Golden Arrow (train)
The Golden Arrow (
.History
The Flèche d’Or was introduced in 1926 as an all-first-class
The train service ceased at the outbreak of the
In 1951, a new set of Pullmans was built, exhibited as part of British Railways' celebration of the Festival of Britain.
In 1961, with the Kent Coast electrification scheme, the train became electric-hauled. That allowed an acceleration to 80 minutes for the down service and 82 minutes for the up service.[4] A decline in demand for rail travel between London and Paris saw the last Golden Arrow run on 30 September 1972 and, in its later years, only the first class section was advertised as a Pullman service.
Preservation
The preserved Bluebell Railway in Sussex runs a "Golden Arrow" train with Pullman cars "Car 64 (Christine)", "Fingall", "FO 1st class Sappho and an ex-LMS BGZ.[citation needed]
The main-line service was revived for a one-off event on 6 May 1994 when it formed part of the celebrations for the inauguration of the
The Golden Arrow insignia, of 'Golden Arrow' titles on a green disc with a golden arrow element passing through the two 'O' letters is still a registered trademark and is still today owned by the Department for Transport, officially registered to the Secretary of State for Transport.[citation needed]
Literary reference
In Graham Greene's "Travels With My Aunt", the character Zachary Wordsworth, suspected by the London Police of drug-trafficking, uses the Golden Arrow to escape to Paris (Ch.4). The book, published in 1969, notes that twenty pounds, given to Wordsworth by the narrator's aunt, were enough to cover the fare to Paris
See also
- Eurostar – train service via the Channel Tunnel (since 1994)
- Night Ferry – sleeper train between London and Paris/Brussels (1936–1980)
- Silver Arrow (rail-air service) – intermodal passenger transport service between London and Paris (1956–c 1994)
References
- Notes
- ^ a b Sencicle, Lorraine (6 May 2017). "Golden Arrow – The Luxury Train". Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ^ Kidner, R W (1958). The Southern Railway. South Godstone, Surrey: The Oakwood Press.
- ^ a b "Table 21: Golden Arrow (Flèche d'Or)". Cook's Continental Timetable (3 April – 14 May 1949 edition), p. 94. London: Thomas Cook Publishing.
- ^ Southern Region Passenger timetable 5 May 1969 to 3 May 1970.
- Bibliography
- Hasenson, A (1970). The Golden Arrow: A History and Contemporary Illustrated Account. London: Howard Baker. ISBN 0093048106.
- ISBN 9781845137724.
External links
- SEMG page - 2nd page
- https://web.archive.org/web/20050424210501/http://www.dover-kent.co.uk/transport/golden_arrow.htm
- Bluebell Railway's Golden Arrow train.
- Winchester, Clarence, ed. (22 March 1935), "The Golden Arrow", Railway Wonders of the World, pp. 232–239, contemporary account of the train