British Royal Train
Encyclopedia
The Royal Train is a set of railway carriages dedicated for the use of the British Monarch, other members of the Royal Family, and their staff. The train enables members of the Royal Family to carry out busy schedules over an extended period, in a secure environment which minimises disruption and inconvenience to the public, whilst providing accommodation, communication, staff and office facilities.
was the first British monarch to travel by train, on 13 June 1842 on the Great Western Railway
(GWR), which ran the line between London
and Windsor
(for the Castle
). After her funeral, Queen Victoria's coffin was taken to London Paddington station and transported on the Royal Train.
After the formation of British Railways in 1948, the individual regions continued to maintain the constituent railway companies' Royal Train carriages. A single "Royal Train" was formed in 1977 as a response to the demands of the Silver Jubilee. The Royal Family have also travelled on ordinary service trains more frequently in recent years to minimise costs.
The train currently consists of nine carriages, seven of these being of the British Rail Mark 3
design, including two that were built for the prototype HST
train. Not all of these will be used to form a train, as different vehicles have specified purposes. Two locomotives are designated for use on the train and painted in the claret livery of the royal household, but are used for other traffic when not hauling the royal train. The carriages may be used for other Heads of State, but they cannot be hired by private users. When not in use, the train is stored in Wolverton
, where it is maintained by an Alstom
subsidiary.
Train drivers are specially selected based on their skills, including the ability to make a station stop within six inches of the designated position.
Although railways often had nominated locomotives for hauling the Royal Train (with special high maintenance regimes), no locomotives were dedicated solely to the train until the 1980s, when two Class 47
locomotives were painted in the claret livery of the Royal Household. During the 1990s these were dedicated solely to Royal Train duty until they were replaced in 2003 by two Class 67
locomotives, both operated by EWS
(now DB Schenker Rail (UK)
. The new locomotives are often used for special charter train services and on other occasional passenger services when not required. Occasionally the Royal Train is hauled by other engines.
Locomotives nominated for working the Royal Train have included:
(an LMS
Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2), 6024 King Edward I
(a GWR
'King' Class 4-6-0), and 60163 Tornado (a new LNER-design Peppercorn A1 4-6-2).
On 11 June 2002, the restored 6233 Duchess of Sutherland was the first steam locomotive to haul the Royal Train for 35 years, transporting Queen Elizabeth II
on a tour to North Wales, from Holyhead
to Llandudno Junction
, as part of her Golden Jubilee
. The trip also marked the 160th anniversary of the first Royal train in 1842.
On 22 March 2005 Duchess of Sutherland again hauled the Royal Train, the second time for a steam locomotive in 40 years, transporting the Prince of Wales
from Settle
to Carlisle
over the Settle-Carlisle Railway
. The trip marked the 25th anniversary of the formation of the "Friends of the Settle and Carlisle" pressure group. On the trip, the Prince spent a 15-minute spell behind the controls of the locomotive.
On 10 June 2008, 6024 King Edward I hauled the Royal Train, with Prince Charles
and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on board, from Kidderminster Town
to Bridgnorth
, on a visit to the Severn Valley Railway
. Once again Prince Charles took the controls of the locomotive for a period.
On 19 February 2009 the Royal Train was hauled by the first standard-gauge steam locomotive to be built in Britain in over 50 years, 60163 Tornado
, an LNER
-design Peppercorn Class A1
4-6-2
, with Prince Charles
and the Duchess of Cornwall on board, Prince Charles travelling in the cab.
On 4 February 2010, Tornado again hauled the Royal Train, taking the Prince of Wales
and the Duchess of Cornwall to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
.
's Silver Jubilee celebrations. A number of new carriages were added to the train, and old ones either refurbished or withdrawn. Since this time all Royal Train vehicles have been painted Royal Claret and numbered in a dedicated series commencing at 2900.
The new 1977 vehicles were converted Mark 3
carriages originally built for the prototype High Speed Train
(HST) in the early 1970s. The new formation has a higher maximum speed, depending on the locomotive, an important factor if slots are to be found for the train on crowded main lines.
