1968 and all that

I went to the National Railway Museum's '1968 & all that' event on Friday and was to be fair a little disappointed. I was expecting something on the scale of 2004's Railfest but I guess that was being a little unrealistic. Interestingly the weather was almost identical to that day four years ago being an accompaniment of overcast, grey skies and feeling warm nonetheless.

The main feature of the event was the line-up of 7029 Clun Castle, 70013 Oliver Cromwell and 92220 Evening Star, three very fine engines and each with a special place in the last days of steam. Clun Castle was the last steam locomotive to leave Paddington, Oliver Cromwell was one of the engines used to haul the '15 Guinea Special' on 11 August 1968 bringing the curtain down on mainline steam on British Rail, whilst Evening Star was the last steam locomotive to be built for British Rail, being completed at Swindon Works in 1960. Seeing the latter two locomotives together was quite a sight and standing beside Cromwell, which was in light steam, it was easy to imagine the power and majesty of this fine engine at full throttle. Although I am far too young to remember the last days of steam, seeing sights such as these magnificent locos lined up can't not make me wonder what those last days must have been like.

As well as these grand examples of steam, there was a selection of smaller and nonetheless important locos on display, including Trangkil, the last UK commercially built steam locomotive, completed in 1971. Not just steam either as examples of the diesel and electric traction that was introduced to modernise Britain's railways in the 1950s and 60s were also represented with D1023 Western Fusilier, 31018 and electric traction by E3035.

Despite the 1968 and all that event being less than what I expected, the rest of the NRM remains as visually arresting and interesting as ever. Indeed, there seems much more there now than when I last visited, with the new Search Engine facility open and access to more of the National Collection in the Warehouse.

Where else could you see such a fine collection of locomotives, rolling stock and a visual and physical record of the long and proud history of railways? It may be the largest railway collection in the world but I also feel it is a treasure trove, which the whole nation should be proud of and worth a visit at any time.