Photo:
Miles Taylor - First Steaming of 9466 - 24th February 1985

Our cover picture, also by Trevor Page, shows the famous Sir Nigel on its way to Marylebone on 12th January, making pulses race as it roars through Harbury Cutting. The relaxation of BR's 'No Steam at Marylebone' policy provided the historic spectacle of 4498 running into platform four of the old Great Central terminus on 12th January, the first steam-hauled train since the end of the Nottingham semi-fasts in 1966 and the first locomotive, except that static appearance of 5322 from Didcot for a filming assignment.

The initiative to return steam traction to the capital was taken by the Post Office when they required a steam locomotive to help launch their issue of stamps, with the theme Famous Trains. This SLOA and BR saw as an opportunity to test the market for regular steam working from Marylebone - so, having fulfilled its Post Office commitments, the A4 was rostered on a series of excursions to Stratford-on-Avon, billed as 'Thames-Avon-Express' (SLOA sponsored) and Sunday Luncheon Special' (BR sponsored).

Every train was a sell-out success and thus the stage was set for further operations throughout the summer.

Sir Nigel Gresley returned north on 16th February, to be replaced on 2nd March by rebuilt Bullied Merchant Navy Pacific No. 35028 Clan Line. This line is expected to be based at Marylebone until the end of April and will be followed by the appearance of the Stanier Pacific 46229 Duchess of Hamilton. Other visitors likely to come to London include Gresley V2 No. 4771 Green Arrow and Bullied West Country Pacific No. 34092 City of Wells - and, for diesel enthusiasts, the green class 40 D200.

One short news item from Bucks Herald is worth repeating. It seems that there was some overcrowding on an LT station along the way. So many sightseers were jammed onto the single island platform that the station staff, unable to control the situation, called the police. By the time the boys in blue arrived, the place was so packed with humanity that the only way off was by train! Therefore, in the interests of safety, hundreds of disgruntled enthusiasts were bundled onto the first train to wherever it happened to go!

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1986 and so does not reflect events in the 28+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added if deemed necessary. The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.

Reference:
Sir Nigel Comes to Marylebone - Quainton News No. 56 - Spring 1985