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[Mr Skrunts]

So it's been on the news today that King Charles will be scrapping the Royal Train with in a couple of years.

£80k for the 2 trips made the last financial year and £400K in storage costs P.A. so yes I agree it certainly makes sense.

Google - The royal train will be taken around the UK before it is removed from service, after which it could be put on public display

But why not consider turning it into a new service equivalent to maybe the orient express.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

There has been a royal train dating back to queen Vicky.

[Lizzie Zoom]

There has been a royal train dating back to queen Vicky.

Indeed, since the 13th June 1842 when Queen Victoria first travelled by train from Slough Railway Station to Paddington Terminus on the Great Western Railway.  As a railway historian, I have been fascinated by this story, as we know the Queen was suspicious, if not frightened, of this new mode of travel, but the lovely, very up to date, Prince Albert persuaded her to try it.  Once she had, she never stopped!

Anyone interested may be interested in reading this good resume:

https://the-history-girls.blogspot.com/2017/06/queen-victorias-first-railway-journey.html

and................

https://queenvictoriaroses.co.uk/2023/06/13/queen-victorias-first-train-ride-13th-june-1842/

 

[Doctor Gollum]

Prince Albert is known for being, er, open minded

[YZ250]

Prince Albert is known for being, er, open minded

I’m rubbish at history, I’d always thought that a Prince Albert was a genital piercing. Every days a school day.    

[Doctor Gollum]

Prince Albert is known for being, er, open minded

I’m rubbish at history, I’d always thought that a Prince Albert was a genital piercing. Every days a school day.    

I was being witty... Prince Albert was husband to Queen Victoria before he became a fetish.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Prince Albert is known for being, er, open minded

I’m rubbish at history, I’d always thought that a Prince Albert was a genital piercing. Every days a school day.    

Rumour has it Albert the German sausage man was hung like a horse......which is why Victoria said "we are not amused" whenever he came near her.

[ronnyd]

She must have been quite amused, with all the sprogs they churned out. 

[Doctor Gollum]

She must have been quite amused, with all the sprogs they churned out. 

They were all Mr Browns'...

[TheBoy]

Even Charlie realises that trains are stupid Victorian technology, and should be resigned to history...

[Nick W]

Even Charlie realises that trains are stupid Victorian technology, and should be resigned to history...

Trains are still highly efficient ways of quickly moving lots of people in/out/between cities. They're nearly as good for moving heavy, bulky loads between fixed points - like fuel for power stations.


They're now utterly hopeless for the needs that private carriages used to serve well. The costs and use mentioned here make a good case for owning a luxury minibus, or the use of a first class compartment on a scheduled train.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Even the queen rarely used the royal train as she often travelled on standard services with a full carriage being booked out.

The royal train is of little use for anything other than what it was adapted to as it can accommodate very people.

I suspect one or two coaches may end up at the National Railway Museum (probably the two state coaches) and the rest will be scrapped......unless Jeremy Hoskins (owns LSL and has a hell of a heritage fleet) fancies a loco hauled private train to go with his converted 121 (55022) bubble car gin palace chairman's train

[Marks DTM Calib]

Here is the details of what actually makes up the royal train:

The Royal train coaches

HM The Queen's Saloon 2903 ex 11001 built as prototype HST First Open Rebuilt as 2903 for the Queens Silver jubilee in 1977

HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh's Saloon 2904 ex 12001 built as prototype HST Tourist Second Open Rebuilt as 2904 for the Queens Silver jubilee in 1977

Royal Household Sleeping Car 2915 MK 3A built to similar specification as sleeping cars 10647 -- 10729 in 1985

HRH The Prince Of Wales's Dining Car 2916 ex 40512 converted from HST TRUK in 1988

Royal Kitchen / Household Dining Car 2917 ex 40514 converted from HST TRUK in 1990

Royal Household Cars 2918 ex 40515 converted from HST TRUK in 1989

Royal Household Cars 2919 ex 40518 converted from HST TRUK in 1989

Royal Household Couchettes 2920 ex 14109 ex 17109 converted in 1989

Royal Household Couchettes 2921 ex 14107 ex 17107 converted in 1990

HRH The Prince of Wales's Sleeping Car 2922 built in 1987

Royal Saloon 2923 built 1987

[TheBoy]

Trains are still highly efficient ways of quickly moving lots of people in/out/between cities. They're nearly as good for moving heavy, bulky loads between fixed points - like fuel for power stations.

Which is why trains sort of almost work for the South East, assuming you want to go to London.

They really don't work anywhere else, and outside of London's Tube system, are not financially viable to users or the taxpayer.


The train companies often don't help, as parking at Chiltern stations is now a tenner a day, and Banbury station has closed it's drop off point to private vehicles, so anyone wanting to use the train from there now has to use a taxi if not in walking distance.  Fine for drop off is now £40.  So everyone drives to London now.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

In a perfect world, freight would travel by rail and trucks banished from the roads, other than smaller trucks to do local runs from train stations to delivery depots.
People who cant pass a test to prove they are capable of driving to a reasonably high standard forced to take trains and taxis because they are banned from the roads.
Then, nice clear roads with high standards of driving, and no motorway speed limits for the rest of us.
We can but dream.