Hello, I need help with a book
 

I'm writing about my childhood in Wales. I remember in the 50's travelling to Paddington with my father who pointed out a small station (in England, of course, possibly in Wilts or Somerset) where the London trains would stop on request because someone very important lived there. I think he was probably a Lord somebody or other.
Does anyone know what I'm talking about and, if so, can you give me some information about it.

One other thing. Does anyone have any images of the Red Dragon train - especially at Bridgend.

Thanks in anticipation!

Hello and welcome to the forum Bookman. The tale about the station sounds familiar, but I can't remember what it was called now, but I'm sure somebody on here will be able to help.

Welcome to the Forum Bookman. Can't help I afraid but look forward to finding out!

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Not the one you're thinking of, obviously, but Duncraig in Scotland comes to mind.

Threre is a small station at Badminton that was built for the Duke of Glos. It was part of the agreement when the line was built across his land. The Duke could stop a train if he needed to get to London at any time. I understand that this right was only removed in the last few years.

Thanks for that Syd.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

Thank you for all the welcomes. I'm looking forward to my time with you.

Thanks especially to DSY011 (The Old Git, Sid). that sounds right - I will try to explore that further, if only for confirmation. It really impressed me, as a child, that a train would have to stop at your own station at your command!! Don't get too much of that sort of thing these days.

Many thanks again
Bookman

Hello and welcome to the forum, enjoy and all the best.

Hi DSY011
I'm sure you are right about Badminton. I've tried some searches on Google which suggest that the land belonged to the Duke of Beaufort, who seems to have scooped up a lot of land in south Wales and all to his profit.

I will continue searching to see if there are any stories about this.

Thanks
Tony, Bookman

Hi G6 UXU
Thanks for your welcome. I notice that you include a photo. Although the engine does not display a "Red Dragon" banner across the front, are you saying this is one of the engines that would have been used?
Tony, Bookman

Hi Bookman, welcome to the forum. I think the picture is embedded in the message from G6UXU as a permanent part of his signiature. I have seen pics of the Red Dragon hauled by GWR Castles & BR Britannias, although it's possible that others may well have worked this train.

Regards,
Tony

Hi Tony (TRP), Thanks for your comments. I have found a couple of really good pics of the Red Dragon in the gallery. I should have looked there first, but I'm a bit new to this and I'm still finding my way around.
Regards
Tony

Hi Tony and welcome to the forum.
The photos of the "Red Dragon" in the Railwayforum Gallery are modern day namesakes and are not necessarily representative of the real "Red Dragon" which ran between South Wales and Paddington in the 1950's and 60's. As Tony (TRP) said either a “Castle” or “Britannia” usually hauled the original train.

Hi John (Swisstrains)
Thank you for that point about the Red Dragon in the 50's and 60's. Do you know where I might look to find a photo of the engine from that period - or would it have to be a "Castle" or "Britannia" without the Red Dragon banner on the front?
Regards
Tony (Bookman)

hi bookman
 

hi bookman welcome to the forum. out of curiosity, what is your favourite train station?




Squeaky88 :)

Hi Bookman, Yes you are right, it is the Duke of Beaufort. I should have remembered as I have been to Beaufort a number of times. Put it down to Senile Dementia

Hi Bookman,
There are many photos of the original "Red Dragon" in railway books especially ones by George Heiron but they are few and far between on the Internet.
There is a photo of a Castle being prepared to work the "Red Dragon" here:-
http://www.davidheyscollection.com/userimages/j-payne-5077-red-dragon.jpg and this site has greetings cards and prints which feature a Britannia hauling the "Red Dragon" at Newport:-
http://asp.kandles.co.uk/acatalog/Greeting_Cards.html
I should have mentioned it earlier but for a while there were actually two "Red Dragon" trains operating. The main one that we are talking about and a local shuttle that ran in North Wales between Rhyl and Llandudno

MY favourite station must be Bridgend. My cousin, a real railway enthusiast, once told me that there used to some of Brunel's original line (the wider gauge) at one of the sidings at Bridgend.

Last time I visited, about three or four years ago, I stood on the down platform recalling my departure to England in 1961 when a female voice came over the tanoy (if you can imagine Gladys from Hi Di Hi) which said "Please do not leave any baggage or parcels unattended as the security people will have to take them away or blow 'em up!"

Regards

Tony (Bookman)

Hello Swisstrains

Thanks for the useful info. I've had a look at the sites you mentioned and I agree with the one that says there could hardly be a better name for a steam engine than The Red Dragon. Standing on the platform at Bridgend as a small boy it really felt like a monster had entered our world, breathing smoke and steam - one could not expect that it would stop and allow one to hitch a ride! Those were the days.
Kind regards
Tony