ROYAL TRAINS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1923, Page 16

ROYAL TRAINS

Very -rigorous precautions are taken by. the British railway companies to. ensure the safety of the King when he travels on their lines, declares "D 0 " in the "Daily Chronicle." When His Majesty leaves for Balmoral all that the pubhc knows is that the Royal, train left tuston and reached Ballater at a particular time. -But the journey of 600 °«d nules means the-successful accomplishment of an elaborate scheme of arrangements in which not only" the chief officiate of the lines and the staff ofthf Royal train but nearly every railway servant' on the route ha 3 had a responsible share. ■

Tp begin with, a time-table is prepared, and a copy, together with an exhaustive , list of, "general instructions,'" as placed in the hands of every person who may be in any v,ay engaged in connection with the working of the train, including enginemen. guards, signalmen, crossing-keepers, flagmen; and fogmen. l_ue sheet contains #, number of general directions, lays down speeds...and times, emphasises the. necessity of travelling with caution over, sharp curves and through junctions,' and unpreeEes upon all the fact that an absolutely clear road must \>q kept. The Royal train itself carries^ telegraph and telephone instruments with all necessary appliances, so that communication can' at once be established in case of emergency; and there are special telegraph and telephone "calls" prearranged for this emergency service. '

The principal officers' of the railway, including the locomotive and carriage superintendents, always accompany the Royal train so as to be on the spot in the _ event of anything unforeseen happening.' But it'is very rare indeed that even the slightest untowards incident happens on a Royal journey. Everything that is humanly possible is dona to avoid accident, although some of the drastic precautions, that were taken in Queen ViotyfJii's iims have long oince • been madiiica.