LNER Royal Train

[njmlondon]

Hi there

I am trying to find out more about the LNEr Royal Train, particualrly the formations and types of carriages and also which locos pulled it.

I have found a company which is going to be making the coaches.... http://www.goldenagemodels.net/royal-trains.html and I wanted to try to answer the following...

How many coaches were in the train?

Were they all painted in the royal colours or were they mixed with standard teaks?

Was there a specific loco (in the 30's) that was used?

Are there any good protoyppe photos anywhere?

Your wisdom and help will be much appreciated!

[M Gair]

hi njmlondon,

The Royal train when in the Newcastle upon tyne area was usually parked on the Ponteland line when the Royal family was in the area. I have a photo somewhere of the train being pulled by a V3 2-6-2T. I will see if I can find it and then post it on here. I plan to model the Ponteland Line as a branch off my mainline layout because my late father was born there.

Mark

[2512silverfox]

Can you specify period please?

The original LNER (Ex ECJS?GNR) Royal Train comprised two ECJS full brakes, four GNR saloons, and the two 12 wheel Royal Saloons (one GN built and one NE built). In BR days a restaurant car was added.

The 12 wheelers are in the NRM and Bressingham, one of the full brakes in at the NRM and the remainder were demolished at Ranskill in the 60's.

The original livery was varnished Teak and the vehicles were repainted 'Royal Claret' in the mid 50's much to the disgust of the paint shop at Doncaster.

The vehicles comparatively rarely ran as a complete train particularly in the BR period. The two big saloons were often used in service trains for short journeys and also for visiting dignitaries.

In GN days Atlantic No 1442 was designated as the Royal Engine. In LNER days all sorts were used including the 'Rayal Clauds', but in the post war period, a B2 4-6-0 Royal Sovereign was earmarked for Royal use.

Hope this helps. Can give much more detail if need be.

[njmlondon]

I was thinking mainly about the 1920/30's period.

Thank you for the info. From what you say, the coaches would have been in teak at this time and a total of 8 coaches.

If you know of any photos or books worth getting please do let me know.

Regards

Noel

[CVR1865]

When on the old GER the B17 Sandringham was usually used.

Did the LNER use the white roof like BR?

[mr B]

wrong period but its a modern 'vintage' shot of 47 541 'The Queen Mother' at speed through Thirsk late 1980's.

mr B

[2512silverfox]

Palaces of Wheels pub HMSO Jenkinson and Townend (about 1978) gives much detail and some photographs. There have been several other books on Royal Trains, but not specifically the LNER train.

The train was revarnished and changed from GH?ECJS livery in 1925 and then stayed the same until about 1954. The vehicles carried LNER and the Number but no class designations. The 12 wheelers carried no ownership markings only a Royal Crest on the lower miid side and a very discreet '365' on the underframe. The actual teak was lined out in gold and later primrose and each of the two vehilces carried a gilt monogram of the royal for which it was intended on the double doors. This changed with time and reign.

The most common photos of the 20's show GN1442 and GE Claud 8783, but Pacifics were used for overnight trips to Ballater.

[third-rail]

dont know whether this picture is any good

http://www.northumbrian-railways.co.uk/ ... h-gosforth

[2512silverfox]

No - that is part of the LMS Royal Train.

[2512silverfox]

Not a fantastic photo but this is in GN days with 1442 in charge.

[boeing757]

Following on from this discussion, I have an old Highfield kit of a GER Royal Saloon which is quoted as used in 1902 by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. I have not made a start on it as I have no information on it's use or how long it lasted. Would it have formed part of a complete train or just been attached to a regular train?

[Pyewipe Junction]

There is a photo of the the 1908 Gresley GNR royal saloon on page 10 of the 1976 NRM publication 'Gresley and Stanier - A Centenary Tribute'.

[James Brodie]

Sirs I have the full eight car set in teak in 0 gauge I think the photos are somewhere in the modelling section. I could re photo and send as an e mail if it would help. When I worked the royal train in 1958 or 9 The queen came to newtown peterlee and stopped at Horden we had ex lms coaches on
Jim brodie

[65447]

There is also some information in David Jenkinson's (combined) The History of British Railway Carriages 1900 - 1953, Pendragon 1996:

pp.220-2 text and photographs of posed side view of 12-wheeler Royal Saloon No. 396, interior shot of Royal Saloon No. 395 (at NRM), interior shot of one of the pair of GNR-built First Class Saloons Nos. 3099/30100 used almost exclusively in the Royal Train;

pp.515-7 text and photographs of the train in teak shortly before painting at Biggleswade, hauled by 61671 'Royal Sovereign'; posed side view of the 12-wheeler Royal Saloon No. 395, same interior shot as above plus basic outline drawings of the same.

The first edition of Michael Harris' Gresley's Coaches, D&C 1973, pp.48-52 gives details of all the vehicles and the formation of the train from 1908 to 1962, with photographs of Nos 395, 396 and the special brake van No. 82.

[Mickey]

I remember back in the early 1970s whenever the 'Royal' was running (loco headcode 1X01) always preceding it down the main line by about 10-15 minutes before it was due was a 'light engine' something they may have stopped doing because on the very few occasions since the 1990s that i have had the royal train travelling over the North London line i can't recall there ever being a light engine preceding it's running?.
Also i remember reading years and years ago that the monarch never used Liverpool street station if they could help it due to the 'formalities' of a monarch entering the 'city of London' so the royal train would usually be routed into Kings Cross station rather then Liverpool street.