Description

An original steel Southern Railway Headboard GOLDEN ARROW. As affixed to Lord Nelsons, Bulleid Pacifics and then BR Britannia Steam Locomotives.

The luxury 10.30am all-Pullman service from London Victoria to Dover Priory ran from May 1929, whereby passengers transferred to a ferry to Calais to continue their rail journey to Paris on the French Fleche d’or service, which had already been running since 1926.

The service ceased during the Second World War and the last steam-hauled service was on 11 June 1961, wherefrom the service was electric-hauled as part of the Kent Coast electrification scheme, utilising a more modern style of headboard.

The Golden Arrow insignia of a green disc with a golden arrow passing through the ‘O’ letters remains a registered trademark and still owned today by the Dept of Transport.

This headboard has been in a collector’s attic for over 55 years and is surely a rare, great treasure unearthed. Absolutely ex-loco condition with a superb ‘service patina’ to the paintwork.

Size 66in wide from arrow tip to flights.