Treasures in the attic
TIME was ticking by. Ted Patten had made a special trip to Bristol Temple Meads in the summer of 1958 to ride the crack Western Region express ‘The Bristolian’, which was booked nonstop for the 117.6miles via Badminton to Paddington in just 105min at an average speed of 67.2mph. Departure time was close and it looked as if the Western was going to incur an embarrassing late start ‘waiting loco’.
Ted was hoping for a ‘King’ but the Railway Performance Society (RPS) archive suggests that ‘Castles’ held a virtual monopoly on this 4.30pm departure during 1958. The loco that backed down to the train was indeed a ‘Castle’, No. 5057 Earl Waldegrave, which had a double chimney and four-row superheater, and none of the trappings associated with a last-minute replacement. In fact, it had the same characteristics as regular ‘Bristolian’ stalwarts No. 7018 Drysllwyn Castle and No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.
My late colleague Keith Farr comprehensively covered the history of ‘The Bristolian’ in the August, September and November 2010 issues of The RM – including a rousing run by No. 5043 in preservation, when it reprised the route at an average speed of 64.2mph (65.8mph net), negotiating modern high track occupancy and when limited to steam’s modern day 75mph speed limit.
Back in 1958, circumstances were conspiring to produce the opportunity for an exceptional performance. Our recorder had been puzzled by the fuss there appeared to be around the loco cab. It transpired that a loco inspector was on board accompanying someone who was described as ‘a French driver’. One might speculate whether such access to a crack train accompanied by an inspector might have been afforded to a simple exchange programme, or whether this was someone of exceptional standing. Railway aristocrat Baron Vuillet’s name has been suggested.
’King’ not required
The load of the ‘Bristolian’ was a mere seven coaches, which would have been a.
