Royal Train 14 April 1955

[Andy873]

I've just learnt that one of my friends remembers seeing the royal train when she was a young girl. She was sitting on the railway wall with her grandparents behind her, they all waved as the train passed by. Sadly the blinds were pulled down and no one waved back. This happened Thursday, 14 April 1955, and she saw the train going through Gt. Harwood on its way to Colne to take the queen home.

The train I've been told travelled from Darwen to Colne and the queen departed there in the evening, with an overnight trip back to Windsor. Newspaper articles state the train was 480 tons and was pulled by two locomotives when it left Colne.

Can we trace the train's movements / times and locomotives for the 14/4/1955?
I presume the royal train would have been on time to Colne (ECS or not) with all other traffic out of the way?
How would my friend's grandparent have known the train was due to pass there, that day / time?
The queen arrived the day before, so would the train have been kept at Darwen overnight?

I'd like to put some flesh on the bones of this memory my friend has, anyone able to help please?
Hopefully we might be able to tell her what the time was when she saw it?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Piecing together various contemporary 1955 newspaper report snippets, is it possible that the Royal Train movement mentioned above was without the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh onboard? Have seen various newspaper reports that suggest that having visited Southport, they were on the train overnight at Poulton-le-Fylde sidings before leaving at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday 14th April 1955 and then travelling to Morecambe Promenade station, arriving at 10.01 a.m. (one minute late).

Thence by car to fulfil various engagements in different locations in Lancashire. Return journey back South was reportedly 'overnight', departing 15 minutes late from Colne after briefly stopping to await a staff member who had been held up by the crowds. Unsure of the scheduled departure time. Maybe 5 p.m.? Route was reportedly via Blackburn and Wigan N.W. (change of driving crew) and then to Windsor and Eton (arriving around 9.44 a.m. on the Friday). Might have been an overnight stop, en route.

Anyone able to further flesh out the details mentioned above?

 

[Magdalia]

The main source of Royal Train information is the National Railway Museum which has a lot of files from Wolverton Works. Their file list shows this was part of a tour of Lancashire starting at Windsor and Eton Central on the evening of 12 April 1955 and ending back at Windsor and Eton Central on the morning of 15 April 1955.

Trains Illustrated June 1955 has 2 reports about this Royal Train:

A reader saw" Jubilees " Nos. 45571/4 double head the Royal Train from Southport to Poulton on 13/4/55 in the course of H.M. the Queen's Lancashire tour in April. That night the train was stabled at Breck Road Sidings. on the site of what was the original Preston & Wyre line to Fleetwood before the deviation through the present Poulton station was constructed; the train was turned on the Poulton triangle while the Royal party were travelling by car to a Command performance a t Blackpool. Next morning two "5MT" 4-6-0s (one was No. 45435) headed the Royal Train from Poulton to Darwen where the Queen entered her car. The empty slock was worked on to Colne by " WD " 2-8-0 No. 90127(27B)-a rare cboice, surely, even for empty Royal stock-and later Nos. 45571/4 set off tender-first from Accrington to resume the Royal Train's progress from Colne to Blackburn, Bolton and Wigan, taking the Padiham branch from Rose Grove to avoid busy Accrington.

An unusual combination seen on the 6.56 p.m. Paddington arrival from Windsor on 12/4/55 was" Grange" No. 6879(848) and 0·6·0 tank No. 9415. That evening the L.M. Royal Train arrived empty in Paddington behind 2·6--2 tank No. 6159 and was taken out to Windsor for the Royal party to entrain for their Lancashire tour by " Hall" No. 6962. At the conclusion of this tour the Wallingford branch had the rare privilege of accommodating two "Castles," for the Royal Train was stabled near Cholsey from midnight until 8.45 a.m. on 15/4/55 after its return from Lancashire and before proceeding on to Windsor; Nos. 7017/25 were the engines.

The LMR part of the report was then corrected in the July 1955 issue:

the empty Royal train was taken from Darwen to Colne by 2-10-0 No. 92017 on 14/4/55, not 2-8-0 No. 90127. We regret those misreadings of readers' letters.

The file at the NRM will have more details.

 

[Gloster]

The movements of the Royal Train, even the ecs, came out on special notices that were individually numbered and were distributed only to those who needed them; they were collected in afterwards. This was the situation in my day and I suspect that it was little different then, boyos or not. The most likely explanation of how the family knew was that someone who had to know had discreetly mentioned it to one of them, presumably believing that they might be interested but could be trusted not to spread it further.

