The complete steam news magazine

Prince Charles renames Britannia

Nearly 50 years ago, in February 1952, Britannia, the first of 999 British Railways Standard locomotives, hauled the funeral train of his grandfather King George VI.

The Royal Train, with Britannia at its head, left Preston around 8am and ran via Accrington, Copy Pit, Hebden Bridge – where the prince inspected the footplate – before stopping at Brighouse to take on water, en route to Wakefield Kirkgate.
There, the prince stepped on to a cold and rain-soaked platform to rename it following its recent repainting into BR Brunswick green livery at Pete Waterman’s LNWR works at Crewe.

He was serenaded by a brass band playing Singing in the Rain and Beatles classic Ticket to Ride.

Former locomotive owner Pete Waterman introduced him to the footplate crew, which included LNWR works manager Steve Latham, who had overseen the latest overhaul of the preservation icon.

Multi-millionaire Jeremy Hosking, a director of the Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust which now owns Britannia, and who had it outshopped in the works black livery as plain No. 70000 it originally carried in 1951 for its test runs, prior to its recent repainting, made a brief speech before the prince drew back a Union flag to reveal the nameplate. The prince then patted the locomotive and said: “Jolly good engine.”

The cab roof of Britannia was painted white, just as it had been on the funeral train.

Pete Waterman said: “He loves steam engines, he’s as much of an enthusiast as I am.”

“It was fantastic to have the prince here - it’s something I thought I would never see happen, the sense of achievement is unbelievable.”

After meeting flag-waving local junior schoolchildren, the prince left the station by car to make his first visit to Barnsley.

There he met cricket umpiring veteran Dickie Bird and toured the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper and Huddersfield University’s campus before visiting nearby Wentworth Castle.

The train departed empty coaching stock. No. 70000 continued to York, while the train was returned diesel hauled to Wolverton.

Hornby is producing a new train pack containing Britannia and three Royal Train coaches this year.

*A full report on the visit will be contained in Heritage Railway issue 160, out on February 17.

View the ceremony Gallery >>