THE DUKE'S TRAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 46, 4 December 1934, Page 8

THE DUKE'S TRAIN

READY FOR! SERVICE. TOUR OF NORTH ISLAND. (Special to the " Guardian.") ', AUCKLAND, December 1. The 11 coaches which are to constitute the Royal train to be used by /the Duke of Gloucester in the North Island, are now ready for service. The train has been assembled at Otahuhu railway workshops, and will bo sent to Wellington next week to await the arrival of his Royal Highness. There are actually 10 coaches and a van, but the only new car built is that intended for the use.ofthe Duke and his personal attendants, and this will become the Vice-Regal car at the conclusion of the North Island tour. The others are the Ministerial car, the cruising car built for the use of the chairman of the Railways Board and his officers, and seven main line coaches, all of which will go into service later. The Royal coach is a combination lounge, observation and sleeping car, and will be placed •at the end of the train. Although it is well appointed and conveniently arranged for the comfort of its occupants, there has been no attempt at elaborate decoration or equipment. Next to it is the second stateroom, similar in most respects to that provided for the Duke, and this will be occupied by the chief of staff, Major General Howard Vise. There are also two two-berth compartments similar to those on the de luxe sleeping cars used on the main trunk expresses for the use of the Duke's equerries, and at the extreme forward end of the coach there is a small cabin for the personal servant who will be in constant attendance. Later, when this car is made available for the use of the Governor-General, this end compartment will be converted into a kitchen. The next car is a modern main line carriage stripped of its appointments and fitted as a, dining car for the Royal party, with two tables to seat a total of eight persons, and there a spacious sideboard, wine cupboard, and serving tables. This apartment is panelled in kauri with a mahogany finish. The remainder of the car is.a storeroom witli ice chests and other equipment.

Forward again will bethe kitchen car, where the trained staff will have facilities for catering for the needs of the large party which will travel on the train. There is a complete kitchen equipment. The next vehicle is a dining car for the use of members of the Duke's staff, Cabinet Ministers who will .be on the train on various sections of the tour, railway officials, the Commissioner of Police (Mr W. G. Wohlmann), Press representatives and others. This car will accommodate 31 people at a sitting. Forward of this again will be two ordinary de luxe sleeper cars each accommodating 16 persons and a firstclass chair car.

Ahead, of these carriages, will he a coach fitted with two tiers of bunks along each side in the manner of the American Pullman car for the accommodation of 20 waiters and other attendants.

Next will come the Ministerial car, and ahead of that the Railway Board chairman's car, in which will travel railway officials in charge of the tour.

All the coaches with the exception of the Duke's car will carry the New Zealand coat of arms. Panels have been provided on each side of the Duke's car, and to these will be attached the Duke's coat of arms. When the train reaches Wellington the Duke's coat of arms will be carried on the front of the engine, which will also have two flags splayed out from the front of the smoke box.