THE ROYAL TRAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1934, Page 6

THE ROYAL TRAIN

3>UKE’S NORTHERN TOUR. DINING AND SLEEPING CARS, WELLINGTON, December 4.

The 11 coaches which a>re to constitute the Royal tea in to he used by the Duke of Gloucester in the North Inland a r e now ready far service. The train has been assembled at the Ota-h-uh'u railway workshops and is now in Wellington awaiting the arrival of His Royal Highness from Australia. There are actually 10 coaches and a van, blit the only new car built is that intended for the use of the Duke and .his .personal attendants and this will become the Vice-Regal cair at the conclusion of the North Island tour. The others are the ministerial ca l ', 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 i$ well-appointed and conveniently arranged for the comfort .of the occupants there has been' no attempt at elaborate decoration or equipment. The rear compartment i s arranged as a lounge, tastefully carpeted and -provided with five easy chairs and a settee, these being upholstered in sof-t material with a restrained flower pattern. The -whole of the rear wad of

-this coach is of glass, enabling the Duke to obtain an uninterrupted view as be moves through the country. For night travel the lounge i s well lighted with -additional wall lights set in small' bronze fixtures for reading. Forward of this compartment is the Duke’s stateroom, with built-in bedstead, large dressing table 'and mirror, as well as wardrobe space, wash-basin with 'hot and cold water and reading lamp. Adjoining is a marble-lined bathroom with hot and cold shower. Next to it is a second stateroom similar in most respects to that provided fo,r the Duke and this will be occupied by the Chief-of-Staff, MajorGeneral R, G. H. Howard-Vise. There

, ate also two two-berth compartments, 1 similar to those on the de luxe isleop- ! ing cars used •on the Main Trunk ex- ‘ presses, for the use of the Duke’s equerries and at the extreme forward . end of the coach there is a small cabin ' for a personal servant who will be in ■’ constant attendance. Later, when this

car is jnade available for the use of the Governor-General this end compartment Will be, converted into a. kitchen. The pannelling in the lounge 'find staterooms' it- of figured irirnu finished in its natural colour. The next car is a modern main-line, carriage stripped of its appointments-

and fitted as a dining-car for the Royal .party. One half is the dining room, with»ijt\vo «eafca .total of e.ght persons, and there are a spacious side-

board, wine cupboard and serving

tables. Thi s apartment i® panneUed in .kauri, with mahogany finish. The remainder of the car is a storeroom with

ice chests and other equipment. Forward again will be the } kitchen ca ; r, vyhere the trained staff will have facilities for catering for the needs of the large party!, which will travel on the train.' There is complete kitchen equipment.

The next vehicle is the dining car for the use of member s 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 c al ’s, each

accommodating 16 persons, and a firstclass chair car. Ahead of these carriages will be ,a coach fitted with two tiers of bunk s along each side, in the manner of the American Pullman car, for the accommodation of 20 waiters and other attendants. Next will come the the Bailway Board chairman’s car, in which will travel the railway officials in charge of the tour. AU 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 theise will be attached the Duke’s coat of arms when the train reaches Wellington. Th© Duke’s coat of arms will carried on the front of the engine, which will 'also have two flags splayed out from the front of the smoke box. All the coaches have been painted in the smart midland red adopted when the new Rotorua tourist tr a in \y aS built, a nd with the Royal blue curtains at most of the windows, the train presented an attractive picture as it stood in the Otahuhu railway workshops yard yesterday afternoon. Th c many departmental and divisional officials who had a hand in the creation of the train viewed it with considerable pride.