1st July 1969

British Rail
(Investiture of H.R.H. Prince Charles)

Locos Used at least 216, 233, 1719 & E3112
DMUs Used ???
Stock Used [1]: quoted as 'a restaurant car special'
[2]: quoted as '7x 1st class, 3x kitchen cars & 2x brake vans'

Route :

Loco(s) Stock Used Route
????? [1] 07.05d London Euston - (via WCML) - Crewe
????? [1] Crewe - Chester - Rhyl - Llandudno Junction - Menai Bridge - Caernarvon 11.10a
????? [1] 18.45d Caernarvon - (reverse of outward route) - Crewe
????? [1] Crewe - (?reverse of outward route?) - London Euston 23.00a

Route : 1T15 throughout

Loco(s) Stock Used Route
E3112 [2] 08.10d London Euston [P1] - (via WCML) - Crewe
1719 [2] Crewe - Chester - Rhyl - Llandudno Junction - Menai Bridge - Caernarvon
1719? [2] 17.30d Caernarvon - (reverse of outward route) - Crewe
E3112? [2] Crewe - (?reverse of outward route?) - London Euston

Notes :
(1) The 07.05d from Euston was a restaurant car special, £9.90 all inclusive fare. Brian Halford adds: For Prince Charles Investiture a special passenger train service operated over the Bangor-Caernarfon branch (just prior to its closure). My memory remembers a temporary halt about one mile outside Caernarfon but cannot anyone confirm? Tony Saville confirms this was the case.
(2) An article in the December 1969 edition of Railway World mentions a special leaving Euston at 07.20 carrying Sir Henry Johnson (chairman of the BR Board) and R.L.E. Lawrence (General Manager) - was this the one listed above as 07.05d, or a further special? The article also mentions 'VIP specials from Cardiff' that preceded 1T15 at Crewe. Further details required. The Royal Train is reported to have travelled up from London overnight, stabling at Menai Bridge before heading to a special platform in the Ferodo factory ('near Griffiths Crossing') where the Royal party alighted to commence the state drive to the Castle. Class 40s 213+233 were in charge (photographed at the special platform on arrival at Caernarvon). DMUs also operated on specials, being stabled during the ceremony on the closed Afonwen branch. At least one special photographed was formed of at least 2x 2-car sets, lead by Metro-Cammell stock (later class 101).
(3) 1T15 was a VIP special conveying, amongst others, the Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson and various ambassadors and commissioners representing foreign countries and the Commonwealth. It is reported it left Euston 'promptly at 08.10'. Rugby was passed early and Crewe reached 8mins ahead of schedule.

Sources : Chris Harley & Tony Saville

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