Special stop for corgis

WHAT a wonderful article in the October RM, which bought back memories of a journey I believe was not covered in your article in which I helped to ‘rescue’ the royal corgis.

My memory cannot recall exactly the date or year this occurred, but I believe it was mid-1980s to mid-90s. I was the person on nights in charge of Liverpool Street Control. The Royal Train ‘Grove’ was running overnight between King’s Lynn and Scotland, (possibly Aberdeen), via Ely, Peterborough and the East Coast Main Line.

Shortly after 22.00, I received a phone call from the duty officer at Sandringham House saying there was a problem and wondered if we could help. The royal party was on board the train at King’s Lynn, but

the car containing the corgis had broken down on the road between Sandringham Estate and King’s Lynn, but another car was en route to pick them up.

The road (the A148/A47) at the time was not as good as today, and I can remember being told there was snow on the ground. I suggested that if the ‘rescue’ car could get to Peterborough North by 02.00, the train could make a special stop to pick them up, authority being given by the railway and royal duty officers on the train.

Sandringham House’s duty officer estimated the car’s arrival at Peterborough would be 01.45. Instructions were given for BT and civil police to be at Peterborough North to secure the station and surrounding area; Peterborough Power Box was also advised to ensure there was a red light at the end of the platform so that the train stopped.

Soon after, the ‘Grove’ departed Peterborough with corgis safely on board, and my duty officer contacted me to say that officially, the incident didn’t happen and therefore nothing was to go in the control log!

Bob Smith Chelmsford