THE ROYAL TRAIN.

Shannon News, 1 March 1927, Page 4

THE ROYAL TRAIN.

$ : LUXURIOUS APPOINTMENTS. ;§■• The Eoyal train, which has been y specially prepared for the use of Their j Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duch- |/" ess of York during the North Island V : . tour, passed through Levin on Saturday f afternoon on the way to Auckland. V The train carried a number of men picked from the New Zealand police --> force, who will act as a bodyguard to v the "distinguished visitors. y % The train may well be described as fl- a "palace on wheels," for it is the last f~ word in railway comfort so far as the }( Dominion is concerned. The designing t<r. and construction have been done under ¥ the direction and supervision of Mr. G. v. S. Lynde, chief mechanical engineer. 7 The engine and tender command at* r tention, for on its front it carries the ;\. arms of the Duke audi 'Duchess of Xork, and at each corner flies a Union V Jack on an iron standard. The train comprises ten cars and a ' brake van. The Royal saloon has a \ steel-sheeted body, and is the first of ;" its kind in New Zealand. The engine -/' is painted black, lined out in red, but -; the cars are in Midland red, the crest i. of the Duke being on the Eoyal cars " and the New Zealand railway crest and ">•' ribbon on the others. The usual length ox New Zealand ears is 50 feet, but the Royal saloon is 56 feet long. It contains a lounge 18 feet long by 7 feet "-- 10 inches, and is furnished with lounge chairs and chesterfield. Next to the lounge is a toilet room / with hot and cold showers. On the ■ : . other side are the two bedrooms for ;. the Earl and Countess of Cavan, Lord : -, and lady-in-waiting on Their Royal < Highnesses. X QUARTERS OP DUKE AND :; r ; DUCHESS. " The Royal bedroom ,is so well lesign- -\ ed and equipped that it hardly ap- £ pears possible that it can be part of a railway carriage. Side by side are twin beds of oxidised silver, and the furnishing comprises two wardrobes and two dressing tables of mahoganystained rimu. Adjoining is the Royal bathroom with hot and. cold showers. The dining car is 50 feet in length, and the Royal dining room is a spacious one, 25£ feet long. Behind the dining 1 ' room is the store room, and a corridor £', giving access to other parts of the -. train. Special china, glassware and ; cutlery have been provided for the din/r ing car. £ , Next is the kitchen car, very elabor- * ately equipped. The gas cooking stove v is supplied from the compressed supply i, the gasometer below the body of the ," car. RAILWAY PRECAUTIONS. The authorities are taking the neces- {.' sary precautions to ensure the saftey of f"„ the Royal party whilst travelling in -,'• New Zealand, these preparations being r " similar to those enforced the world f ; . over when Royalty is travelling. %j'- ■ No pedestrians or vehicular or animal s'_ traffic will be allowed to go over the \j road at a railway crossing from five minutes before the arrival of the pilot s%' train until five minutes after the Royal I?'- Train has gone by. Ten minutes will ft"- then be allowed for traffic to pass, 'fj: when it will be held up again for the •r- emergency train to pass. This will £- apply- to all crossings throughout the jL Dominion. f < '/ J " The public will not be allowed to 1%. crowd on to station platforms to see %.' the Royal Traia pass through. The %*X chairman, x>£ the Railways Board will £ ; V, travel pa the>train in both islands, and Ft from Mb compartment will be able to

give any directions required to any part of the train by telephone. FIXED SPEED LIMIT. All trains, passenger and goods, which may cross the Royal train arc to be specially examined for any projections. Trains going in the opposite direction are to be side-tracked at the station preceding the arrival of the pilot trainband will not move until the emergency train has passed. In fact, there will on no occasion bo any train moving in the vicinity of the Royal train. The speed of the Royal train is definitely set for various grades and curves. Arrangements have been made in the event of anything happening to the train for a mechanic to see to it at once on the telegraph wires at any point for telephonic purposes, and stationmasters and other responsible officers are warned to be prepared for anysuch action. Stationmasters or officers in charge at tablet stations mast personally examine all main line points 15 minutes before the pilot train is due and satisfy themselves that they arc in go.od order, securely locked, and spiked. No explosives can be carried on trains which cross or pass the Royal train.