The Flèche d’Or was introduced in 1926 as an all-first-class Pullman service between Paris and Calais. On 15 May 1929, the Southern Railway introduced the equivalent between London Victoria and Dover while simultaneously launching a new first class only ship, the Canterbury, for the ferry crossing.[1] The train usually consisted of 10 British Pullman cars, hauled by one of the Southern Railway's Lord Nelson class locomotives, and took 98 minutes to travel between London and Dover. Because of the impact of air travel and 'market forces' on the underlying economy of the service, ordinary first- and third-class carriages were added in 1931. Similarly the first-class-only ferry, Canterbury, was modified to allow other classes of passenger.
The train service ceased at the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939. It resumed after the war on 15 April 1946, initially running with the pre-war Pullmans and the Trianon Bar car, a converted twelve-wheeled Pullman.[2] The Southern railway flagship, the Invicta replaced the Canterbury from 10 October 1946.[1] As of 1949, the all-Pullman train was scheduled to depart from London Victoria at 10:30, with the connecting train from Calais reaching Paris (Gare du Nord) at 17:30, and from Paris at 12:15, with the connecting train from Dover arriving in London at 19:30.[3] This worked out to a scheduled journey time of 6 hours eastbound and 6 hours, 15 minutes, westbound after accounting for the one-hour difference between Greenwich Mean Time and Central European Time.[3]
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
A restored Golden Arrow carriage at Pecorama in Devon
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 Channel Tunnel. It was hauled by the steam locomotive Britannia.
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)
^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. ISBN0093048106.
Piggott, Reginald; Thompson, Matt (2012). Mile by Mile London to Paris: the entire railway journey by historic Golden Arrow and modern Eurostar mapped for the interested traveller. London: Aurum. ISBN9781845137724.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Golden Arrow.
SEMG page - 2nd page
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
January 06, 2023
golden, arrow, train, this, article, about, british, train, french, train, flèche, overnight, sleeper, service, night, ferry, golden, arrow, french, flèche, luxury, boat, train, southern, railway, later, british, railways, linked, london, with, dover, where, p. This article is about the British train For the French train see La Fleche d Or For the overnight sleeper service see Night Ferry The Golden Arrow French Fleche d Or was a luxury boat train of the Southern Railway and later British Railways It linked London with Dover where passengers took the ferry to Calais to join the Fleche d Or of the Chemin de Fer du Nord and later SNCF which took them on to Paris The Golden Arrow leaving Victoria Station London in 1953 Contents 1 History 2 Preservation 3 Literary reference 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit French version of the train 1927 The Fleche d Or was introduced in 1926 as an all first class Pullman service between Paris and Calais On 15 May 1929 the Southern Railway introduced the equivalent between London Victoria and Dover while simultaneously launching a new first class only ship the Canterbury for the ferry crossing 1 The train usually consisted of 10 British Pullman cars hauled by one of the Southern Railway s Lord Nelson class locomotives and took 98 minutes to travel between London and Dover Because of the impact of air travel and market forces on the underlying economy of the service ordinary first and third class carriages were added in 1931 Similarly the first class only ferry Canterbury was modified to allow other classes of passenger The train service ceased at the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 It resumed after the war on 15 April 1946 initially running with the pre war Pullmans and the Trianon Bar car a converted twelve wheeled Pullman 2 The Southern railway flagship the Invicta replaced the Canterbury from 10 October 1946 1 As of 1949 the all Pullman train was scheduled to depart from London Victoria at 10 30 with the connecting train from Calais reaching Paris Gare du Nord at 17 30 and from Paris at 12 15 with the connecting train from Dover arriving in London at 19 30 3 This worked out to a scheduled journey time of 6 hours eastbound and 6 hours 15 minutes westbound after accounting for the one hour difference between Greenwich Mean Time and Central European Time 3 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 Edit A restored Golden Arrow carriage at Pecorama in Devon 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 Channel Tunnel It was hauled by the steam locomotive Britannia 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 EditIn 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 ParisSee also EditEurostar 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 EditNotes 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 Fleche 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 BibliographyHasenson A 1970 The Golden Arrow A History and Contemporary Illustrated Account London Howard Baker ISBN 0093048106 Piggott Reginald Thompson Matt 2012 Mile by Mile London to Paris the entire railway journey by historic Golden Arrow and modern Eurostar mapped for the interested traveller London Aurum ISBN 9781845137724 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Golden Arrow 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Golden Arrow train amp oldid 1065886290, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
