Full Steam Ahead

Fifty years since steam locomotives were ousted from the national network, this evocative form of traction still remains popular. Daniel Puddicombe revisits the Fifteen Guinea Special.

- Daniel Puddicombe

A SHRILL whistle sounds and we’re powering towards the Cumbrian hills. Black clouds of smoke and steam drift past the windows and the beat from the locomotive’s three cylinders is clearly audible as we build up speed in order to take on the fearsome shap summit on the West Coast Main line.

The date of August 11, 1968—the day of the last steam passenger train in Britain— is to rail enthusiasts what October 24, 2003 —when Concorde touched down for the final time—is to aviation fans. These events have similarities: thousands flocked to heathrow to see Concorde come in from the USA, thousands lined the route of the final steam run and tickets to travel on both occasions were vastly inflated compared with a normal trip.

The final run was called the Fifteen Guinea special and was named after the price of tickets. At the time, there was uproar; adjusting for inflation, tickets cost about £230 in today’s currency. ‘There was a lot of indignation—what a nerve British rail had for charging such a steep price and taking our steam locomotives away from us,’ remembers richard Newman, who was onboard. 1T57—the reporting code given to the train —ran from liverpool lime street via Manchester to Carlisle and back, via the picturesque settle & Carlisle railway. Four locomotives were used in turn throughout the day, three of which survive in operational order to this day.