This picture may seem very plain, but the view holds huge significance for me.
How I wish this view, taken in late 1950s or very early 60s had captured a 'steamie' rushing along the track, across the fields; the route of the track is marked on here by the two lines of snow either side of the track!
How I wish this view, taken in late 1950s or very early 60s had captured a 'steamie' rushing along the track, across the fields; the route of the track is marked on here by the two lines of snow either side of the track!
Suddenly yesterday morning, as I watched the Flying Scotsman on the television news I had shivers up my spine; memories came flooding back that I didn’t even know were locked away! Suddenly I could remember watching this beautiful train from the front window of the bungalow, as a very small girl. The profile of the engine and smoke (much flatter smoke profile than other steamies) prompted the memory; I'm not even sure I knew what I was watching then - just another train to wave to in case it was Grandad I think!
Steam trains, and towards the very end of his career the “new-fangled diesels”, were my grandfather’s life for 47 years; I think that the railway community provided him with companionship and a consistency of purpose that he had lacked in his childhood and teenage years.
He started on the railways in 1916; having been injured at the front, he was unfit to return to action, but continued the war effort by working on the trains at the Port of Richborough, Kent and later on the train ferries at Richborough. By 1916 had become a military stores depot not just for France but also for all other theatres of war. It had its own engineering works and as well as building its own supply barges, they were also repairing railway wagons and operating their own railways. At the end of the war Port of Richborough covered some 2200 acres, had five railway yards, approximately 60 miles of track and could handle some 30000 tons of traffic per week.
I imagine that for a man no longer able to fight working in such an environment felt a worthwhile contribution to the war effort.
After the war, Billy worked as a fireman and later as a driver on the LNER railway, working out of King's Cross. I've not done much research into Billy's actual routes, so I don't know if he ever worked on the Flying Scotsman, but we are lucky enough to have several photos of him with his beloved 'steamies' .
Billy's favourite loco was the Ford Castle, pictured below at Cambridge in 1938 with her original number , 2817. After a rebuild, the "Sandringham" class locomotive returned to the rails in 1946 with a new number, 61617. She was finally withdrawn from service in 1958 and later broken up, much to Billy's sadness.
Billy's favourite loco was the Ford Castle, pictured below at Cambridge in 1938 with her original number , 2817. After a rebuild, the "Sandringham" class locomotive returned to the rails in 1946 with a new number, 61617. She was finally withdrawn from service in 1958 and later broken up, much to Billy's sadness.
On Monday February 11 1952, it was this locomotive, with Billy driving, that hauled the hearse train carrying the body of George VI from Wolferton (the station at Sandrigham) to Kings Lynn, on the first stage of its journey back to London; the onward journey to Kings Cross was completed by Britannia 70000.
The special train was made up of nine vehicles, all of which were in the varnished teak livery of the former L.N.E.R (London and North Eastern railway), except the hearse-coach, which was painted black with a white roof.
I have found this footage on YouTube, showing the train leaving Wolferton, clips along the way and that wonderful picture of the new Queen, alongside her grieving mother and sister.
The special train was made up of nine vehicles, all of which were in the varnished teak livery of the former L.N.E.R (London and North Eastern railway), except the hearse-coach, which was painted black with a white roof.
I have found this footage on YouTube, showing the train leaving Wolferton, clips along the way and that wonderful picture of the new Queen, alongside her grieving mother and sister.
Billy never talked about that day to me; I so wish I had known about it before he died in 1981, aged 82
It was only after his death that my father told me of Billy's involvement. It must have been such a sad experience for the crew, especially to see the route lined by people in mourning. Billy was a humble man and I imagine that he was deeply touched by the experience and felt unable to talk openly about it.
As it is, all I have are the few very vague memories of meeting at the station when he came off shift and had ‘hitched’ a lift home on the next train going in his direction! The clearest memories of that are towards the end of his railway career, when Nana, my brother and me would walk along the grass verge the half-mile to Lord’s Bridge station. Strangely I can even hear “Nite Billy” being shouted down from the cab!
The family love for “steamies” lives on. Billy’s great, great grandson is a devoted fan; how Billy would have loved to see the enthusiasm with which a new generation have greeted the Flying Scotsman….
It was only after his death that my father told me of Billy's involvement. It must have been such a sad experience for the crew, especially to see the route lined by people in mourning. Billy was a humble man and I imagine that he was deeply touched by the experience and felt unable to talk openly about it.
As it is, all I have are the few very vague memories of meeting at the station when he came off shift and had ‘hitched’ a lift home on the next train going in his direction! The clearest memories of that are towards the end of his railway career, when Nana, my brother and me would walk along the grass verge the half-mile to Lord’s Bridge station. Strangely I can even hear “Nite Billy” being shouted down from the cab!
The family love for “steamies” lives on. Billy’s great, great grandson is a devoted fan; how Billy would have loved to see the enthusiasm with which a new generation have greeted the Flying Scotsman….