The Object of someone’s desire at yesterday’s Great Central Railwayana Auction as an original Condor headboard came up for sale. Once carried by Co-Bo Metrovick locos including D5705, this was the name given to the overnight “fast” freight service running in the 1960′s from London and Birmingham to Glasgow. Condor was the name dreamt up by the BR publicity department for the train made up of wooden bodied container boxes loaded on 4 wheel flat wagons, nothing to do with birds of prey or tobacco, but a marketing creation from the slogan “Container Door to Door”. This was the precursor to the modern day freightliner and steel containers.
The headboard is made of cast aluminium and is quite badly pitted with corrosion. However, it reminds us of the LMR and ScR colours and the unusual split lettering used in those far off times. It is perhaps surprising there are no scorch marks from the many occasions the Co-Bo’s caught fire – that really would be the ultimate authenticity.
Sold for £1500 plus 10% commission and VAT.
