THE ROYAL TRAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 24, 29 January 1935, Page 13

THE ROYAL TRAIN

DISPOSAL OF CARS

MAIN LINE EXPRESSES

Inquiries show that the two railway carriages,used by his Boyal Highness the Duke of Gloucester during the Royal tour will bo retained for tho use of his Excellency the Governor-General, and that tho' other carriages which were used during the tour will bo used on the main line expresses in the two islands. . The two Boyal cars were adapted to take tho place of the old viceregal cars they will replace, and with this exception all the cars used during tho tour will go . back into traffic from which many of them wore taken for the purpose of the tour. In the North Island all the cars were taken out of traffic except one, which was in process of being built for the new passenger car programme, and which was modified to suit the tour. Iv the South Island five passenger cars which were in course of 'construction wero adapted,. including tho Eoyal car, and tho remainder used wero taken out of traffic. With the exception of tho two Eoyal cars, the others have been sent back into the shops to be put back in thoir original condition. , STANDARD STOCK. All the cars used were in- fact part of the 1934-1935 car-renewal programme, and arrangements, were made for bringing them into immediate ordinary service following the conclusion of the Eoyal tour. They were part of the steady programme of rolling stock improvement and replacement, and apart from temporary adaptations were standard New Zealand Railways stock. The tour involved long and almost continuous travel by train, and any changes from the standard which were adopted were on that account. So identical with other passenger cars will these bo when they return to the rails that passengers will be riding in them without knowing that they formed part of the Eoyal trains. The tour was one in which a schedule had to be maintained at one end of tho journey but not always at the other. ■ Functions arranged in honour of his. Eoyal Highness frequently exceeded tho time allotted them, but tho engagements ahead were inexorable. Time lost in this way was made up en route, and at times, on the level , stretches of the South Island lines in particular, it is probable that a speed of 60 miles per hour was reached. That the ordinary rolling stock.of tho railways should have given tho satisfaction which was generally expressed upon tho tour, is a matter for congratulation.