The table below lists all the vehicles used in the fleet since 1977 in numerical order.
Although this type of travel is expensive compared to scheduled services, the train enables members of the Royal Family to carry out busy schedules over an extended period, in a secure environment that minimises disruption and inconvenience to the public and provides accommodation and office facilities. On at least one occasion, the Prince of Wales has conducted a dinner meeting on board the train. Some Members of Parliament have argued that the Royal Train, like the Royal Yacht, is an expensive under-used relic. However, the train is recognized as being a very secure way for the octogenarian queen to complete overnight trips. The cost of the Royal Train when it was introduced in 1977 for The Queen's Silver Jubilee
was £1.9 million (£ as of ), and has since been considerably reduced. Edward Leigh
, the Conservative chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, said the Royal Train was twice as expensive as using air travel but hardly luxurious. He said, "It's a rather Formica-laminated affair. I don't think it's that grand or that comfortable." It appears that much of the public that has a sentimental view of the train and would like to see it used for the Diamond Jubilee
in June 2012 after its use for the Silver Jubilee
and the Golden Jubilee
.
In the financial year 2011 the Royal Train was used for 14 trips, averaging 931 miles. Ten trips were by the Prince of Wales, and four by the Queen and Prince Philip. Nineteen nights were spent on the train during the course of the 14 trips. In order to control costs, Parliament permits the Royal Train to be used only by the Queen with Prince Philip, or Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
History
Queen VictoriaVictoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
was the first British monarch to travel by train, on 13 June 1842 on the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
(GWR), which ran the line between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
(for the Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
). After her funeral, Queen Victoria's coffin was taken to London Paddington station and transported on the Royal Train.
After the formation of British Railways in 1948, the individual regions continued to maintain the constituent railway companies' Royal Train carriages. A single "Royal Train" was formed in 1977 as a response to the demands of the Silver Jubilee. The Royal Family have also travelled on ordinary service trains more frequently in recent years to minimise costs.
The train currently consists of nine carriages, seven of these being of the British Rail Mark 3
British Rail Mark 3
British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...
design, including two that were built for the prototype HST
InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
train. Not all of these will be used to form a train, as different vehicles have specified purposes. Two locomotives are designated for use on the train and painted in the claret livery of the royal household, but are used for other traffic when not hauling the royal train. The carriages may be used for other Heads of State, but they cannot be hired by private users. When not in use, the train is stored in Wolverton
Wolverton
Wolverton is part of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England.Wolverton may also refer to:Places in England:*Wolverton, Dorset*Wolverton, Kent*Wolverton, Hampshire*Wolverton, Shropshire*Wolverton, WarwickshirePlaces in the United States:...
, where it is maintained by an Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
subsidiary.
Train drivers are specially selected based on their skills, including the ability to make a station stop within six inches of the designated position.
Locomotives nominated for the Royal Train
British Rail Class 47
The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
locomotives were painted in the claret livery of the Royal Household. During the 1990s these were dedicated solely to Royal Train duty until they were replaced in 2003 by two Class 67
British Rail Class 67
The Class 67 locomotives are a class of Bo'Bo' diesel electric mainline locomotives which were built for the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway between 1999 to 2000 by Alstom at Meinfesa in Valencia, Spain with drive components from General Motors Diesel.Rail enthusiasts have nicknamed the class...
locomotives, both operated by EWS
EWS
DB Schenker Rail , before 2009 known as English, Welsh and Scottish Railway is a British rail freight company. EWS was established by a consortium led by Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation in 1996 by acquisition of five of the six freight companies created by the privatisation of British...
(now DB Schenker Rail (UK)
DB Schenker Rail (UK)
DB Schenker Rail , before 2009 known as English, Welsh and Scottish Railway is a British rail freight company. EWS was established by a consortium led by Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation in 1996 by acquisition of five of the six freight companies created by the privatisation of British...
. The new locomotives are often used for special charter train services and on other occasional passenger services when not required. Occasionally the Royal Train is hauled by other engines.