 

[Magdalia]

Although train movements would have been closely guarded, official engagements would be known. In 1955 it would be natural to assume that HM the Queen would travel by train for official engagements in Lancashire.

Unfortunately I can't find the Court Circular for the period because the Times wasn't published because of a strike.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

There is a British Pathe newsreel ' Royal Tour of Lancashire 1955' - in the rather fawning style of the period! Can't link as on mobile.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

There is a British Pathe newsreel ' Royal Tour of Lancashire 1955' - in the rather fawning style of the period! Can't link as on mobile.

Here's the link...

Thursday 14th April 1955 and then travelling to Morecambe Promenade station, arriving at 10.01 a.m. (one minute late).

Looks like the visit to Morecambe then Lancaster, also Southport and Blackpool, was the previous day. @Magdalia was correct in what was posted upthread. Initial destination on the Thursday was Darwen railway station. Then by car to Darwen town hall, Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, Nelson and Colne.

 

[Andy873]

Thence by car to fulfil various engagements in different locations in Lancashire. Return journey back South was reportedly 'overnight', departing 15 minutes late from Colne after briefly stopping to await a staff member who had been held up by the crowds. Unsure of the scheduled departure time. Maybe 5 p.m.? Route was reportedly via Blackburn and Wigan N.W. (change of driving crew) and then to Windsor and Eton (arriving around 9.44 a.m. on the Friday). Might have been an overnight stop, en route.

My L&Y society book from 1993 says the train left Colne at 4.20pm but I can't confirm that. After looking at timetables from around 1955, adjusting because this train was not stopping, and all other traffic has been cleared out of the way, I would estimate the train passed back through Harwood around 4.40-4.45pm.

Unfortunately, my friend's grandparents didn't realise it would be coming back the same way a little later, and sadly they missed it!

Trains Illustrated June 1955 has 2 reports about this Royal Train:

That is a superb find, thanks! My L&Y book doesn't mention it coming back along the loop line, but now we know better.

@Mcr Warrior and @Sir Felix Pole, thanks too about the newsreel, an enjoyable watch.

The movements of the Royal Train, even the ecs, came out on special notices that were individually numbered and were distributed only to those who needed them; they were collected in afterwards. This was the situation in my day and I suspect that it was little different then, boyos or not. The most likely explanation of how the family knew was that someone who had to know had discreetly mentioned it to one of them, presumably believing that they might be interested but could be trusted not to spread it further.

I see what you're saying here. After diving a bit deeper into the newspaper articles, quite a few state that all the platforms of the stations the train passed enroute back out of East Lancashire were cram jammed full with the public hoping to get a final chance to see the queen before she leaves the area. It looks very much like as regards the the trains movements, one of those open secrets. Not many are supposed to know, but everyone does! I can only imagine the same situation applied to the three stations on the loop, if not, it would be very strange. Once it got to around 6.30pm, with the sunset, there was probably nothing left to see apart from the train itself, as probably those blinds would have been pulled down.

Regarding the Jubilee class engines, India and South Africa, I believe they were at the time based in Blackpool, according to the BR database site.

What I'm not clear on is how did the Royal car get to Lancashire? was it brought by the royal train itself? or brought by a different train? 1955 was before a national network of motorways, and it would have been a tiring journey driving it up to Lancashire and back.

 

[Gloster]

As far as the Royal Car is concerned, I believe that there are at least two possible answers. Firstly, there was more than one Royal Car and so they were able to send one up in advance, probably by road, so that it would be waiting; other cars would remain in London or be sent to other locations on the tour. Secondly, and I think more likely, the Royal Car was whichever car the Queen was using and this might well be merely the local mayor’s official car (or one borrowed from a nearby town), something that used to be quite common.

