GREAT BRITAIN: THE NINTH AND LAST?

A ‘Black Five’ was expected to reach Penzance and Thurso within a week but it did not quite happen and was certainly not the original plan. Brian Sharpe reports on an annual event which sadly, we may never see the likes of again.

GREAT BRITAIN: THE NINTH AND LAST?
LMS 4-6-0 No. 46100 Royal Scot crosses the Royal Albert Bridge over the River Tamar between Cornwall and Devon. COLIN WALLACE
In 2007, the Railway Touring Company’s first ‘Great Britain’ ran from Victoria to Penzance, then to Inverness, Thurso and Kyle of Lochalsh before returning to London – steam-hauled virtually throughout, by seven engines in eight days.

There were no serious issues arising before or during the trip, apart from a 30 minute late departure from Inverness for the Far North, caused by a late-running service train which led to pathing problems and a six-hour late arrival at Thurso by LMS 8F 2-8-0 No. 48151.

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