Locomotives nominated for working the Royal Train have included:
- 1990-2004: Class 47British Rail Class 47The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
47834 Fire Fly and 47835 Windsor Castle (in InterCityInterCity (British Rail)InterCity was introduced by British Rail in 1966 as a brand-name for its long-haul express passenger services ....
livery) and later refurbished, renumbered and renamed 47798 Prince William and 47799 Prince Henry (in Royal claret). Both are now withdrawn and the former is preserved at the National Railway MuseumNational Railway MuseumThe National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001...
, YorkYorkYork is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. - Since 2004: Class 67British Rail Class 67The Class 67 locomotives are a class of Bo'Bo' diesel electric mainline locomotives which were built for the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway between 1999 to 2000 by Alstom at Meinfesa in Valencia, Spain with drive components from General Motors Diesel.Rail enthusiasts have nicknamed the class...
67005 Queen's Messenger and 67006 Royal Sovereign (in Royal claret).
Steam locomotives
In the pre-preservation era, the Royal Train had frequently been hauled by steam, one instance being Southern Railway Merchant Navy class 35027 'Port Line', which hauled the Royal Train to Windsor and Eton from Hamworthy. Examples of royal trains hauled by preserved steam are as follows. 6233 Duchess of SutherlandLMS Princess Coronation Class 6233 Duchess of Sutherland
London Midland and Scottish Railway Princess Coronation Class 6233 Duchess of Sutherland is a preserved steam locomotive.- Service :6233 was outshopped in July 1938 from Crewe Works and was part of the third batch of her class...
(an LMS
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
Princess Coronation Class 4-6-2), 6024 King Edward I
GWR 6000 Class 6024 King Edward I
Great Western Railway 6000 Class 6024 King Edward I is a preserved steam locomotive.The locomotive was built at GWR's Swindon Works in June 1930. For most of its working life it was allocated to Plymouth Laira MPD. Transferred to Old Oak Common MPD, London, in March 1959, and finally to Cardiff...
(a GWR
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
'King' Class 4-6-0), and 60163 Tornado (a new LNER-design Peppercorn A1 4-6-2).
On 11 June 2002, the restored 6233 Duchess of Sutherland was the first steam locomotive to haul the Royal Train for 35 years, transporting Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
on a tour to North Wales, from Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
to Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction , once known as Tremarl, is a small town in the county borough of Conwy, Wales. It is part of the ancient parish of Llangystennin, and it is located south of Llandudno. It adjoins Deganwy and is to the east of the walled town of Conwy, which is on the opposite side of the River...
, as part of her Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
. The trip also marked the 160th anniversary of the first Royal train in 1842.
On 22 March 2005 Duchess of Sutherland again hauled the Royal Train, the second time for a steam locomotive in 40 years, transporting the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
from Settle
Settle
Settle is a small market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is served by the Settle railway station, which is located near the town centre, and Giggleswick railway station which is a mile away. It is from Leeds Bradford Airport...
to Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
over the Settle-Carlisle Railway
Settle-Carlisle Railway
The Settle–Carlisle Line is a long main railway line in northern England. It is also known as the Settle and Carlisle. It is a part of the National Rail network and was constructed in the 1870s...
. The trip marked the 25th anniversary of the formation of the "Friends of the Settle and Carlisle" pressure group. On the trip, the Prince spent a 15-minute spell behind the controls of the locomotive.
On 10 June 2008, 6024 King Edward I hauled the Royal Train, with Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on board, from Kidderminster Town
Kidderminster Town railway station
Kidderminster Town is a railway station situated in the town of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England. It is operated by the Severn Valley Railway, a heritage line which runs from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth...
to Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth railway station
Bridgnorth railway station is a station on the Severn Valley Railway heritage line, serving the Shropshire town of Bridgnorth, England. It is currently the northern terminus of the SVR, home to the main engine shed and a large gift shop amongst other facilities.-History:Bridgnorth station was not...