 

[rototunablack5]

According to Stuart Taylor’s excellent book ‘The Railways of Colne Lancashire’ the sequence was:

1. Overnight 12/13 April: Royal Train went from Windsor via Shrewsbury and Poulton to Morecambe where the Royal Party got off. Train went ECS to Lancaster. Royal Party took train from Lancaster to Preston. ECS to Southport. Back to Poulton overnight
2. 14 April: left Poulton with 2 x Black 5s via Bolton to Darwen. Royal party alighted, ECS to Accrington. An unidentified Austerity 2-8-0 took over for ECS move to Colne via Rose Grove. Train arrived Colne at 11.30am and was stabled outside the carriage shed.
3. At 4.25 the Austerity positioned the train in the Up platform and shortly after at 4.35pm Jubilees 45571 South Africa and 45574 India off Accrington Shed coupled up to the train. The Royal party arrived by limousine having visited various sites in NE Lancashire including Malvern Mill in Nelson. At 5pm on 14 April the Royal Train left and went through Rose Grove, Padiham, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Cherry Tree to Wigan NW

As for other traffic, a number of local services were adjusted or cancelled. The book goes into that in some detail

Hope that helps

 

[Rescars]

How commonplace was it to use freight locos on ECS workings, never mind Royal Train stock? Isn’t 14th April quite early in the year to be without access to steam heating?

 

[Andy873]

As far as the Royal Car is concerned, I believe that there are at least two possible answers. Firstly, there was more than one Royal Car and so they were able to send one up in advance, probably by road, so that it would be waiting; other cars would remain in London or be sent to other locations on the tour. Secondly, and I think more likely, the Royal Car was whichever car the Queen was using and this might well be merely the local mayor’s official car (or one borrowed from a nearby town), something that used to be quite common.

I think that's a good description of what could have happened.

According to Stuart Taylor’s excellent book ‘The Railways of Colne Lancashire’ the sequence was:

1. Overnight 12/13 April: Royal Train went from Windsor via Shrewsbury and Poulton to Morecambe where the Royal Party got off. Train went ECS to Lancaster. Royal Party took train from Lancaster to Preston. ECS to Southport. Back to Poulton overnight
2. 14 April: left Poulton with 2 x Black 5s via Bolton to Darwen. Royal party alighted, ECS to Accrington. An unidentified Austerity 2-8-0 took over for ECS move to Colne via Rose Grove. Train arrived Colne at 11.30am and was stabled outside the carriage shed.
3. At 4.25 the Austerity positioned the train in the Up platform and shortly after at 4.35pm Jubilees 45571 South Africa and 45574 India off Accrington Shed coupled up to the train. The Royal party arrived by limousine having visited various sites in NE Lancashire including Malvern Mill in Nelson. At 5pm on 14 April the Royal Train left and went through Rose Grove, Padiham, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Cherry Tree to Wigan NW

As for other traffic, a number of local services were adjusted or cancelled. The book goes into that in some detail

Hope that helps

Thank you for sharing this, yes it does help greatly! Obviously I don't have this book by Stuart as I would have known about the times and movements of the royal train that day. As for how accurate was Stuart in his books? I have one of his covering excursions through East Lancashire, and I can tell you, apart from one tiny mistake, he's right on the money with his descriptions of the stations, gradients etc.

How commonplace was it to use freight locos on ECS workings, never mind Royal Train stock? Isn’t 14th April quite early in the year to be without access to steam heating?

I see the point you're making here, I personally don't know how common it was for freight locos to move carriages. What I can tell you is that the weather (not just for the royal visit) in Lancashire, April 1955 was reported as bright sunshine and clear blue skies, so perhaps it was judged to be warm enough (at least to Colne?). before the jubilee's could attach and begin warming those carriages up, ready for the royal party.

I had a look round at Lower Darwen and Rose Grove (from the Shed bash site for 1055). Lower Darwen had only a couple of WD's, but Rose Grove had lots of them. So where did 90127 (if it was that engine) come from in April 1955?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

As far as the Royal Car is concerned, I believe that there are at least two possible answers. Firstly, there was more than one Royal Car and so they were able to send one up in advance, probably by road, so that it would be waiting; other cars would remain in London or be sent to other locations on the tour. Secondly, and I think more likely, the Royal Car was whichever car the Queen was using and this might well be merely the local mayor’s official car (or one borrowed from a nearby town), something that used to be quite common.

Think it can be seen early into the British Pathé newsreel footage that the Royal car being used for the initial part of the tour of Lancashire in April 1955 didn't have a number plate, which would seem to rule out a local dignitary's official car being utilised.

 

[Andy873]

Think it can be seen early into the British Pathé newsreel footage that the Royal car being used for the initial part of the tour of Lancashire in April 1955 didn't have a number plate, which would seem to rule out a local dignitary's official car being utilised.

You know, you're right about the number plates. I've just re-watched the newsreel and you're correct, which still then begs the question about the royal car used, and how it got there?

