12 Jul A Glorious Day for Lizzie
11 July 2012
The Society is proud to report that on 11 July 2012 ‘Princess Elizabeth’ was called upon to haul the Royal Train conveying Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Newport–Hereford, and Worcester-Oxford legs of the Diamond Jubilee Tour.
It is believed that this is the first occasion that the Monarch has travelled behind the Locomotive which was named after her and is a momentous occasion for the Society coming as it does just weeks ahead of the 50th anniversary of ‘Lizzie’s’ passing into preservation. To have been allowed this honour realises the cherished ambition of a number of people who have long been associated with the Locomotive, none more so than our ‘talisman’ Roger Bell who was able to witness the spectacle as the locomotive which he secured for posterity all those years ago hauled the Royal Train through Cheltenham.
We feel that hauling the Royal Train, together with the appearance at the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, has added perhaps the most significant chapter of all to the long, rich history of our Locomotive. It seems particularly fitting that we have been able to do this in our Golden Jubilee year and we will take a great deal from the experience which will last long in our memories.
However, we must recognize that there are a considerable number of Society members – some of whom have since passed away – without whose efforts this 50 year journey and all that it has encompassed would simply not have been possible. We owe them a huge debt, and must also respect their many contributions in the way that we plan ahead to (and beyond) the organization and funding of the forthcoming 10 year overhaul. By doing this we hope to ensure that the future custodians of the engine are able to sustain both ‘Lizzie’s’ standing in Railway folklore, and place in the hearts of the wide number people to whom she means so much in such a variety of ways.