[Doug]

70013 Oliver Cromwell was selected to operate the last steam passenger train prior to the abolition of steam traction and in the summer of 1968 Oliver Cromwell hauled several specials, culminating in the Fifteen Guinea Special which was hauled between Liverpool and Carlisle of 11 August that year.

See BBC News video here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7553483.stm

Info on the BR standard class 7 70013 Oliver Cromwell here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR_standard_c...Oliver_Cromwell

 

[7113]

Hard to believe it was 40 years ago, and fairly amazing that most of the locos used have actually survived.

Regards

 

[randolph]

Saw her arrive at Carnforth on a low loader end of July and as I went through the town yesterday she had steam up in Carnforth sidings.

 

[dwb]

Does anyone know how much 15 guineas (£15.75 for the post decimalisation generation) would be in 2008 prices? I have a feeling that compared to today's prices it was probably rather a lot of money....

David

 

[poliss]

In 1970 the Wrenn A4 Mallard was listed at 159/6d, just over £7.97 which should help in comparing prices.

 

[bike2steam]

QUOTE (dwb @ 11 Aug 2008, 19:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does anyone know how much 15 guineas (£15.75 for the post decimalisation generation) would be in 2008 prices? I have a feeling that compared to today's prices it was probably rather a lot of money....

David

About a weeks wages - for some.
After a depressing visit to Lostock Hall in June 1968, I bowed out, didn't want to see the end.
Paul M.

 

[neil_s_wood]

Sad indeed.

 

[bigdave]

i wish i could have seen the recreation of the 15 guinea special but i have seen cromwell pulling her first passanger train at the great central in may. she nearly didn't make it to the main line in time for the 15 guinea as the engineers have at loughborough had problems fitting OTMR to the engine.

 

[steventrain]

Just notice the Hornby have two Black five in stock but only 1004 made.

http://www.ehattons.com/StockDetail.aspx?sid=22926

 

[Chinahand]

QUOTE (dwb @ 11 Aug 2008, 22:28) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does anyone know how much 15 guineas (£15.75 for the post decimalisation generation) would be in 2008 prices? I have a feeling that compared to today's prices it was probably rather a lot of money....

David

Tricky one that.

However, if it's any guide, the Ford Escort 1100 super was £725 in 1968 whereas the cheapest Ford Focus is now £11,945. That's a factor of approx 14.5 which would make those 15 guineas about £260 at todays prices.

Expat

 

[John]

Dear All,

Expat is fairly close with his multiplier of 14.5, which was a surprise to me as I would have expected a mutiplier based on a single commodity (a car) to be very approximate. Looking at one of the websites which has data going back to 1968, you need to use a multiplier of 13 to get from 1968 prices to 2007's price (see http://www.safalra.com/other/cumulative-hi...l-uk-inflation/). That makes the 15 guinea special 15.75 * 13 = 204.75, or about 205 pounds at 2007 prices. Add in another 5% for the increase from 2007 to 2008 and you get a factor of 13.65, which makes the 15 guineas about 215 pounds.

So 14.5 may be close but a bit on the high side. I have looked at some other indices and they all seem to agree with something like 13 or so as a multiplier from 1968 to 2007.

There are some interesting theories about how to take into account the improvement in quality hidden in these figures. To take Expats example, how many standard features on the 2008 Focus would have either been very expensive or unobtainable technology on the 1968 Escort? This is not a subject for this forum, so I will stop there.

 

[bigdave]

when steam railway magazine announced the recreation of the 15 guinea special last year they said how much it was worth in today's money but unfortunately i can't remember what it was. i will have to have a look to see what it was when i can find some time.