In the news again today is the fact that the Royal train has 5 to 10 years left at the most before it needs replacing and the cost is simply to prohibitive to allow a replacement.
Whether you approve or not of this vast expense annually, I do hope someone raises their head above the parapet and buys it lest it should be scrapped and lost for ever. Just think of all the regret that has taken place over historical locos and rolling stock that were not preserved.
I imagine that one of the tour operators will buy it and run it as an expensive holiday train for the Chinese and other tourists. Too goods a business opportunity to scrap them.
It doesn't *need* replacing, most of it is good for many many more years. It does need a refurbishment and minor things adding like water retention toilets.
Her maj can just have a priority seat or stand like everyone else.
Alan
If it's a question of preservation I'd far rather see some steps taken to preserve the trains that ordinary people travel in, which are woefully under-represented compared to locos. The number of Royal train coaches in the NRM is similar to or even more than the number of other coaches.
I would have thought HM would be old enough for a free bus pass by now?
Why not give HM and HRH senior railpasses then they can travel with their adoring subjects stuffing crisps and lager down their faces and dribbling inanely into their mobile phones. :D
Her Majesty often travels to Sandringham on a FCC Class 365 to Kings Lynn.
I'd hate to see the end of the Royal Train - it was bad enough what our grubby little politicians did to Britannia. Why not totally rebuild the coaches from the ground up and use it was a travelling showcase of British industry? Even better, make the rebuilt coaches meet the safety specs for the Channel Tunnel...
I note your post Adam, however regarding the Britannia it had come to the end of its life and was almost obsolete
when it was first built, at least it's now preserved as a tourist attraction. As to rebuilding the Royal train as a showcase of British industry that sounds a bit unrealistic when much of the rolling stock in Britain is foreign made.
Quote from: captainelectra on October 16, 2013, 06:59:44 PM
Her Majesty often travels to Sandringham on a FCC Class 365 to Kings Lynn.
I'd hate to see the end of the Royal Train - it was bad enough what our grubby little politicians did to Britannia. Why not totally rebuild the coaches from the ground up and use it was a travelling showcase of British industry? Even better, make the rebuilt coaches meet the safety specs for the Channel Tunnel...
Surplus of Royal Train overlays Adam? :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing:
Quote from: Agrippa on October 16, 2013, 05:24:31 PM
Why not give HM and HRH senior railpasses then they can travel with their adoring subjects stuffing crisps and lager down their faces and dribbling inanely into their mobile phones. :D
I have a horrible feeling her husband would be right at home :-\
Quote from: captainelectra on October 16, 2013, 06:59:44 PM
Her Majesty often travels to Sandringham on a FCC Class 365 to Kings Lynn.
I'd hate to see the end of the Royal Train - it was bad enough what our grubby little politicians did to Britannia. Why not totally rebuild the coaches from the ground up and use it was a travelling showcase of British industry? Even better, make the rebuilt coaches meet the safety specs for the Channel Tunnel...
They are basically mark 3 stock, so if anyone rebuilt them it would probably be a ToC desperate for coaches. Better they end up in a tourist train still in use, still on the network and available for all to hire instead.
Alan
Don't knock Prince Phillip - the man is a comedy genius! :)
Quote from: EtchedPixels on October 16, 2013, 07:45:21 PM
I have a horrible feeling her husband would be right at home :-\
You may have blown your chance of a knighthood EP!
I don't think the Royal Train will disappear. Too many Chinese, Japanese, Arabic or American businessmen who would love the coup of getting the Royal Train to wine and dine the rich and famous on. (for a small fee of course££££ ::))
Let's face it - the royal train can no longer compete with helicopters, private jets, etc. in terms of journey time. Surely it would make sense for the royal train to be used to promote the heritage rail industry. Tornado, vintage Pullman carriages.
Why not ?
