Royal saloons

[Cutter]

I have a question about the King and Queen's saloons from the LNER Royal train. Which way round did they run? Did they have their day compartments facing each other or their sleeping compartments? Or did the both run in the same orientation, and if so, did they generally have their day or sleeping compartments forward?

[65447]

Answering this is challenging:

First, Royal Trains from London to Sandringham reversed at King's Lynn whilst other journeys were not always 'out and back' but circumlocutions.

Second, after the death of Queen Alexandra and in 1924 her Saloon was remodelled and served both the King and Queen, whilst the former King's Saloon became the Queen's Saloon.

I think it would be a case of finding a photograph and working out which way around (and if both or only one were present) at that particular time and for that working.

Michael Harris described each of the original Saloons as follows:

His Majesty's Saloon No 395 until 1924 - from the left hand end: Attendant's compartment, Lavatory, Dressing Room, Convertible Bedroom or Dining Room, Day Saloon, Smoking Room;

Her Majesty's Saloon No 396 until 1924 - from the left hand end: Queen's Day Saloon, Convertible Bedroom or Dining Room, Princess Mary's Suite comprising Dressing Room, Sleeping Room, Attendant's compartment.

[swhite01]

I hope the attachments help in this discussion, they are of the Royal Train during the ECJS period. Unfortunately the diagram book is undated but the photograph is dated as 22nd February 1909, the note on the back of the photo notes that this is the "ECJS Royal Train after 1908".

Steve White

www.gnrsociety.com

[Cutter]

Both very helpful responses, thank you! The drawing shows the saloons with their day compartments adjacent.

[jwealleans]

In the current edition of The Gresley Observer (No. 189) there is Part 1 of an article by David Lowther on Gresley's Royal Train. It doesn't explicitly answer this question (but may do in a future instalment) but makes interesting reading.