, on a visit to the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
. Once again Prince Charles took the controls of the locomotive for a period.
On 19 February 2009 the Royal Train was hauled by the first standard-gauge steam locomotive to be built in Britain in over 50 years, 60163 Tornado
LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado
60163 Tornado is a main-line steam locomotive built in Darlington, England. Completed in 2008, Tornado was the first such locomotive built in the United Kingdom since Evening Star, the last steam locomotive built by British Railways, in 1960...
, an LNER
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
-design Peppercorn Class A1
LNER Peppercorn Class A1
The London and North Eastern Railway Peppercorn Class A1 is a type of express passenger steam locomotive. Forty-nine original Peppercorn Class A1s were built to the design of Arthur Peppercorn during the early British Railways era, but all were scrapped with the discontinuation of steam,...
4-6-2
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
, with Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and the Duchess of Cornwall on board, Prince Charles travelling in the cab.
On 4 February 2010, Tornado again hauled the Royal Train, taking the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and the Duchess of Cornwall to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, England, is a large museum devoted to the development of science, technology, and industry with emphasis on the city's achievements in these fields...
.
Historic carriages
The table below lists Royal Train carriages in chronological order to 1977. Where a separate date is shown for building, the vehicle was converted rather than built new.| Key: | In service | Withdrawn | Preserved | Returned to normal traffic | Departmental use | Scrapped |
|---|
| Number(s) | Introduced | Original owner | Withdrawn | Notes on use | Current location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1842 | London and Birmingham Railway London and Birmingham Railway The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway .... |
1850 | Queen Adelaide's saloon | National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| - (LMS London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four... 802) |
1869 | London and North Western Railway London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway... |
1902 | Queen Victoria Victoria of the United Kingdom Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India.... 's saloon. Originally two vehicles until combined on one underframe in 1895. |
National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| 229 / 9001 | 1874 | Great Western Railway Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838... |
1912 | Queen Victoria Victoria of the United Kingdom Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India.... 's saloon |
Small section at National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| 10 | 1877 | London and South Western Railway London and South Western Railway The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in... |
1925 | Prince of Wales' Saloon | Stoborough |
| 8 | 1881 (Built 1877) | Great Eastern Railway Great Eastern Railway The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia... |
1897 (To passenger stock) | Prince of Wales' Saloon | Embsay |
| 17 | 1887 (Built 1885) | London and South Western Railway London and South Western Railway The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in... |
1913 (To passenger stock) | Saloon | Unknown |
| 153 | 1897 | Belfast and County Down Railway Belfast and County Down Railway The Belfast and County Down Railway was an Irish gauge railway in Ireland linking Belfast with County Down. It was built in the 19th century and absorbed into the Ulster Transport Authority in 1948... |
? | Saloon | Downpatrick |
| 233 / 9002 | 1897 | Great Western Railway Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838... |
1930 | Diamond Jubilee train saloon | Swindon |
| 234 / 9003 | 1897 | Great Western Railway Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838... |
1930 | Diamond Jubilee train saloon | Barry |
| 5 | 1898 | Great Eastern Railway Great Eastern Railway The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia... |
1925 (To departmental stock) | Princess of Wales' Saloon | Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway |
| 1 | 1901 (Built 1898) | Great North of Scotland Railway Great North of Scotland Railway The Great North of Scotland Railway was one of the smaller Scottish railways before the grouping, operating in the far north-east of the country. It was formed in 1845 and received its Parliamentary approval on June 26, 1846, following over two years of local meetings... |
1910 (To passenger stock) | Saloon | Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway |
| - (LMS London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four... 800) |
1902 | London and North Western Railway London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway... |
1947 | King Edward VII Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910... 's saloon |
National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| - (LMS London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four... 801) |
1902 | London and North Western Railway London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway... |
1947 | Queen Alexandra's saloon | National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| 72 / 5072 / 10504 / 804 | 1903 | London and North Western Railway London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway... |
1948 | Semi-Royal saloon, used by Winston Churchill during World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... |
Scrapped 1998 |
| 74 / 5074 / 10506 / 806 | 1903 | London and North Western Railway London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway... |
1971 | Semi-Royal saloon | Bluebell Railway |
