Royal Train

On Tuesday 22nd March, Prince Charles travelled by Royal Train from Settle to Carlisle to mark the 25th anniversary of the formation of the ‘Friends of the Settle and Carlisle’, who ultimately saved the line from closure by British Rail. The train was hauled by ex-LMS 4-6-2 No.6233 ‘Duchess of Hamilton’, only the second time in the last 40 years that the Royal Train has been hauled by a steam locomotive. Between Kirkby Stephen and Appleby, the Prince rode on the footplate and fired the locomotive.

RT1 shows the train soon after departure from Settle, at Sheriff’s Brow approaching Helwith Bridge.

RT2 shows it at Lazonby after the water stop at Appleby.

The Mayflower

Saturday 26th March saw a special train from Paddington to Plymouth and return, hauled by Castle Class 4-6-0 5051 ‘Earl Bathurst’ from Taunton to Plymouth and back to Bristol. This enabled the locomotive to return to its base after a few weeks on the West Somerset Railway.

EB2 shows the train on the 1 in 80 climb approaching Whiteball summit soon after departure from Taunton.

EB3 and EB4 show it climbing the 1 in 42 through the woods at Hemerdon.

Avon Branch Explorer

On Monday 28th March, the other Castle currently working, 5029 ‘Nunney Castle’ made a number of trips in the Bristol area.

NC1 and NC4 show the train on the climb from Bristol to Filton on its morning and afternoon trips to Avonmouth, respectively.

NC2 shows the tender-first return from Avonmouth in the morning.

The train also made two trips down the freight-only branch to Portbury Dock, and NC3 and NC5 show the departure from Portbury. The road bridge in the background of NC3 is the M5 ‘Avon Bridge’, the river being seen in the background of NC5.

The final trip was from Bristol to Taunton. The locomotive went on to the West Somerset Railway, whilst the train returned to Bristol diesel hauled. NC6 shows the train near dusk at Long Ashton, shortly after departure from Bristol.