Best regards,
Joe
Quote from: Agrippa on October 16, 2013, 05:24:31 PM
Why not give HM and HRH senior railpasses then they can travel with their adoring subjects stuffing crisps and lager down their faces and dribbling inanely into their mobile phones. :D
If that's how the Royals act maybe the Royal Train should be kept so the general public don't have to see such manners :D
Having had a Father who worked in the Wolverton carriage works I would be sad to see the carriages disappear.
Apart from that, it seems to be the only time that the operators clean their locos decently ;)
If the royals want something newer, they could order a shortened version (4 or 5 coaches) of the dual-mode IEPs, or if that isn't possible, a dual-mode Desiro or an Electrostar, tagging onto existing orders.
The valleys line electrification has been approved, wait a few years and they can have their own pacer.. serve them right...
Quote from: EtchedPixels on October 17, 2013, 07:37:13 PM
The valleys line electrification has been approved, wait a few years and they can have their own pacer.. serve them right...
:laughabovepost: :smiley-laughing:
Loved that one
I want to model the Royal Tran, any suggestions for carriages I could use please?
Farish Mark 3 coaches, vinyls from Electra Railway Graphics.
Little ladies in silly hats, blokes in toppers and photographers and the like from Langley wedding or funeral sets. Other silly outfits can be found in the huntsmen set ;-)
Not sure about corgis
Alan
;D'. Thank you
Don't see how anyone can say its got 5 years left.
If the HST trailers can be rebuilt so can this set. Is not exactly high on the mileage stakes but when i finished working with it in 1999 the man who had taken over the Royal travel arrangements was ex RAF so you can imagine where loyalties lay.
The sets had already been shortened and we had lost one kitchen car and wound up eating with plod in their coach.
Is still cheaper than using hotels and having to security sweep every room/drain/roof etc.
I did 48 trips with it from 1995 until 1999 and saw a very rapid erosion of various activities to reduce costs.
The shoddy state of 47798/799 once EWS took over was an obvious indication.
Whatever your stance on the 'royal' thing, I was sad to see something that at one time been the most well turned out train on the system and an iconic part of the railway go down the pan somewhat, yet again the bean counters win.
Still have not built my rake of Hurst models coaches, something for the winter maybe.
Quote from: EtchedPixels on October 17, 2013, 09:43:27 PM
Not sure about corgis
Alan
Surely the wrong scale :confused1: :-X
The problem is our country is ruled by the sort of people who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. >:(
Quote from: captainelectra on October 18, 2013, 08:00:48 AM
The problem is our country is ruled by the sort of people who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. >:(
No it's not - Boris didn't even know the price of bread.
Alan
Quote from: EtchedPixels on October 18, 2013, 01:05:34 PM
Quote from: captainelectra on October 18, 2013, 08:00:48 AM
The problem is our country is ruled by the sort of people who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. >:(
No it's not - Boris didn't even know the price of bread.
Alan
A very 'let them eat cake' sentiment :worried:
Quote from: newportnobby on October 18, 2013, 01:47:06 PM
A very 'let them eat cake' sentiment :worried:
(http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/56/thumb_6434.JPG) (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=6434)
Or to quote our beloved PM, "Let them wear jumpers"... :veryangry:
We will all be wearing jumpers this winter indoors by the time EU regs have taken their toll on our generating capability and the power companies have taken their bonuses. :very angry:
Quote from: captainelectra on October 18, 2013, 06:37:27 PM
Or to quote our beloved PM, "Let them wear jumpers"... :veryangry:
Or to quote our beloved voters "Let them jump" :D
Quote from: dr deltic on October 21, 2013, 05:41:12 PM
We will all be wearing jumpers this winter indoors by the time EU regs have taken their toll on our generating capability and the power companies have taken their bonuses. :very angry:
Yawn - tired argument on the EU. Perhaps if we had the foresight to invest in our power generating sector, I mean it is not as if the legislation came as a surprise (the Large Combustion Plant Directive was finalised in 2001 and doesn't come into effect until end of 2015!).
What? re invest instead of filling the fat cats pockets? Not in this country :no: