File:Railway World 1959-10 550s.jpg

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Driver Bill Hoole Retires An appreciation from Norman Harvey.

Photo: Colin P. Walker. ON 7th JULY, Driver Bill Hoole ran into King’s Cross for the last time, and by his retirement the East Coast Main Line has lost its most distinguished performer and one of the most fascinating of the many notable personalities who have served it.

By birth Bill Hoole was a Liverpool man, and his railway career, oddly enough, began on the old Midland Railway. His footplate life, however, commenced on the G.C.R. in 1912, and in 1913 he came to Neasden. Here, after War Service from 1914-1919, he laid the firm foundations of his engine-manship by firing Mr. Robinson’s engines on the Manchester jobs, and is something of an authority still on many points of G.C. loco management.

He moved to King’s Cross in 1927 as a driver, and reached the long-distance turns after the Second World War, when train speeds were rising again, and the Gresley “ A4 ” Pacifics recovering their old form. When I first met him, three years ago, Bill said “ I’m going to show you that the ‘ A4’s ’ can do better now than ever they’ve done.” He kept his word. The magnificent running on 23rd May, was only one trip among many—more fully documented than some trips and therefore more perfectly appreciated—but like all his great runs it was the fruit of experience, concentration and thought.

The breadth of his interests is considerable, and one has only to meet him to sense his deep humanity. The most wonderful thing to me on 23rd May, was that he carried with him on this great run a train-load of his personal friends—they had come from Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and all parts of England to join with the S.L.S. in paying him tribute. This is an adequate indication of the esteem in which he is held by railway enthusiasts everywhere. Now he is driving for the Festiniog Railway in North Wales. Long may he enjoy his retirement!