British Rail's Named Trains

[JLUK144]

I'm sorry if this thread is covering one that already exists but I'm interested in the history of the named train services that operated in the days of British Rail. I was wondering if anyone had any information about them?

 

[30907]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_named_passenger_trains_of_the_United_Kingdom

Can't guarantee the list is complete - it doesn't include Ocean Liner and similar services, certainly.

See also
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/named-trains.40020/
(I am sure there have been other threads, but a quick search hasn't thrown them up)

 

[alistairlees]

I'm sorry if this thread is covering one that already exists but I'm interested in the history of the named train services that operated in the days of British Rail. I was wondering if anyone had any information about them?

The Railway Magazine had major features on this a year or two ago.

 

[GusB]

The three that I recall from my childhood were those that ran from Inverness:
- the Clansman (Inverness - Euston), which was handy for visiting grandparents as it used to call at Coatbridge Central.
- the Highland Chieftain (Inverness - Kings Cross) which is still running
- the Royal Highlander (Inverness - Euston) - still running, but no longer named as such

 

[Condor7]

The Railway Magazine had major features on this a year or two ago.

They also produced a book written by Nick Pigott The Encyclopedia Of Titled Trains which while out of print still remains the most up to date and comprehensive work on the subject. This does however include all current (at time of publication) titled trains still running, but the dates all these trains ran are clearly shown.

 

[Altfish]

What was the shortest distance a 'named train' ran?
I remember one that ran along the North Wales Coast from Rhyl to Llandudno, I think it was called The Red Dragon; I suspect it was summer only

 

[krus_aragon]

What was the shortest distance a 'named train' ran?
I remember one that ran along the North Wales Coast from Rhyl to Llandudno, I think it was called The Red Dragon; I suspect it was summer only

My understanding is that this was indeed the shortest (regular) named train service. It was operated as a push-pull service in steam days.

 

[30907]

It would be unfair to mention the Kenny Belle (Clapham Jn - Kensington O) as the name was unofficial and it didn't even appear in the timetable till the 70s.

 

[46223]

What was the shortest distance a 'named train' ran?
I remember one that ran along the North Wales Coast from Rhyl to Llandudno, I think it was called The Red Dragon; I suspect it was summer only

It was called 'The Welsh Dragon'.

 

[geoffk]

It was called 'The Welsh Dragon'.

The "Welsh Dragon" not only ran for a short distance but it was, in steam days, a push-pull (auto) train, worked by an Ivatt or BR class 2 2-6-2 tank. And it ran several times a day.

 

[Condor7]

Out of interest Red Dragon is a completely different train to the Welsh Dragon. Starting in 1950 from Paddington to Carmarthen it ran for 15 years. It was revived in 1983 under the name The Red Dragon Executive then The Red Dragon Pullman before reverting back to The Red Dragon, which still runs today.

 

[krus_aragon]

Out of interest Red Dragon is a completely different train to the Welsh Dragon. Starting in 1950 from Paddington to Carmarthen it ran for 15 years. It was revived in 1983 under the name The Red Dragon Executive then The Red Dragon Pullman before reverting back to The Red Dragon, which still runs today.

And to this day I get confused between the two names! (See previous.)