| 82 / 109 | 1908 | East Coast Joint Stock | 1977 | Royal Train brake van | National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| 395 | 1908 | East Coast Joint Stock | 1977 | King Edward VII Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910... 's saloon |
National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| 396 | 1908 | East Coast Joint Stock | 1977 | Queen Alexandra's saloon | National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| 1910 / 809 | 1912 | Midland Railway Midland Railway The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.... |
1951 (To passenger stock) | King George V George V of the United Kingdom George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936.... 's saloon. In passenger stock 1923-33, numbered 2795 |
Midland Railway - Butterley Midland Railway - Butterley The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:... |
| 10070 / 5154 | 1924 (Built 1905) | London, Midland and Scottish Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four... |
1977 | Staff car with generators in brake van | National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , Shildon Shildon Shildon is a town in County Durham, in England. It is situated 2 miles to the south east of Bishop Auckland and 11 miles north of Darlington. It is 13 miles away from Durham, 23 miles from Sunderland and 23 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne... |
| 10071 / 5155 | 1924 (Built 1905) | London, Midland and Scottish Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four... |
1977 | Staff couchette Couchette car The couchette car is a railroad car conveying basic non-private sleeping accommodation.The car is divided into a number of compartments accessed from the side corridor of the car, which in daytime are configured with a bench seat along each long side of the compartment... |
National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , Shildon Shildon Shildon is a town in County Durham, in England. It is situated 2 miles to the south east of Bishop Auckland and 11 miles north of Darlington. It is 13 miles away from Durham, 23 miles from Sunderland and 23 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne... |
| 798 | 1941 | London, Midland and Scottish Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four... |
1977 | King George VI George VI of the United Kingdom George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death... 's armoured saloon |
Museum of Transport, Glasgow |
| 799 | 1941 | London, Midland and Scottish Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four... |
1977 | Queen Elizabeth's (later the Queen Mother) armoured saloon | National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| 31209 / 2910 | 1941 | London, Midland and Scottish Railway London, Midland and Scottish Railway The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four... |
1989 | Staff sleeper with generator, retained for post-1977 train | Scrapped 1991 |
| 9006 | 1945 | Great Western Railway Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838... |
1984 | Queen Elizabeth's (later the Queen Mother) Saloon | Midland Railway - Butterley Midland Railway - Butterley The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:... |
| 9007 | 1945 | Great Western Railway Great Western Railway The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838... |
1984 | Queen Elizabeth's (later the Queen Mother) Saloon | National Railway Museum National Railway Museum The National Railway Museum is a museum in York forming part of the British National Museum of Science and Industry and telling the story of rail transport in Britain and its impact on society. It has won many awards, including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2001... , York York York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence... |
| 45000 / 2911 | 1948 (Built 1920) | British Rail British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... ways |
1990 | Saloon, retained for post-1977 train | Midland Railway - Butterley Midland Railway - Butterley The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:... |
| 45005 | 1948 (Built 1942) | British Rail British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... ways |
1977 | Saloon | Fawley Hill |
| 45006 / 2912 | 1948 (Built 1942) | British Rail British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... ways |
1989 | Saloon, retained for post-1977 train | Scrapped 1991 |
| 2900 | 1955 | British Rail British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... ways |
1994 | Royal Family lounge, bedrooms and bathroom, retained for post-1977 train | Preserved, Fawley Hill Railway |
| 499 / 2902 | 1956 | British Rail British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... ways |
1994 | Royal Family dining car with kitchen, retained for post-1977 train | Preserved, Midland Railway - Butterley Midland Railway - Butterley The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:... |
| 2901 | 1957 | British Rail British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... ways |
1994 | Royal Household office, bedrooms and bathrooms, retained for post-1977 train | Preserved, Bressingham Steam Museum |
| 2013 / 2908 | ? (Built 1958) | British Rail British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... ways |
1984 | Staff sleeper, retained for post-1977 train | Preserved, Southall Railway Museum |
| 325 / 2907 | ? (Built 1961) | British Rail British Rail British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages... ways |
1993 (To passenger stock) | Staff dining car with kitchen, retained for post-1977 train | In passenger stock as number 325 |
Fleet from 1977
In 1977, the Royal Train was considerably changed in order to update it for use during Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
's Silver Jubilee celebrations. A number of new carriages were added to the train, and old ones either refurbished or withdrawn. Since this time all Royal Train vehicles have been painted Royal Claret and numbered in a dedicated series commencing at 2900.
