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Prince Charles steams in for a visit to Wakefield
Prince Charles in Wakefield. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe
The Prince of Wales stepped off a carriage pulled by a 1950s steam engine on to a railway platform packed with well-wishers today.
Charles was unveiling the renamed Britannia steam locomotive, which has been restored from an engine originally built in 1951.
As he stepped off the train on to a cold and wet platform at Wakefield Kirkgate station he was serenaded by a brass band playing Singing In The Rain and Beatles classic Ticket To Ride.
Swathed in steam, he met schoolchildren waving Union flags.
Pop producer and train enthusiast Pete Waterman introduced him to young people who had worked on restoring the train.
After unveiling its new name plaque, the Prince smiled, patted the locomotive and said: “Jolly good engine.”
Waterman, who persuaded Charles to get involved at a Prince’s Trust event, said: “He (Charles) loves steam engines, he’s as much of an enthusiast as I am.”
The Class 7 Locomotive No 70000 Britannia was built in 1951 in Crewe. After it was retired in 1966, it was bought by a group of enthusiasts and is now owned by Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust.
It has been overhauled again to meet Network Rail requirements and it returned to the main line last March.
Later, on his first visit to Barnsley, the Prince will meet cricket umpiring veteran Dickie Bird, visit the Barnsley Chronicle newspaper and Huddersfield University’s campus in the town before touring nearby Wentworth Castle.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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