The Elizabethan
{{Short description|British named passenger train (London–Edinburgh)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
|box_width =
|name = The Elizabethan
|logo =
|logo_width =
|image = King's Cross inaugural run of the 'Elizabethan' geograph-2832957-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Gresley A4 4-6-2 No. 60028 'Walter K. Whigham’ stands ready at {{rws|London King's Cross}} for the inaugural service on 29 June 1953.
|type = Passenger train
|status =
|locale =
|predecessor = Capitals Limited
|first = 29 June 1953
|last = 1963
|successor =
|operator =
|formeroperator = BR
|ridership =
|start = London King’s Cross
|stops = none
|end = Edinburgh Waverley railway station
|distance = {{convert|394|mi|abbr=on}}
|journeytime =
|frequency = Daily
|trainnumber =
|line_used = East Coast Mainline
|class =
|access =
|seating =
|catering = yes
|entertainment =
|baggage = yes
|otherfacilities =
|stock =
|gauge =
|speed =
|owners = British Railways
|routenumber =
|map = 300px
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}}
The Elizabethan was a British Railways non-stop passenger train that ran between {{rws|London King's Cross}} and {{rws|Edinburgh Waverley}} in the United Kingdom. The daily service, which operated for ten years from 1953 to 1963, took just over 6hrs. It was hauled by steam engines until they were replaced by diesel units in 1961.
History
File:60022 080961 Darlington.jpg
In 1953, the summer-only, non-stop Capitals Limited express train was renamed The Elizabethan by British Railways to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.{{cite book |last=Allen |first=Cecil J. |date=1967 |title=Titled Trains of Great Britain |url= |location= |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd. |page=75 |isbn= |author-link= }}{{cite news |author= |title=Speed up of Main Line Trains |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19530516/095/0005 |newspaper=Dundee Courier |location=England |date=16 May 1953 |access-date=27 December 2017 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} The initial service, which at the time, was the longest scheduled non-stop railway journey in the world,{{cite news | title=War & peace: Railway practice and performance | first = P.W.B. | last = Semmens | work=The Railway Magazine | location = London | page = 53 | date = January 1993 }} took 6hrs 45mins but this was reduced a year later by 15mins in 1954. This gave an average speed of just over {{convert|60|mph|abbr=on}}; which was regarded as a creditable achievement for the UK rail infrastructure in the postwar era.{{cite news | title=War & peace: Railway practice and performance | first = P.W.B. | last = Semmens | work=The Railway Magazine | location = London | page = 53 | date = January 1993 }}
In 1954, the film Elizabethan Express was made by British Transport Films to advertise and promote the train. Starting at King's Cross, the film showed off the high standard onboard such as catering and passenger comforts while also capturing the hard work of the train crew and the hospitality staff onboard the LNER Class A4 steam locomotive as it ran non stop from London to Edinburgh. Scenes included the engine running through water troughs (about ({{convert|11000|impgal|L}} was needed by the locomotive per run), changing drivers, kitchen staff preparing meals, sorting mail in the goods carriage, and the work of the BR station staff. The film is still highly regarded for its well-filmed sequences by cinematographer Billy Williams capturing the full speed Gresley A4 on the East Coast main line.
It was narrated by Howard Marion Crawford and Alan Wheatley{{cite magazine|magazine=The Railway magazine|title=The Elizabethan|volume =149|year= 2003|page=30}}[http://www.movinghistory.ac.uk/archives/bn/films/bn2elizabethan.html Elizabethan Express] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209201044/http://www.movinghistory.ac.uk/archives/bn/films/bn2elizabethan.html |date=9 December 2006 }} at Moving History. Retrieved 4 February 2008.
Steam haulage of The Elizabethan came to an end on 8 September 1961 when they were replaced by British Rail Class 47 diesel units. On the final day of steam, the northbound service was hauled by No 60022 Mallard, which was (and remains) the holder of the world speed record for steam.Locomotives of the LNER Vol 2A, RCTS
British Railways withdrew The Elizabethan non-stop service in 1963.
References
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Category:Named passenger trains of British Rail