One day in 1955 or 1956 we were spotting from the Bonnington Walk overbridge at Horfield Station, when Castle No 7000, Viscount Portal, charged through on the up slow. Although it flashed past right underneath us, it was clearly bulled-up with all the brasswork shining, and with various embellishments.
I've often wondered about the significance of this - could it have been Viscount Portal's funeral train, perhaps?
Bulled-up 7000 Viscount Portal
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Ian L Jamieson
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Ian L Jamieson
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buxton4472
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Robin Summerhill
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Or might it have been an ex-Works running in turn?buxton4472 wrote:Yes - but he was probably thinking what is the point of having your own train hauled by your namesake 'Castle' loco looking so resplendent if you can't enjoy the moment? - so let's just do it!!jules wrote:He would have been pretty upset about it if it was. He didn't die until 1971!
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Ian L Jamieson
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Actually, that is a possibility, because some running-in turns came into Bristol from Swindon via the Badminton route. That said, my recollection is that the loco was far more bulled-up than one would expect for a simple running-in. Our perception at the time was that it was a special train of some description.Or might it have been an ex-Works running in turn?