Victorian Railways Royal Train.html



State Car 4 as preserved at the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre

The Victorian Railways operated Royal Trains to transport members of the Monarchy of Australia on their Royal visits to Australia. The same carriages were also used for a number of vice-regal trains for the Governor-General of Australia and the Governor of Victoria. The last Royal train was in 1988.

Operation

Royal trains usually operated with special carriage stock set aside for the purpose. Most trains operated with double headed locomotives to reduce the chance of the train being stranded due to locomotive failure, with a third locomotive running in front of the train to ensure the track was clear. A special headboard with the royal coat of arms was usually affixed to the front of the leading locomotive.

Carriages

State Car 5 in storage at the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre

Interior of a sleeping compartment, used on a Royal Train in 1927

In the history of the Victorian Railways there were five special carriages designated for royal train and other special services, designated State Car 1 through to State Car 5.

The carriages were painted in the standard royal blue with gold trim of the Victorian Railways, with the exception of the 1988 Royal Tour. Operated by VR successor V/Line this trip was operated by two freshly cleaned locomotives in the standard orange and grey livery, with the carriages painted in a one off 'executive' livery of grey and white, with orange and green trim.¹

State Car 1 entered service in 1890 as Enterprise. It was renamed in 1900 and was scrapped in August 1956.²

State Car 2 and State Car 3 both entered service in 1901 and were both rebuilt for other uses in 1919.³⁴

State Car 4 was built in 1912 based on the then state of the art wooden E type carriage design. It featured an observation balcony at one end, Governor's and Lady's bedrooms (which could be separated by doors), dining room, kitchen, Gents and Ladies bathrooms (each with bath, shower and toilet), and accommodation for ladies in waiting and other support staff. A total of 9 sleeping berths were provided.⁵ This carriage is in the custody of the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre collection.

State Car 5 was based on the steel air conditioned S type carriage design in 1951. A royal insignia was painted on each side.⁶ The carriage featured a kitchen, lounge / dining area, two main bedrooms with ensuite (featuring bathroom with bath, basin, shower and toilet), two sleeping / sitting compartments for attendants, and a third bathroom. It was repainted into the grey livery in 1988 for the Royal tour of the year, and has since been allocated to the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre collection.⁷

Mitta Mitta was converted from BRS 228 for use as a support carriage for State Car 5 on Vice Regal trains in 1994, but was never used in the role.⁸ It was fitted with sleeping berths, bathroom, kitchen, and a dining and lounge area.

Norman (former Spirit of Progress Parlor Car) was also used on Royal trains.

Trains

Locomotive AA 548 decorated for a Royal Train in 1901

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on the balcony of State Car 4 in 1927.

• June 1867: The first Royal train drawn by engine No50, took Prince Alfred Duke of Edinburgh to Ballarat, and then to Castlemaine and Bendigo.⁹ Recorded times for the 45 miles between Melbourne and Geelong were 52 to 60 minutes. [Leo J. Harrigan. Victorian Railways to '62. Victorian Railways. 1962. p 269]
• May 1901 - The first complete Royal train was assembled from special purpose vehicles for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (later King George V and Queen Mary). The Royal train travelled to Healesville and other parts of Victoria, and finally to Port Melbourne, where they embarked for the sea voyage to Brisbane.¹⁰
• May / June 1920: Prince of Wales (later briefly King Edward VIII) toured the state.⁹
• May 7, 1927: The Duke and Dutchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth), who were visiting Australia to open the new Parliament House in Canberra, travelled from Melbourne to Geelong with A2 976 and ¹¹¹² to Seymour on May 11 with A2 948.¹³
• October 26-27, 1934: Duke of Gloucester, (later Governor General of Australia 1945-1947) Bairnsdale to Melbourne¹⁴ for Melbourne Centenary Celebrations.
• October 31, 1934: Duke of Gloucester to Mildura.¹⁵.
• February / March 1952: Planned tour by then Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, cancelled due to the death of King George VI. Was to be operated by steam locomotive R 704.¹⁶
• March 3-6, 1954: Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh.⁹ B class diesel electric locomotives used.
• 1958: Queen Mother.⁹
• 1959: Princess Alexandra.⁹
• October 18, 1965: Governor-General Lord Casey from home station of Berwick on his first official visit to Melbourne. State Car No 5 hauled by a diesel electric engine.⁹
• October 27, 1975: Princess Margaret to Moe and return, locomotive L 1150.¹⁷
• April 15 1983: Princess Diana and Prince Charles from Spencer Street Station to Ballarat. Locomotives S 315 and S 300 headed the 3 car train, S 311 was the pilot locomotive.¹⁸¹⁹
• April 28, 1988: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh from Spencer Street Station to Geelong and return. The consist of the train was N 471 - N 474 - ACZ 252 (van trailing) - State Car 5 - Norman (round end trailing). A third N class was the pilot locomotive running 10 minutes ahead.²⁰

References

External links

• Photo: 1988 Royal train at Spencer Street Station
• Photo: 1983 Royal train at Ballarat station
• Photo: 1983 Royal train between Bacchus Marsh and Bank Box
• Railpage Australia Forums: 'Those Grey V/Line Carriges'
• Railpage Australia Forums: 'Royal Visit'
• Railpage Australia Forums: 'Commissioners Carriages across Australia'