A Royal Visit - Breaking rail news.....

Martyn Read May 1, 2002

  1. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    The Royal Train carrying Her Majesty the queen rolls up the Exe estuary approaching Exeter on the opening day of the Queen's anniversary round Britain tour.

    [​IMG]

    This pic was taken about 40 minutes ago, she should be meeting the Mayor of Exeter & doing a walkabout in the city centre right about now.

    The lead loco is 47799 "Prince Harry" and 47798 "Prince William" was bringing up the rear.

    All the best from your roving reporter :D
     
  2. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Martyn, that was a good picture to capture [​IMG] Very smart train!
     
  3. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    That's a great photo ... thanks Martyn! :cool: I assume that having a loco at each end provides for pushme-pullyou operation so that Her Majesty is never stuck without a wye or turning loop at the end of a branchline ... ?
     
  4. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's the main reason Hank, they can then send it down what would normally be an MU only branch line (it used the Falmouth branch yesterday which normally only sees railcars) with no problems, it also can turn round quicker at terminals, and it gives a second loco in case one suffers a failure...a train failure with this would be Very high profile!

    Looks like they cleared the first day without one of those anyhow [​IMG] (Exeter was the last call of the day)

    It's a very nice looking train I have to agree, and they don't skimp on the polish!
     
  5. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    I took those pics yesterday with a couple of folk from work who had popped out of the office to see the train too, one of them has come in today with a couple of digi-pics showing more of the passenger cars than my pic, I can post them if anyone is interested....let me know! [​IMG]
     
  6. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    <font color="336633">And with a Class 47 i'd say that was a high chance........

    At least those look in better condition than the one I saw come through Peterborough station
    a few days ago on a container train, it was belching more smoke than an Alco :eek: between the patches of rust and grime i think it had the old coal logo on the side, black dimonds???? it was hard to tell as it looked like it had been painted over with a very thin wash.
    </font>
     
  7. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well according to the southwest railgen list 47799 did have a quick trip with the fitters to Long Rock during the afternoon yesterday for a minor fault! [​IMG]

    Not sure that there were any coal 47's, could it have been either a coal 56 or an old distribution (red diamond) 47? :confused: Yep some of them are in a real state though (you should see our local class 150 fleet, yeeeuck!)
     
  8. BN9900

    BN9900 TrainBoard Member

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    I love the picture are there any more of her majesty's train? Now my question is what is the different with the classes? Coal 47? 56? What are these in reference to? I can only guess so I was hopeing that could be cleared up. Thanks!! [​IMG]
     
  9. John Whitby

    John Whitby E-Mail Bounces

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    Nice one Martyn !!
    Perhaps our overseas readers would also like to know that it is planned to haul the Royal Train with a steam loco next month in North Wales. If I remember correctly it will be the first time that a steam loco has pulled the monarch (please excuse the terminology) since 1962.
    The loco to be used is LMS Pacific no. 6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" although last Saturday it suffered a firebox water leak while working an enthusiasts special and had to be assisted back to Crewe by a class 31 diesel. No doubt "the powers that be" will be watching closely.
    John
     
  10. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    BN9900 - I'll post some pics of the royal coaches later on tonight (have to go to college in a minute)

    The numbers 47 and 56 relate to BR "TOPS" computer locomotive class numbers, the two royal train loco's are 47798 and 47799, of class 47. With UK loco's the first two digits of the running number will give you the class or type of loco. It sort of works with MU's as well, the first three digits of the MU set number is the class (excepting the southern region where they only bother to display the last four digits.....)

    Honestly, it's easier than it sounds to get the hang of, trust me :D ;)

    The "coal" reference is regarding the paint job, back in the early 90's the railways were "sectorised", which means that the operating departments were split up based on what commodities they were carrying, each of the sectors had ther own logo on a standard freight scheme, (presumably so they could tell their loco's apart :D .)

    I like the news about the Duchess, that should look brilliant! Presumably then it's been air braked now? Train heat shouldnt be a problem as the Royal train has it's own generator car.
     
  11. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    BN9900 - I'll post some pics of the royal coaches later on tonight (have to go to college in a minute)

    The numbers 47 and 56 relate to BR "TOPS" computer locomotive class numbers, the two royal train loco's are 47798 and 47799, of class 47. With UK loco's the first two digits of the running number will give you the class or type of loco. It sort of works with most MU's as well, the first three digits of the MU set number is the class (excepting the southern region where they only bother to display the last four digits.....)

    Honestly, it's easier than it sounds to get the hang of, trust me :D ;)

    The "coal" reference is regarding the paint job, back in the early 90's the railways were "sectorised", which means that the operating departments were split up based on what commodities they were carrying, each of the sectors had ther own logo on a standard freight scheme, (presumably so they could tell their loco's apart :D .)

    I like the news about the Duchess, that should look brilliant! Presumably then it's been air braked now? Train heat shouldnt be a problem as the Royal train has it's own generator car.
     
  12. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, please do ... :cool: [​IMG]

    This Colonialist would be interested. :D

    [ 02 May 2002, 19:04: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]
     
  13. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    First pic, the car on the left is the first one in the train & is a staff riding & generator car. The one on the right is a catering vehicle & the centre is a sleeper, likely train staff sleeping as it's between the kitchen & generator car.
    [​IMG]
    The second pic shows more of the train from the rear quarter, at the back (closest to the camera) is 47798 "Prince William" I believe the car at the far left is the catering car at right on the previous pic, so with these two you should see the whole train.
    [​IMG]

    Thanks to my work colleague Jayne's husband for these pics (they heard I was going to watch it & tagged along [​IMG] )

    [ 02 May 2002, 20:41: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]
     
  14. Alan

    Alan Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    So would this "local" :D
     
  15. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    Think our posts crossed Alan, the Royal passenger car pics are posted. I shall try & research & find out the uses of more of them!
     
  16. StickyMonk

    StickyMonk TrainBoard Member

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    <font color="336633">Could have been red but it was dark and very mucky, it was definatly a 47 though.</font>
     
  17. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Martyn, all your photos are Red-Xing. :eek: :( Is there something you can do locally?
     
  18. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    Sorry Hank, looks like my ISP is having a little downtime on it's web hosting server :( All I can suggest is to try again later. Sorry.
     
  19. Martyn Read

    Martyn Read TrainBoard Supporter

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    Pics seem to be back up now :rolleyes: [​IMG]
     
  20. BN9900

    BN9900 TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you for the pictures, that is a mighty long train! as well as the explaination of the Locomotives. That is about what I suspected but I thought I better make sure before committing to that and using it as fact. Thanks again. I do love that train.. :D
     

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