Albert Hitchen

Raised in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, Hitchen was a keen cyclist from his boyhood, winning the Yorkshire Junior Championship aged 16. He then toured East Germany the following year, sponsored by the Corona (soft drink) brand.[1]

First racing as a semi professional from 1959, he turned professional in 1967, and retired in 1973. During this period he recorded 30 victories, including the UK national title in 1963 and 1965, as well as two Lincoln Grand Prix victories. In 1963 Hitchen made his one and only appearance in the Tour de France, with a best finish of 41st on stage 1a before withdrawing after stage three.[1][2]

The majority of his cycling career was spent with Viking Cycles, with whom he won two editions of the 275-mile London-Holyhead race, and Falcon Cycles for the final five years.[1][2] During this time frame he was known as "King Albert" thanks to his cycling success.[3]

After his retirement from professional cycling, he was appointed the racing team manager of the Falcon Sales Team.[1]

Whilst working his way up towards a professional cycling career, from school Hitchen joined British Railways to work on steam locomotives in Mirfield for 18 months, followed by a further 12 months at Wakefield's shed, and then six months at Bradford Hammerton Street. He finished his service with British Railways (BR) in 1952 as a fitter at Mirfield where he worked for the previous 36 months. After leaving BR, and during his semi-professional cycle racing career, Hitchen spent three years looking after Barclay tanks and fireless locomotives at ICI's Dalton works in Huddersfield.

After retiring from professional cycling, Hitchen returned to BR, initially working at Ravensthorpe MPD.[2]

In 1980, Hitchen bought Bulleid West Country Pacific No.34027 "Taw Valley" for preservation from Woodham Brothers scrapyard. Moved to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for restoration, after running-in she moved to the East Lancashire Railway in 1982, and then the Severn Valley Railway in 1985. After mainline certification, she was based at Stewarts Lane alongside SR Merchant Navy No.35028 "Clan Line" and operated the VSOE British Pullman alongside other charter trains.

After selling No.34027 in 2001 to Phil Swallow, Hitchen became a quarter-owner of BR Standard 4 4-6-0 no 75014. Based at Grosmont, the 4-6-0 became a regular on charter train duties, working the first season of the Jacobite along the West Highland Line from Fort William to Mallaig in 1995. Hitchen sold No.75014 to the Dartmouth Steam Railway in 2002.

Hitchen's last locomotive was LMS Black Five 4-6-0 no 45231 The Sherwood Forester. After completion of an overhaul at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway, she moved to the Watercress Line in 2005 for running-in. After a proving run to Fratton that year, she entered mainline service. During Hitchen's ownership, she worked the 40th & 45th anniversary trains of 1T57 (Fifteen Guinea Special), in double headed formation with sister engines 45407 & 44932. Bert could often be seen travelling with 45231 out on-board railtours as part of the support crew travelling behind his black 5 to locations around the north of England including trips down the famous Settle and Carlisle line, the engine was till Bert's death based at Carnforth MPD. After Bert's death she was sold by the Hitchen family in November 2015 to Jeremy Hosking.

Hitchen died of heart failure at home in Mirfield on 13 May 2015, aged 76.[1][2][4]