The new 1977 vehicles were converted Mark 3
British Rail Mark 3
British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...
carriages originally built for the prototype High Speed Train
InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
(HST) in the early 1970s. The new formation has a higher maximum speed, depending on the locomotive, an important factor if slots are to be found for the train on crowded main lines.
The table below lists all the vehicles used in the fleet since 1977 in numerical order.
| Key: | In service | Withdrawn | Preserved | Returned to normal traffic | Departmental use | Scrapped |
|---|
| Number | Previous numbers | Converted | Intended use | Current location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2900 | - | New (1955) | Royal Family lounge, bedrooms and bathroom | Preserved, Fawley Hill Railway |
| 2901 | - | New (1957) | Royal Household office, bedrooms and bathrooms | Preserved, Bressingham Steam Museum |
| 2902 | 499 | New (1956) | Royal Family dining car with kitchen; renumbered 1977 | Preserved, Midland Railway - Butterley Midland Railway - Butterley The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:... |
| 2903 | 11001 British Rail Class 252 Class 252 was the classification allocated to the prototype High Speed Train unit, numbered 252001.-History:When originally built, in 1972, the prototype High Speed Train units were considered to be formed of two locomotives at either end of a rake of carriages... |
1977 | HM The Queen's lounge, bedroom and bathroom | In service |
| 2904 | 12001 British Rail Class 252 Class 252 was the classification allocated to the prototype High Speed Train unit, numbered 252001.-History:When originally built, in 1972, the prototype High Speed Train units were considered to be formed of two locomotives at either end of a rake of carriages... |
1977 | HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's lounge, bedroom and bathroom | In service |
| 2905 | 14105 | 1977 | Royal Household couchette Couchette car The couchette car is a railroad car conveying basic non-private sleeping accommodation.The car is divided into a number of compartments accessed from the side corridor of the car, which in daytime are configured with a bench seat along each long side of the compartment... , diesel generator & brake van |
Returned to ordinary passenger stock, 17105 |
| 2906 | 14112 | 1977 | Royal Household couchette | To departmental service, 977969 |
| 2907 | 325 | 1977 | Royal Household dining car with kitchen | Returned to ordinary passenger stock, 325 |
| 2908 | 2013 | 1977 | Royal Household sleeper | Preserved, Southall Railway Museum |
| 2909 | 2500 | 1981 | Royal Household sleeper | Withdrawn, West Coast Railway Company West Coast Railway Company West Coast Railways, also known as West Coast Railway Company, is a railway spot-hire company and charter train operator, based at Carnforth in Lancashire, on the site of the old Steamtown heritage depot... , Carnforth Carnforth - References :... |
| 2910 | M31209M | New (1941) | Royal Household sleeper, generator & brake van; renumbered 1983 | Scrapped (1991) |
| 2911 | LNWR London and North Western Railway The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway... 5000, M45000M |
New (1920) | Special saloon; renumbered 1983 | Preserved, Midland Railway - Butterley Midland Railway - Butterley The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:... |
| 2912 | M45006M | New (1942) | Special saloon; renumbered 1983 | Scrapped (1991) |
| 2914 | 10734 | 1985 | Royal Household sleeping car | Returned to ordinary passenger stock, 10734 |
| 2915 | 10735 | 1985 | Royal Household sleeping car | In service |
| 2916 | 40512 | 1986 | Royal Family dining car with kitchen | In service |
| 2917 | 40514 | 1986 | Royal Household dining car with kitchen | In service |
| 2918 | 40515 | 1986 | Royal Household car | Stored |
| 2919 | 40518 | 1986 | Royal Household car | Stored |
| 2920 | 14109, 17109 | 1986 | Royal Household couchette, diesel generator & brake van | In service |
| 2921 | 14107, 17107 | 1986 | Royal Household couchette, kitchen & brake van | In service |
| 2922 | - | New (1987) | HRH The Prince of Wales's sleeping car | In service |
