An original headboard from the Golden Arrow has been discovered in a loft where it has spent the best part of the last 50 years hidden away.
Several steam locomotives carried the painted steel headboard during their careers, most notably Bulleid Pacific’s and 73As, two Britannia’s: No. 70004 ‘William Shakespeare’ and No.70014 ‘Iron Duke’.
The history of the Golden Arrow on UK shores began on 15 May 1929 when the Southern Railway introduced a first-class-only service between London Victoria and Dover using Lord Nelson 4-6-0s and 10 Pullman Cars.
The introduction of this service was to emulate a similar French service running from Calais to Paris which had begun in 1926.
A new ship called the Canterbury, which was also first-class-only, enabled passengers to cross the English Channel and join the French service on the other side channel thus creating a direct link between London and Paris.
The train ceased to run during the war years but recommenced in the spring of 1946. New steel Pullman cars were introduced following the Festival of Britain in 1951, followed by two brand new Britannia 4-6-2s, which were also allocated to Stewarts Lane to haul the train.
Following the transfer of the Britannias to other parts of the UK network, Bulleid light Pacifics became the common motive power until the Kent Coast Electrification in 1961, when electric locomotives took over, shortly followed by a new, narrower Golden Arrow headboard.
The service came to an end on 30 September 1972 as demand for rail travel between London and Paris dropped largely due to growing competition from aviation travel, though the Golden Arrow evokes many memories and captures the imagination of many enthusiasts who witnessed the train during its 43 years of operation, and in today’s modern world.
While a handful of heritage lines recreate the Golden Arrow service as a premier dining train.
The unearthed Golden Arrow headboard is to go on sale at an auction as part of Crewe Heritage Railwayana Auctions on 9 – 11 October.
It will be one of several items that are expected to gain considerable interest during the three-day auction.
“I have never seen one of these in the flesh before, after fifty years of collecting and auctioneering. It is truly a stunning historic item. We travel throughout the UK responding to enquiries and valuing railway items, and we never know what we are going to find next. It’s like going back to our train spotting days… It’s the thrill of the chase!”
Auctioneer, Nick Booth
Responses