Mayflower (passenger train)
Overview | |
---|---|
Service type | Passenger train |
First service | 17 June 1957 |
Current operator(s) | Great Western Railway |
Former operator(s) | Western Region of British Railways |
Route | |
Termini | London Paddington Plymouth |
Distance travelled | 246 miles |
Average journey time | 3 hours 10 minutes |
Service frequency | Daily |
Train number(s) | 1C78 / 1A90 |
Line(s) used | Great Western Reading-Taunton Bristol-Exeter Exeter-Plymouth |
Technical | |
Rolling stock | 800, 802 |
The Mayflower is a named passenger train service operated by Great Western Railway in England from London Paddington to Plymouth.
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Dawlish_3_geograph-2456601-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg/220px-Dawlish_3_geograph-2456601-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg)
The Mayflower was introduced by the Western Region of British Railways on 5 June 1957, departing Plymouth at 08:30 for London Paddington, returning at 17:30.[1]
The Mayflower working was normally booked to a Plymouth Laira King class locomotive although the less powerful Castle class would have regularly deputised. Within a few years The Mayflower was turned over to diesel operation by Class 42 and Class 52 classes.
It was withdrawn on 12 June 1965, before the name was reintroduced from 5 May 1970 to 30 April 1971 on the 07:30 service from Paddington and 16:30 return to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the sailing of its namesake.[1][2][3][4]
It operated again from 1983 until 1985 with High Speed Trains. First Great Western reintroduced it in 1998. As at July 2019, the name was carried by the 11:06 from Paddington and 15:00 return operated by Class 800 and Class 802s.[1]
References
- ^ a b c The Encyclopedia of Titled Trains The Railway Magazine issue 1422 September 2019 pages 62/63
- ^ BR Western Region to launch Mayflower Railway Gazette International 16 January 1970 page 16
- ^ Mayflower launched The Railway Magazine issue 831 July 1970 page 407
- ^ Named British Express Trains The Railway Magazine issue 930 October 1978 page 478
External links
Media related to The Mayflower at Wikimedia Commons