Saphos Trains has announced that one of their regular steam locomotives will be renamed for a special railtour.
70000 Britannia has been confirmed to haul the Golden Arrow Tour on the 26th October, subject to availability.
70000 will be running as long lost 70014 ‘Iron Duke’.
70014 ‘Iron Duke’ was one of the locomotives that operated the Golden Arrow.
This means that the public will get the rare chance to see 70000 running on the mainline as a long lost classmate, with full Golden Arrow dress.
We cant wait to see Britannia in her new guise! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Where Next?
News Homepage
For the Latest Railway News
RailAdvent Online Shop
Framed Prints, DVD’s / Blu-Ray’s and more
LocoStop Community
Come and share your railway pictures
Britannia is perfectly capable of operating the Golden Arrow and there’s no need to impose a different name and number on her
Her running number is 70000 and her name is Britannia a far more suitable engine for the Golden Arrow
Sophos Trains don’t own her and have no right to impose a different name
Take her or leave her!
Saw a shabby Iron Duke in Jan ’67 pulling a freight train out of Crewe – withdrawn in December. Saw Britannia at Crewe sheds a few years earlier looking stunning. No comparison!
No problem with this as long as it reverts back to its original guise.
Braunton became Lord Dowding, Brittania to become the Iron Duke. Can be very confusing for people who don’t keep up to date with steam news. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
Imagine re-naming the Flying Scotsman ?
What next ?
I booked and paid for my seat on this trip last year because of the name golden arrow not the locomotive, as long as it’s steam hauled then i’ll be happy.
Excellent idea. Pure nostalgia!!
It’s 70000 Britannia, As an iconic engine as could be. Renaming is for movies NOT for serious enthusiasts. Leave it unchanged. What ever next, rebrand a Ferrari or two as BRM’s for the Goodwood festival of speed because they both raced in the same class back inthe day?
I remember spotting this locomotive when it was in service back in the 50’s. leave it as it is. Its a great loco
Just think…book a railtour scheduled to be hauled by ‘a Britannia-class loco’ As you wait Hereward the Wake backs onto your train. Wow! We old-time spotters who’ve long lost their Combines could start all over again.
Just wrong.
Apparently, only the smoke deflectors are being temporarily renamed, although the cab sides may have two digits altered. Other than that, the loco will remain ‘Britannia’.
Stop moaning – it’s a bit of fun!!!
That’s not how some ‘steam’
enthusiasts will see it….
Sadly there are some steam enthusiasts who applaud this sort of move. Personally I can’t think of anything more stupid and I wonder just what sort of sad world these people inhabit.
70014 is no longer with us,R I P.
BRITTANIA is numbered 70000, it is not and should never ever be IRON DUKE.What was scrapped is long gone, why not just let it run the trip as Brittania .There is too much of this going on in preservation.
Don’t agree with changing locos identity at best its misleading for young enthusiasts at worst it’s just fake news.
Britannia 7000 went to Norwich and Stratford 30A.
What a mess naming this wonderful loco (iron duke )
Keep the name
My memory of the Golden Arrow is seeing it one Saturday morning near Orpington circa 1953 hauled by Brittania class 70004 ‘William Shakespeare’, a fine sight I shall never forget. I wish this project well.
Great idea! Adds variety and a nice touch of nostalgia
Let her run under her own name
Nice! Same thing was done for Oliver Cromwell when it hauled the last charter train out of Dover Western Docks in 1994.
Stupid idea. What’s the point of the deception?
Somewhere deep in my archives I have a pic of me stood beside Iron Duke when she was between duties at what was Dover Marine station.
Excellent Idea of 70000 adopting the guise of 70014 IRON DUKE.
Classic bullshit baffles brains!