School’s out - on the train
It is always a pleasure to be able to assist a fellow modeller, and recently I was asked about a feature I wrote for Motive Power Monthly back in 1989. He wanted to know if I had any more photographs of the Travelling College that were not used in the article. In fact, I have a lot, taken inside and outside the train, which was posed for the press with a preserved ‘Deltic’. First, however, it had to be brought out into the open from the ‘Pullman Shed’ at Old Oak Common, where it was kept. The ‘Deltic’ was not in working order so the whole ensemble had to be shunted into position, and for that manoeuvre a two-car Class 101 DMU was used. Yes, to haul a 108-ton ‘Deltic’ and a train of 12 coaches! The Travelling College included dormitory cars, ‘classrooms’ and even an on-board branch of Midland Bank, and was the brainchild of Barry Masterson. The conversion of the Mk 1 coaches was extensive and the fireproof floors of the dormitory cars added considerably to their weight, necessitating the use of Commonwealth bogies throughout. It was a bold venture, but doomed to failure when education budgets were cut and legislation changed. That day at Old Oak, over 25 years ago, was something of a trial. The weather was appalling. Steve Morris, editor of Buses, who took the photographs, had his camera smashed when the tripod blew over. My thanks to Steve for a set of interior and exterior photographs, which are probably unique archive material now.
The complete Travelling College train inside the ‘Pullman Shed’ at Old Oak Common, where the Blue Pullmans were once housed. PHOTOGRAPHS: STEPHEN MORRIS/CHRIS LEIGH COLLECTION