The Flying Scotsman and Godalming station, Surrey

[aaronsadventur]

Dear RailUK forum

My 9 year old son is a huge train history aficionado. We have a project to research if the Flying Scotsman has ever been to Godalming station in Surrey.
Can anyone help with proof, either way ?

The old station at Godalming was in use 1849-1897. Its current rail station replaced it.
The Flying Scotsman (LNER Pacific class A3 4472) was built 1923, so it could have visited the new station at some point.
However, we cannot prove it.

Heritage rail journeys from London Victoria pass through this Surrey area include the Sunset Steam express and the Cathedrals Express. However, they appear to often have been detoured through Basingstoke and not ofteen if ever pass through Godalming.
Can anyone help solve our mystery with proof?

Best wishes
Aaron and his dad Jamie

Aaron's Adventure Archive

Father and son enjoying transport themed adventures across Surrey and the South East.

www.youtube.com

 

[Gloster]

As a clarification, although the old station in Godalming closed to passengers in 1897, it remained open for goods traffic until the beginning of 1969.

As Flying Scotsman did not belong to the company that operated trains through Godalming it is as good as certain that it did not pass through the station before the creation of British Railways in 1948. Even after that, it is unlikley to the utmost that BR would have used it though the station, even if it was permitted for technical reasons. It would only be when operating a special train after the loco‘s sale by BR in 1963 that it might have worked through Godalming.

I am afraid that the only method of checking where it went that I know of would be to work through the rail tours and special trains listed since 1963 on a site called .sixbellsjunction.co.uk , but as that would be a substantial task, it might be worth waiting in case someone on this forum has an easier suggestion.

 

[aaronsadventur]

Thanks for the excellent response.

We will research sixbellsjunction.co.uk
Any input from the expertise reading the forum would be welcome.

 

[RGM654]

On 16th April 2000 The Tall Ships railtour promoted by Past Time Rail and hauled by Flying Scotsman ran from Waterloo to Southampton via Winchester but back via Guildford. I don't know how to link to a specific page on sixbellsjunction.co.uk, so you need to select "The Railtour Files" then the year then the date.

How did I know about that one? I was on it.

I will try to find a photo.

Edit: I am reminded that I was only taking video at that time (though I took many photos in earlier years and more recently), so all I can manage is a frame from my (still unedited) video, showing Flying Scotsman backing down to join the train for the return run.

Further edit: should this thread be moved to the Railtours and Preservation section or left here?

 

[Wandering Pom]

Here's the link: https://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/000416pr.htm
There's only basic route information, but it does confirm that Flying Scotsman ran via Godalming on the return from Southampton.

 

[aaronsadventur]

Amazing responses Wandering Pom, RGM654 and Gloster!

Thank you for fuelling my son's healthy interest in trains and railway history!

 

[DelW]

Heritage rail journeys from London Victoria pass through this Surrey area include the Sunset Steam express and the Cathedrals Express. However, they appear to often have been detoured through Basingstoke and not ofteen if ever pass through Godalming.

There are quite a few steam specials through Guildford, but most run via the North Downs line towards Redhill. Relatively few head down (or up) the Portsmouth Direct line via Godalming.

I don't know whether other LNER-design Pacifics are of interest or not, but new build Peppercorn A1 pacific "Tornado" hauled a train through Godalming soon after its completion, around 2009 or so. It attracted quite a few people onto the platforms.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Relatively few head down (or up) the Portsmouth Direct line via Godalming

Agreed. One exception I photo'd, 1Z82, 17.49 Portsmouth & Southsea to Waterloo on 1st April 1995, seen here passing Worplesdon with S15 828 leading 'Arthur' N15 30777, more appropriate for the route perhaps, although no disrespect to fans of 'Scotsman' or the LNER in general.

 

[Cowley]

I was looking at The Portsmouth Flyer railtour that ran in 2023, as the original itinerary would have taken it through Godalming, but according to a comment on one of the YouTube videos (unfortunately I can’t find which one it was now) that I watched of it, the tour was rerouted via Winchester due to a gauging issue.

 

[Gloster]

I was looking at The Portsmouth Flyer railtour that ran in 2023, as the original itinerary would have taken it through Godalming, but according to a comment on one of the YouTube videos (unfortunately I can’t find which one it was now) that I watched of it, the tour was rerouted via Winchester due to a gauging issue.

The gauging issues were at Petersfield according to sixbellsjunction.

 

[Cowley]

The gauging issues were at Petersfield according to sixbellsjunction.

Ah yes, it’s here:

The outward route was originally advertised via Haslemere, however this was changed to run via Eastleigh due to gauging issues at Petersfield.​

 

[aaronsadventur]

Thank you all for your expertise and information.
Here is the episode we made about this question, which involved also visiting the local museum in Godalming for information

Best wishes
Jamie (Daddy) and Aaron

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you all for your expertise and information.
Here is the episode we made about this question, which involved also visiting the local museum in Godalming for information

Best wishes
Jamie (Daddy) and Aaron

Nicely done! And I learned some new stuff from your film.