Railways and People

Locomotives mustered at King's Cross ready to take the thousands of holiday-makers to their various destinations at the seaside and country during the Whitsun rush, which, owing to the fine weather, proved to be exceptionally heavy - 1931.

 

I did that very thing at that particular water column during the long hot summer of 76, very refreshing!

 

Well, we know it went up to the quarry, but where the 'eck has 'e got too?

 

Preston, July 1968. 45305 is ready to depart with the 20-50 to Blackpool South.

 

Morecambe Promenade station, 4th May 1968. Having brought in the 'Ulster Express' tender first from Heysham, 45342 has backed onto the 'Belfast Boat Express' (which was
brought in from Heysham by, I think, 44963) and is ready to depart for Manchester Victoria.
The chap on the far left with the briefcase is David Rollason, a well known 'gricer' at the time, a real character who had the nickname 'Wellington'. Sadly no longer with us.
To have two named expresses steam hauled by the same loco on the same day in 1968 was rare indeed!

 

I think the Belfast Boat Express was an unofficial name. The headboard was made by Chris Weston who used to ask the crew to make sure it got back to Newton Heath where he would pick it up. If you look carefully he made it to attaché to the top handrail as the lamp bracket had been moved to the side of the smokebox. I sometimes used this train as far as Preston on my way back south from gricing trips up north.

 

Here is one from May 1975 when steam on the NYMR was still normally confined to the Grosmont - Goathland section.
View attachment 70841

Peter

 

Yes, the headboard was home made but the name 'Belfast Boat Express' was official.

 

Oops - posted this in the wrong thread. Should have been in the Steam in the North East thread. I'll repost it there.

Peter

 

Miss A Crawford cutting the tape of the inaugural ' The Capitals Limited ' with Class A4 60010 ' Dominion of Cananda ' at Kings Cross .
23rd May 1949.

 

Welwyn North:

 

Cambridge’s Royal Claud.

 

Wasn’t there a standby as well?

 

Yes there were two, 8783 & 8787

 

Fair play, they all have their hi viz vests on
I way back in 2006 was at one of Arsenal’s last games at Highbury thought there was a problem at the North Bank with the amount of stewards there, took me half way through the first half to remember it was a tribute to Dennis Bergkamp day he scored a cracker that day against us too.

 

So what is that loco that they all seem so proud of? Do tell us more please, Dave.

What ever it is, it looks good in LBSCR brown livery.

Peter