The Royal Train

[alixaannencova]

I suppose there may have been a thread about the British Royal Train ages ago that may have been lost in the change over!

Does anyone have any yummy bits and pieces about QV's train. I always supposed that Bertie and Alix used another train or at least had wagons lit of their own during QV's reign. I do have a lovely big piccie of the dining saloon Bertie used during his reign, but I do not have a working scanner so can not share it with you. It was very bright and decorated in light colours, very fresh and airy and reminded me of the first class dining saloon on the Lusitania in the elegant simplicity of the decoration.

I seem to recall seeing pictures of QV's drawing room, and it being very lavishly furnished with overstuffed button backed pieces and was rather opulent in a high Victorian manner. Maybe there is a thread around and I am being dippy, sorry if there is!

[Robert_Hall]

Well, there is a website about the Royal Train from the Daily Mail and an excellent book by Brian Hoey that came out last year. There is also an exhibit of Victoria's train at the Windsor station.

[alixaannencova]

Thank you Robert I shall go rootling now! I must say I think the present Royal train rather utilitarian really. I mean it was not very imaginatively decorated from what I have seen. Then again I always envisage something akin to the Venice Simplon Orient Express when I think 'Royal Train' and I suppose if the present Royal train was like that, the RF woUld be accused of living in the past and too lavishly. Knowing the PoW's tastes tend toward the sybaritic, I wonder what he makes of the present austere Royal train?

[Robert_Hall]

Yes, it is rather dull compared to past royal trains.  But the RF seem to like it, they use it often enough. Now that the Royal Tacht Britannia is gone, I think it is actually their favourite mode of transport They have more privacy on the train than anywhere else. Just Google The Royal Train and you can see pictures of it. It is definitely not the Oeient Express, but then it costs a lot less.  Charles and Anne have their own cars, which than  use anytime that the Queen is not scheduled to use it.  Another interesting thing about royal train travel is scheduling-  Their journeys are timed so as not to disrupt regular train schedules and it does not  travel at night.  They pull over to a discreet siding for the night Charles also brings his own Duchy food and table service when he uses the RT.
 Personally I prefer rail travel myself, especially if I have my own en suite cabin. I have crossed Europe several time via rail,  And the next major journey will be London-Paris- St. Petersburg-Moscow. Not exactly "royal" but close enough!

[alixaannencova]

Oooh Robert I am green with envy London to Moscow......you lucky thing you! I keep thinking about doing something like that but I have a very bad habit (Filthy I know!!!) that is now forbidden on all trains in Europe, well west of the Russian frontier anyway. Anyway, I shall check out the websites. Many thanks. By the way did all QV's children have their own personal wagons lit/pullmans? And what about Louise Fife, did she have her own carriages tacked on to the London - Aberdeen overnight service. I mean, she did the journey so often I just wondered whether she had her own carriages or just used the Great Northern lines VIP/Royal carriages if Bertie couldn't lend her his?



 

[Robert_Hall]

I really do not know about other members of the RF. But, QV paid for her own carriages, I think Prince Albert designed them, so it would have been expected for her family to pay for theirs as well, I imagine. There were first class caririages then that really WERE first class,  so I would think they  probably settled for those.
 I have taken the St Petersburg-Moscow train before, I think it is the Red line. There is also a Blue train. That was quite lovely. But the London-Russia journey takes considerably more time and planning,. We were going to do it this year,  but ran out of time. so are doing it next spring, adding canal & river cruises.  My second favourite mode of travel- ships.

[grandduchessella]

The train in the time of QV

[grandduchessella]

[grandduchessella]

[grandduchessella]

And Edward VII


Sleeping Compartment



Day Compartment



Night Saloon



Saloon

[Robert_Hall]

Thank you, GDElla. I think, if I remember correctly that is the one on display at the station in Windsor, It has wax models [from Tussaud's, of course]  of the royals  in the regal reception room. Next visit, I may just m,ake a trek out there and update myself. I had long long interest in this subject until now, and have ordered some books on it. When they arrive, I may be able to add more information to the topic. My interest in the Imperial trains of Russia, Germany, Austria and the Ottomans [a gift from the Kaiser, I understand] sort of took over.

[grandduchessella]

I saw that exhibit on my honeymoon. I'll see if I have any of the photos scanned. I remember that they had Ella & Serge in one grouping.

[David_Newell]

I have seen all the Royal Trains, they are kept at York Railway Museum (National Railway Museum). They are really well worth the visit. My favourite is the new train for George VI, very simple and art deco inspired. I think our Queen used it until the new train was made available about 20 years ago. Certainly as I child I remember the Royal Train at Liverpool Street Station in London. They must have been going to Sandringham. My mother always called it the Kings train, so I am assuming it was the train that was made in the 1930's and adapted and strengthened for the war.

Yes the new train is simple, but elegant and our Queen does not like ostentation.

[David_Newell]

PS. I have a book somewhere from the museum in York. I will try and find it.

[Douglas]

QE II... her Majesties sleeping compartment and bath.  I believe this is her current train.