Blue Peter in Doncaster

Blue Peter's 1970 Doncaster visit

Why were Blue Peter in Doncaster? Well, in 1968 the Blue Peter Locomotive Society formed to try and save a steam train from the scrapheap.

The original train [532] was launched in 1948 designed by Arthur H Peppercorn of the LNER. The train mainly ran across the East Coast Mainline. On 31st December 1966 the train was put into a store. Two years later it was purchased by the Blue Peter Locomotive Society and then brought back to life and relaunched in Doncaster.

The major of Doncaster, Edith Plumb, and General Manager for British Rail Eastern Region I.N Campbell introduced the three presenters to a heaving Doncaster a crowd.

Nowadays Health and Safety would have a field day about this crowd; children were squashed against steam trains, people climbed up wooden posts and there wasn't an inch to move on the ground. Just like the good old days. It is recorded that a small 60,000 people went to see the unveiling!

Valerie Singleton welcomed the crowds;

Now this is what they call nostalgia…

"Ladies and gentlemen, hello."

"First of all I'd like to say what a great honour it is to be here at this very important ceremony.

"It is great to see you. I don't know if you've travelled from Scotland, Cornwall or just around the corner. Thank you very much.

"We are very honoured to show all our viewers how magnificent [steam trains] can look after they've been restored. We are proud to represent our programme. Let me introduce our Train of the future representatives Griffith Davis, Jonathan Maple and David Horn (Was this you? Get in touch - [e-mail])

Peter Purvis pulled the chord and removed the purple curtain and Valerie smashed a bottle of champagne against the train.

In April 1998 the 532 travelled from Waverley to London's Kings Cross - a journey that hadn't been made by a steam train for thirty years. On board were Stuart Miles, Katy Hill and Richard Bacon. They arrived to be greeted by John and Val.