Patrick Kingston, 1937 - 2025

A lifelong railway enthusiast with a passion for history, photography and the Great Western Railway.

Patrick was the epitome of a gentleman; he was a kind, modest person with impeccable manners and was fastidious regarding the principles he held dear. He was gently spoken with a calm demeanour, who nevertheless could become pleasantly animated when in discussions about all matters he held dear, but in particular, the key interest in his life - railways.

While these words provide a general description of Patrick, they fall far short of describing or appreciating a man who came to be much respected in railway circles across Great Britain. Born in Leamington Spa in 1937, Patrick did National Service in the Royal Army Medical Corps, then worked at Lockheed before a long career in transport work at Warwickshire County Council and, afterwards, part-time at his beloved Leamington Spa station working for Chiltern Railways.

One of his earliest memories was of being at a railway bridge in WWII and seeing soldiers being brought by train, many of whom were injured. For many reasons, it left a lasting impression. It was to lead to a lifetime interest that spawned a unique contribution, bringing much pleasure and enjoyment to thousands of other people.

For the young Patrick Kingston, there was never a dull moment if he could get alongside the railway or, more likely, down to the station where he would go at every chance. At the time, anyone interested in trains was spoiled for choice if they lived in or close to Leamington Spa. In the late 1940s and 1950s, Warwickshire's most famous Georgian town had two main railway stations, one served by the Great Western Railway and Leamington Spa Avenue served by the London Midland and Scottish Railway.

Patrick once described his early days at Leamington Spa and how he would accompany his father to the station to see him board and depart on a London-bound premier express service and how the train would have to draw up a second time at the platform because it was a long train. Patrick said: "This enabled me to jump aboard and enjoy a few yards of haulage by a GWR King class locomotive; it meant everything to me to be on a train pulled by what were such majestic and powerful locomotives." Later, writing in his typical style that gave one a clear and vivid picture of what he was describing, he recounted another one of his early and most profound experiences: "I well remember my first visit to Swindon and, of course, the works. It was on a fine summer day, August the 11th, 1954. I recall sitting in an early Collett-type carriage that was pure Great Western down to the sepia-coloured pictures in the compartments, map of the Great Western Railway system and the cautious notice above the sliding corridor, which read ‘articles of value should not be left in the compartment in the absence of the owner’ My two friends and I could barely contain our excitement that soon we would see and walk upon the hallowed ground where the train in which we were travelling had been born. Pulling into what was then known as Swindon junction, where everything was so obviously Great Western, seemed like we had at last arrived, but that was just the beginning."

By the late 1950s, Patrick had become an accomplished photographer. He had his first picture in The Railway Magazine in July 1962 as part of a feature about the rebuilt Coventry station, a picture of two "Black Fives" with the Royal Train. The occasion was for the consecration of Coventry’s new Cathedral. In the June 2002 issue, it was his picture of the Queen Mother sitting in the cab of the Flying Scotsman that accompanied a tribute to her, and similarly, some of Patrick’s pictures that were used in the October 2022 edition alongside a tribute to her daughter, the late Queen Elizabeth II. Perhaps not surprisingly, Patrick became an acknowledged authority on the Royal Train and held in high esteem by several past editors of the Railway Magazine. His beautifully illustrated and engaging book on the subject, entitled simply ‘The Royal Train’, is well worth a read.

It is impossible to cover all the societies with which Patrick was involved and the things Patrick did for others; suffice to say that throughout his life, his thoughtfulness and kindness marked him out from many. He was a keen member and participant of RCTS, The Stephenson Locomotive Society,the Severn Valley Railway, Great Western Society and Great Central Railway, and his great interest in local history is mirrored in his membership of the Leamington Society and particularly the Leamington Station project and the Leamington History Society.

All of the images accompanying this tribute page have been taken by Patrick over the years.

Brush type 4 diesel locomotive number D1736 working a Paddington to Birkenhead passenger service at Leamington Spa station on the 28th December 1964.