As for my friend, returning past Harwood, I guess it would have been between say 5.20ish to 5.40pm.

Are there any photos / designs of the L&NWR royal carriage used in 1955 available?

 

[Rescars]

I see the point you're making here, I personally don't know how common it was for freight locos to move carriages. What I can tell you is that the weather (not just for the royal visit) in Lancashire, April 1955 was reported as bright sunshine and clear blue skies, so perhaps it was judged to be warm enough (at least to Colne?). before the jubilee's could attach and begin warming those carriages up, ready for the royal party.

I had a look round at Lower Darwen and Rose Grove (from the Shed bash site for 1055). Lower Darwen had only a couple of WD's, but Rose Grove had lots of them. So where did 90127 (if it was that engine) come from in April 1955?

It is of course possible that a more coaching-stock-friendly loco was earmarked for the ECS move, but it failed at the last moment, so a substitute had to be found in a hurry. Big trouble for the foreman!

 

[WesternLancer]

The movements of the Royal Train, even the ecs, came out on special notices that were individually numbered and were distributed only to those who needed them; they were collected in afterwards. This was the situation in my day and I suspect that it was little different then, boyos or not. The most likely explanation of how the family knew was that someone who had to know had discreetly mentioned it to one of them, presumably believing that they might be interested but could be trusted not to spread it further.

Just a suggestion on this - if Andy's friend recalls quite a few other people watching that train that day from similar or nearby spot - then it would have somehow been more widely known about - bit if only her and family and maybe a small number of others - then a discreet tip off would be very likely.

I'm speculating here I should say.

Another interesting thread from @Andy873 ! Now with multi media enhancements too

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Think it can be seen early into the British Pathé newsreel footage that the Royal car being used for the initial part of the tour of Lancashire in April 1955 didn't have a number plate, which would seem to rule out a local dignitary's official car being utilised.

The car is a RR Phantom IV which was 'State Car No. 1' at the time, so it will have made the journey north for the occasion. It still exists in the Royal Fleet and used occasionally. Prince Phillip intiated the change from the previously favoured Daimler to RR - a Daimler appears as a second car later in the footage.

 

[Bevan Price]

In April 1955, 90127 was allocated to Aintree;
92017, mentioned as an alternative, was allocated to Wellingborough - which would make it an unlikely visitor to Lancashire.
From Longworth's book of BR steam loco allocations.

 

[Gloster]

One thing that wandered into my mind last night was a vague memory of something I read somewhere. There was an occasion where a Royal Car was sent somewhere and was parked up overnight beforehand in an army camp. The writer was one of a number of soldiers who had to do a guard duty which involved standing around the car, fully armed, through the night to prevent anyone approaching it; I think that they changed over at intervals.

No doubt the colonel in command would make sure that the aide-de-camp and driver were informed of his care when they came to collect the car, which I think was going to meet the train. He would no doubt be hoping for a letter from Buck House saying, “My dear Colonel Thingy, The Queen has asked me to thank you for the care…”

 

[Magdalia]

In April 1955, 90127 was allocated to Aintree;
92017, mentioned as an alternative, was allocated to Wellingborough - which would make it an unlikely visitor to Lancashire.
From Longworth's book of BR steam loco allocations.

9Fs were still very new in spring 1955, could this have been an opportunity to "show off" a new toy?

 

[Andy873]

Another interesting thread from @Andy873

Thanks very much for that, appreciated!

Just a suggestion on this - if Andy's friend recalls quite a few other people watching that train that day from similar or nearby spot - then it would have somehow been more widely known about - bit if only her and family and maybe a small number of others - then a discreet tip off would be very likely.

Good question, an obvious one, so much so it went completely over my head. I've asked her, but apart from family she can't remember. At the time, they were living outside of Gt. Harwood (towards Rishton).

As a side note, I've found another Royal visit by George V and Queen Mary in 1913 which I think deserves a separate thread of its own.

 

[Taunton]

The Royal Train passed through Taunton one school holiday day in the early 1960s. I didn't see it, but spotters who were at a favoured lineside point, the footbridge west of the station, said about 15 minutes before it arrived a policeman turned up, said nothing, waited until it passed and then disappeared again.

