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Southern Named Trains
Boat Train Specials
34007 Wadebridge with the "Statesman" boat train ready to carry the passengers from the SS United States to Waterloo.
photograph by Les Elsey courtesy Wadebridge (34007) Locomotive Ltd
As well as its own Named Trains the Southern Railway ran many Ocean Liner Specials to carry the passengers from the liners that docked at the railway's Southampton Docks to London. Many of these had their own names, although there were also a lot of un-named specials.
The above photograph appeared in the September 1952 issue of The Railway Magazine with the following caption:
Southern Region Ocean Liner Expresses
The boat express comprised of Pullmans and ordinary first class stock which
runs between Waterloo and Southampton Ocean Terminal in connection with Cunard
Line RMS Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth has been named the
"Cunarder". A specially designed headboard, in the form of a shield,
is carried on the front of the engine, with nameboards on the coaches. The
inaugral run of the "Cunarder" was on July 2 when the train left
Waterloo at 7.5pm, hauled by "Merchant Navy" class locomotive 35004
"Cunard White Star". A similar Waterloo-Southampton boat express in
connection with United States Lines ss United States has been named the
"Statesman".
Nº34007 Wadebridge at Eastleigh shed on 9th May 1954 ready to leave for Southampton Docks to work the South American boat train "Holland American" to Waterloo.
Note how the headboard is located on the headsignal disc brackets.
photograph by Les Elsey courtesy Wadebridge (34007) Locomotive Ltd
Almost three years later and the same engine is working the same boat train once more as it passes Eastleigh in April 1957.
photograph by John Wills
Nº34006 Bude with the "Cunarder" boat train passing Winchester.
photograph: Mike Morant collection
Nº34008 Padstow in April 1957 at Clapham Junction. The headboard was in connection with a special Boat Train for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Note the white finish to the vacuum and steam heating pipes!
photograph by John Wills
Lord Nelson class loco Nº30862 Lord Collingwood with the "Union Castle Express" boat train at Surbiton.
photograph: Mike Morant collection
Index to Named trains
