Royal Train locomotive finds new home at Chinnor
THE Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway has given a home to a locomotive which hauled the Royal Train for more than 30 years.
Dual-braked Class 08 shunter No. 08629 was based, along with the Royal Train, at Wolverton Works, the world’s oldest and longest continually open railway works.
During its three decades there, the ‘Gronk’ was regularly to be seen hauling the Royal Train between the works and the West Coast Main Line and was named Wolverton three decades ago. It departed Wolverton Works on a low loader at noon on February 14 and arrived at Chinnor a few hours later as a surprise Valentine’s Day present for the line.
Railway chairman Stan Hart said: “I can’t even go away for some winter sun without coming back to a right royal railway surprise. This locomotive, with impeccable royal connections, is a very welcome addition to our volunteer-run heritage railway.”
No. 08629 and its sister No. 08649 operated at the railway in 2013 courtesy of Wolverton Works’ Dave Hilliard.
The railway is also home to Class 08 D3018, named Haversham after a village near Wolverton, and another ex-wolverton royal locomotive which pulled the railway’s inaugural train in August 1994.
Mike Edwards, the new owner of
No. 08629, said: “I had a great day out recently at Chinnor and was very impressed with the set up. As a result, I’m more than happy to see our locomotive take up duties there and am very grateful to all the volunteers for agreeing to offer it a home.”
No. 08629 will be rostered to operate public trains at the line’s March 27-29 diesel gala.