Together with The Merchant Venturer, this was one of two excursions from London on the Western Region, as part of the Festival of Britain.
[1] Both of them ran from London with timings intended for a day out from the capital, to some of the cultural highlights that were the focuses of the festival.
Both of them used new Mark 1 carriages painted in British Railways' carmine and cream livery.
[3] Unusually for a named express, it was hauled on some occasions by Class 5100 tank engine, although only on the Leamington Spa to Stratord-upon-Avon part of the journey.
The rest of the summer timetable did not begin until July, even later than usual, due to the austerity measures still in force.