Of course the Royal Train turns up in various autobiographies of past railway experiences, and as ever David L Smith, writing about the G&SWR a century ago, has the best stories. On one occasion so many members of higher management were down on the ground in best suits urging not a second to be lost, with fierce faces and conflicting handsignals all over the place, that the immaculately polished Royal loco was handsignalled into derailment ... the Royal party had to be taken on by the station pilot .

 

[Andy873]

The Royal Train passed through Taunton one school holiday day in the early 1960s. I didn't see it, but spotters who were at a favoured lineside point, the footbridge west of the station, said about 15 minutes before it arrived a policeman turned up, said nothing, waited until it passed and then disappeared again.

Perhaps this was typical along the route of the Royal train.

Of course the Royal Train turns up in various autobiographies of past railway experiences, and as ever David L Smith, writing about the G&SWR a century ago, has the best stories. On one occasion so many members of higher management were down on the ground in best suits urging not a second to be lost, with fierce faces and conflicting handsignals all over the place, that the immaculately polished Royal loco was handsignalled into derailment ... the Royal party had to be taken on by the station pilot .

Yes I can see they make great stories over the years.

Thanks everyone for your help on this - appreciated!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

According to Stuart Taylor’s excellent book ‘The Railways of Colne Lancashire’ the sequence was:
[*] Overnight 12/13 April: Royal Train went from Windsor via Shrewsbury and Poulton to Morecambe where the Royal Party got off. Train went ECS to Lancaster. Royal Party took train from Lancaster to Preston. ECS to Southport. Back to Poulton overnight

So noted. Why via Shrewsbury? That seems a roundabout route?!

 

[Taunton]

So noted. Why via Shrewsbury? That seems a roundabout route?!

Windsor was on the Western Region. Shrewsbury was on the Western Region. In those times I wouldn't be surprised if it then went on via Chester to maximise the Royal's time on the WR. It was after all on an express route in those times from Paddington.

 

[Rescars]

Windsor was on the Western Region. Shrewsbury was on the Western Region. In those times I wouldn't be surprised if it then went on via Chester to maximise the Royal's time on the WR. It was after all on an express route in those times from Paddington.

Presumably the most direct route would have been WR as far as Wolverhampton LL anyway. Maybe there was a reason to avoid Stafford and Crewe or, as Taunton says, just a wish at Paddington to maximise WR involvement. Would routing via Shrewsbury have afforded easier opportunities to stable for a few hours so that the Royal Party got the chance of some undisturbed sleep?

 

[Gloster]

As the Royal would probably only be travelling at moderate speed it may have been felt that it was easier to fit it in on a route that didn’t have a lot of overnight expresses. Though regional pride was a frequent explanation for such things.

 

[Bevan Price]

(Paddington) - Shrewsbury - Chester & Birkenhead was a regular passenger service route in 1955. It would be a natural route to use by a royal train originating near Loodon. GWR locos would probably be replaced by LMR locos at Shrewsbury and/or Chester. It could reach the LMR either via Shrewsbury / Crewe or Chester / Warrington.

 

[Andy873]

(Paddington) - Shrewsbury - Chester & Birkenhead was a regular passenger service route in 1955. It would be a natural route to use by a royal train originating near Loodon.

Yes, I agree with you.

I had hoped the Royal visit in 1913 by King George V and Queen Mary had also travelled on the loop line, but sadly after two days research, I found on that occasion they did indeed pass through Accrington, not via the loop line, which frankly I find strange, especially as the King was to visit the town anyway later in the day. Perhaps the disruption it caused at Accrington was well noted. It had run through Blackburn station mostly unnoticed by the 100 or so passengers, wondering why their train hadn't arrived yet!

Going back to the 1955 visit, given this is late in the day for the line's history, I could possibly call this some kind of a sawn song. Ten years later, most of the line was gone. At least my friend did get to see the Royal train.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yes, I agree with you.

I had hoped the Royal visit in 1913 by King George V and Queen Mary had also travelled on the loop line, but sadly after two days research, I found on that occasion they did indeed pass through Accrington, not via the loop line, which frankly I find strange, especially as the King was to visit the town anyway later in the day. Perhaps the disruption it caused at Accrington was well noted. It had run through Blackburn station mostly unnoticed by the 100 or so passengers, wondering why their train hadn't arrived yet!

Going back to the 1955 visit, given this is late in the day for the line's history, I could possibly call this some kind of a sawn song. Ten years later, most of the line was gone. At least my friend did get to see the Royal train.

It must have been an impressive sight - she clearly has good memories of it