| 2923 | - | New (1987) | HRH The Prince of Wales's saloon | In service |
Royal Train use
| year | end | trips | miles/trip | Cost/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 31-Mar-11 | 14 | 931 | £900,000 |
| 2010 | 31-Mar-10 | 19 | 751 | £1,000,000 |
| 2009 | 31-Mar-09 | 14 | 696 | £800,000 |
| 2008 | 31-Mar-08 | 19 | 755 | £900,000 |
| 2007 | 31-Mar-07 | 11 | 655 | £700,000 |
| 2006 | 31-Mar-06 | 14 | 700 | £600,000 |
| 2005 | 31-Mar-05 | 19 | 691 | £700,000 |
| 2004 | 31-Mar-04 | 18 | 736 | £800,000 |
Although this type of travel is expensive compared to scheduled services, the train enables members of the Royal Family to carry out busy schedules over an extended period, in a secure environment that minimises disruption and inconvenience to the public and provides accommodation and office facilities. On at least one occasion, the Prince of Wales has conducted a dinner meeting on board the train. Some Members of Parliament have argued that the Royal Train, like the Royal Yacht, is an expensive under-used relic. However, the train is recognized as being a very secure way for the octogenarian queen to complete overnight trips. The cost of the Royal Train when it was introduced in 1977 for The Queen's Silver Jubilee
Silver Jubilee
A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. The anniversary celebrations can be of a wedding anniversary, ruling anniversary or anything that has completed a 25 year mark...
was £1.9 million (£ as of ), and has since been considerably reduced. Edward Leigh
Edward Leigh
Edward Julian Egerton Leigh is a British Conservative politician. He has sat in the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Gainsborough in Lincolnshire since 1997, and for its predecessor constituency of Gainsborough and Horncastle between 1983 and 1997...
, the Conservative chairman of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, said the Royal Train was twice as expensive as using air travel but hardly luxurious. He said, "It's a rather Formica-laminated affair. I don't think it's that grand or that comfortable." It appears that much of the public that has a sentimental view of the train and would like to see it used for the Diamond Jubilee
Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is the forthcoming international celebration in 2012 marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952...
in June 2012 after its use for the Silver Jubilee
Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II marked the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other Commonwealth realms...
and the Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
.
In the financial year 2011 the Royal Train was used for 14 trips, averaging 931 miles. Ten trips were by the Prince of Wales, and four by the Queen and Prince Philip. Nineteen nights were spent on the train during the course of the 14 trips. In order to control costs, Parliament permits the Royal Train to be used only by the Queen with Prince Philip, or Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
See also
- Royal trainRoyal TrainA royal train is a set of carriages dedicated for the use of the monarch or other members of that particular royal family. Most monarchies with a railway system employ a set of royal carriages.-Australia:...
- Air transport of the Royal Family and government of the United Kingdom
- Royal yachtRoyal YachtA royal yacht is a ship used by a monarch or a royal family. If the monarch is an emperor the proper term is imperial yacht. Most of them are financed by the government of the country of which the monarch is head...
- Official state carOfficial state carAn official state car is a car used by a government to transport its head of state in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. On a state visit, the official state car might be transported...
External links
- About the British Royal Train from HM Website
- Inside the Queen's travelling bedroom mobile home (extensive photos)
- Royal Express is more Pizza than Orient , a description of the fixtures and fittings from The ScotsmanThe ScotsmanThe Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
, 2002 - Details of Royal Train diesel workings from 1968 to 1984