I am very interested in this and if anyone finds a photographs of it after it happens I would be a very happy man! I would also be interested in the precise makup of the train if anyone knows where I could find that info. Thanks MikeB
Mike, If the steam-hauled royal train goes ahead as planned I will do my very best to get a photo and post it on Trainboard. It will be passing very close to my home town. John.
A whole train this Classy must be Her Majesty's own personal train, right? It is a beautiful train either way, and my favorite color, cordovan! (That dark redish-browned-wine colored leather highly prised for CEO's chairs, and boots.)
Watash, yep it's the Royal's personal train, it has been used much less in recent years, with aircraft taking over much of the long distance travel inside the UK & there has been talk of doing away with it, but for this year with the Jubilee round UK tour it's a really useful thing to have! The two loco's are normally part of the EWS railway freight pool, but are specially painted for this duty & get pulled out of service & polished up again every time the Royal train goes out. There are 10 passenger cars (IIRC) in the Royal fleet, 8 of which were in this train, that's a few more than usual as the train is being used quite intensively for the next few weeks. The fleet is:* 2903 - Mk3 HM Queen's saloon 2904 - Mk3 Duke of Edinburgh's saloon 2915 - Mk3 Royal household sleeper, (I think 2nd in the train in these pics) 2916 - Mk3 Royal Dining Saloon (I think 3rd in the train in these pics) 2918 - Mk3 Royal lounge/sleeper 2919 - Mk3 Royal Lounge Dining Saloon 2920 - Mk2 Brake/Generator coach (1st in the train in these pics) 2922 - Mk3 Royal Sleeper 2923 - Mk3 Prince of Wales's saloon Plus a further Mk2 brake coach (maybe 2921?) which is the last vehicle in the train in these pics. (*info from the Hurst Models website here, they make brass car sides in OO to model the Royal train, amongst other things!) The Mk2 coaches are the ones with separate underbody fittings and the Mk3 have a full length fairing under the body containing & streamlining it all, the MK2/3 etc relate to the standard builds of UK coaching stock that these cars are derived or converted from. Oh, a brake coach is the equivalent of a combine in US terminology, all coaches actually have brakes!
Thanks for the comprehensive description of the train, Martyn. Let us hope that the train is retained, as it is more high profile for royal travels than taking an aircraft!
Seeming we are railfans we have a bias look at high profile people using rail-service. But also from a general point of view, taking the train brings the leaders closer to the people of their country. President Clinton in 1992 went around the south on a train.....the last president to do so when Campaigning. In the early days before planes or when they weren't as reliable presidents used trains to champaign....acoss the country.....I am thrilled to see a leader of a major world nation coming closer to the people. Maybe other leaders will take their lead....Safety is an issue, how ever....in 1992 The Clinton train had two escort trains I believe following a mile infront and a mile behind.....so it can be done safely as well. Happy Railroading!
Did anybody manage to get any photgraphs of the Royal Train being pulled by steam? Or does anyone know where there are any pictures? Thanks MikeB
MikeB, It is not scheduled to take place until 11th June but here is a photo of the steam loco that they plan to use. It is Pacific no. 6233 “Duchess of Sutherland” It was built at Crewe (the workshops of the old London Midland and Scottish Railway) in 1938 and is a member of the Princess Coronation Class of locomotives. Most of the class were named to celebrate the 1937 coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth who as you know only recently died. The loco is regularly used on railfan specials in England, Scotland and Wales. John
