There appears to be a common belief that the King locos did not cross the Royal Albert Bridge into Cornwall as they were too heavy.
However I conclude from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_Riviera_Express that this was only the case in the early years - before sometime in the 1930s since timetabling at 'Performance' provides an example of Kings (and Cas- tles) on that Express in Sept. 1940. It also states LNER A1 Class 4-6-2 4474 Victor Wild saw trials as early as 1925! Am I thus correct in believing that the Bridge has been able to accommodate heavy express trains including Kings since the 1920s??
It also states that at various times other visiting locomotives have been tested on this express. It says that in 1948 and 1955 ex-LMSR Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2s were similarly tried; on the second occasion (1955) the locomotive was 46237 City of Bristol. In 1956 the Kings were temporarily withdrawn for modifications, their place being taken on the Cornish Riviera by ex-LMSR Princess Royal and Princess Coronation class 4-6-2s 46207 Princess Arthur of Connaught, 46210 Lady Patricia, 46254 City of Stoke-on-Trent, and 46257 City of Salford.
The context of all of this is that last week an on-line pop-up on the railtours part of the Railway Herald's website declared that 46233's trip last Sunday from Taunton to Par was the first appearance of a Duchess into Cornwall. From the above I conclude it may have been the first Duchess but perhaps not the first Princess Coronation - 46237, 46254 & 46257 - all Cities - appear to have been there in 1955 and 1956???
I really would welcome posts from anyone who can confirm, expand or comment or even better provide photos on matters concerning previous incursions of Pacifics into Cornwall via this route or on the Royal Albert Bridge's weight limitations or otherwise.
Just trying to get the true facts.
Many thanks
However I conclude from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_Riviera_Express that this was only the case in the early years - before sometime in the 1930s since timetabling at 'Performance' provides an example of Kings (and Cas- tles) on that Express in Sept. 1940. It also states LNER A1 Class 4-6-2 4474 Victor Wild saw trials as early as 1925! Am I thus correct in believing that the Bridge has been able to accommodate heavy express trains including Kings since the 1920s??
It also states that at various times other visiting locomotives have been tested on this express. It says that in 1948 and 1955 ex-LMSR Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2s were similarly tried; on the second occasion (1955) the locomotive was 46237 City of Bristol. In 1956 the Kings were temporarily withdrawn for modifications, their place being taken on the Cornish Riviera by ex-LMSR Princess Royal and Princess Coronation class 4-6-2s 46207 Princess Arthur of Connaught, 46210 Lady Patricia, 46254 City of Stoke-on-Trent, and 46257 City of Salford.
The context of all of this is that last week an on-line pop-up on the railtours part of the Railway Herald's website declared that 46233's trip last Sunday from Taunton to Par was the first appearance of a Duchess into Cornwall. From the above I conclude it may have been the first Duchess but perhaps not the first Princess Coronation - 46237, 46254 & 46257 - all Cities - appear to have been there in 1955 and 1956???
I really would welcome posts from anyone who can confirm, expand or comment or even better provide photos on matters concerning previous incursions of Pacifics into Cornwall via this route or on the Royal Albert Bridge's weight limitations or otherwise.
Just trying to get the true facts.
Many thanks