Diesel nameplates with a strong steam flavour join GWRA sale record line-up
HERITAGE modern traction nameplates with a strong steam-era flavour are among latecomers to GW Railwayana’s sale on March 16. They come from HSTs recently withdrawn by train operating company Great Western Railway, and such was their connection to days of yore that the company dubbed them its ‘Class 255 Castle trains.’
There are 15 plates from HST power cars, five of which are names previously carried by Castle class 4-6-0s – Chepstow Castle (No. 4077), Dunster Castle (No. 4093), Raglan Castle (No. 5008), Nunney Castle (from preserved No. 5029), and Westminster Abbey (No. 5089), the HST power cars from which they come being respectively Nos. 43170, 43122, 43171, 43009, and 43027.
Sixth Castle
In addition to these five, there is Acton Castle from power car No. 43027, albeit not a name carried by a Castle class steam locomotive.
Other non-steam names include The Royal British Legion from power car No. 43056 – although LMS Royal Scot No. 46170 was named British Legion – and The National Trust from No. 43169.
To add to the five ex-steam Castle class names is Restormel Castle, although this is from Co-Co diesel Class 57 No. 57602, formerly Class 47 No. 47337. This name was originally carried by No. 5010.
The iconic HST was introduced in 1976 and with its InterCity 125 branding soon gained cult status. The 125 indicated its top speed, although power car Nos. 43102 and 43159 set a world-record speed for a diesel-powered train of 148mph when they top-and-tailed a test run between Darlington and York on November 1, 1987
The withdrawal of the units by GWR leaves ScotRail as the only train operating company still using HSTs on passenger services. Many enthusiasts hope they survive until 2026 for their golden jubilee.
About 80 totem station signs will also go under the hammer in the auction, of which one, BR(Sc) Connel Ferry, on the Oban branch of Scotland’s West Highland Line, is something of a misnomer, as the ferry to which it refers, across Loch Etive, was replaced by a bridge in 1903 when the Caledonian Railway opened the Connel-Ballachulish branch. That line closed in 1966, but Connel Ferry station is still open, a reminder of a service across the nearby loch that ceased 121 years ago.
500 lots under hammer
As reported in my column in issue 315, among the steam locomotive railwayana in the 500-lot auction will be a record 20 nameplates, comprising 14 from the (original) GWR, one from the SR, and five from the LNER.
On the following day, Sunday March 17, auctioneer Simon Turner will host a 400-lot sale of general railwayana, including shedplates, posters and clocks. Both auctions will be live online, that on the Saturday starting at 9.30am and the Sunday sale at 10am.