-0 no 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe. With the usual 7
coach load, we were into Paddington in 101 minutes, including a 20 mph
p.w slowing at Cholsey, and a dead stand for signals at Westbourne Park.
94.5 minutes net, and 98 mph at Hullavington. The date was 5th June
1958. Superb. |
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REBUILT MERCHANT NAVY CLASS 4-6-2 no 35022 Holland America Line. On 3rd
October 1965, 35022 ran from Waterloo to Exeter Central and return, on
the Southern Counties Touring Society "Exeter Flyer".With a light 8
coach load, the uphill work was excellent, and downhill, we reached 90
mph. |
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KING CLASS 4-6-0 no 6006 King George III. On 5th June 1958, the 6.10pm
12 coach Paddington to Birkenhead was delayed 41 minutes by a point
failure outside Paddington. Stafford Road driver Thomas and fireman
Pierce acheived a 28 minute net gain on schedule, though checks made us
28 minutes late into Snow Hill. Top speed was 88 mph at Haddenham. |
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KING CLASS 4-6-0 no 6004 King George III on the down Cornish Riviera
Express on 9th June 1958. A superbly judged performance brought us in to
Plymouth 1 minute early, following 6 permanent way slowings, and 2
signal checks. Excellent work over the South Devon banks. |
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PRINCESS CORONATION CLASS 4-6-2 46251 City of Nottingham hauled the S.L.S
North & West railtour from Shrewsbury to Paddington on 21st June 1964. Fast
running was the order of the day, with 90mph at Shifnal and 91mph
at Blackthorn. |
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CASTLE CLASS 4-6-0 5035 Coity Castle. On 6th August 1957, 5035 found
itself on the down Cambrian Coast Express, with a load augmented to 11
coaches and an additional stop at Dunstall Park, for Wolverhampton
races. The result was 82 mph down Cosford bank, and 47 mph over
Hollingswood summit. |
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REBUILD BATTLE OF BRITAIN 4-6-2 no 34050 Royal Observer Corps. On 2nd
September, 34050 worked the Western Sunset railtour from Paddington to
Weymouth. The running had been good, and the crew pulled up, as
scheduled, at Yetminster to attach the banker that was booked to assist
up the fierce grades to Evershot tunnel. But there was no banker, so the
crew had to make the climb from a standing start. What followed was a
superb example of enginemanship, with just one slip inside the tunnel,
and a minimum speed of 19mph. |
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LORD NELSON CLASS 4-6-0 no 30861 Lord Anson. On Sunday 2nd September
1962, 30861 worked the S.C.T.S South Western Railtour from Waterloo to
Exeter, then back to Salisbury. The outward run was disappointing, but
not so the return, the net time being 88 minutes. Top speed was 81 mph
near Templecombe. |
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A3 CLASS 4-6-2 no 60051 Blink Bonny. On Sunday 6th June 1964, 60051
worked the final leg of the L.C.G.B North Briton Railtour, from Leeds
City to Kings Cross. The best running was south of Grantham, with 94 mph
at Essendine, and a time of 70 mins 50 secs from Peterborough to Kings
Cross. |
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