The LNER Encyclopedia

Going through some childhood stuff the other day I came across an essay that mentions a prospective trip from London to Doncaster by special train, of which I have hazy memories. Luckily it mentions the date: 24 April 1957 (a Wednesday) and the organiser - C J Allen. The train ran from Paddington behind an A4. As I wrote "This 'Gresley's Masterpeice' [sic] will be a truly unusual sight as Paddington is a Western Region terminal."

I can't recall the works itself, which I visited quite a few times subsequently, but I do recall the familiar bridge from the station and a freight going through, probably behind an O4, though it may have been an O2. The return journey, I can remember, was slow because of a technical problem. I particularly remember being impressed with Nottingham Victoria, but as this was the return journey I wonder whether the outward journey took a different route.

Can anybody else recall this event? Does anybody know what route was taken and what the loco was? (I'm pretty sure it was an A4.)

I was quite young to be doing this on my own but back then I was able to find my way to the London terminals or to Stratford, often on my own and certainly without an adult. (I lived near Willesden Jnct, as you will know if you saw my "A Place by the Railway" piece here.)

Kudu

Six Bells Junction

http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/

is the site for all railtour queries. Go to the menu on the left and click on "The Railtour Files" then navigate to the right year, 1957, and you will find it.

Many thanks, strang steel.

That's some site! (new to me.)

My questions were all answered there within seconds. The route was the same both ways and was the obvious one. (I didn't mention that I also remember passing Mexborough shed.) It was an Ian Allan trip, btw - that makes more sense than what I wrote.

The loco was 60029 (of Kings Cross, from memory) and was actually detached at Nottingham Vic on the return run, because of tender brakes sticking on. It was replaced by 61272, only to be removed in its turn at Leicester for poor steaming, where by extraordinary chance yours truly completed the run. Only 45 mins down, but I guess the timings were generous.

Kudu

60029 ran well out of Paddington up the joint GW/GC and onto the old GC itself. There's a superb photograph of her at Nottingham Vic [about the only pic of an A4 there] on her way up to Doncaster in one of the volumes about the GC in East Midlands. On the return leg to Marylebone she was failed at Vic with the tender brakes jammed on. The station pilot hauled her away to Colwick for attention [must have been a right noise] and the special went on behind a B1.

29 was at Colwick until the weekend, she was left outside the shed itself [ a typical Colwick practice when a visiting loco attracted widespread attention, wasn't it Rob 237?] The shed master [Syd Checkley?] took a photo which has also been published. 29 was back on the Tyne-Tees Pullman diagram by early May [thanks Tommy Knox]. 60006, 60007, 60015 and 60034 were the only other A4s Tommy records as being on Colwick at any time [ unluckily I managed to miss all of them!]

I just need to add for the record that the return run finished at Marylebone.

Kudu

so it did....eventually

The outward journey lists Paddington to South Ruislip via Greenford.

Does that mean the special ran via Ealing Broadway and the Greenford Loop, rather than the direct line?

If so, that must have been a first (and maybe last) for that short stretch of line - an A4.