PEOPLE WITH THEIR OWN RAILWAY CARRIAGES'

Temuka Leader, Issue 7569, 23 May 1914, Page 3

PEOPLE WITH THEIR OWN RAILWAY CARRIAGES'

I LUXURIOUS CARS OF ROYALTY AND MILLIONAIRES. Many royalties and millionaires ligwe their own yachts and thuir own motorcars of exceeding luxuriousness, but few . of them, comparatively speaking, possess f railway carriages of their own. Yet some | do, though the average man in the street knows little about this. And in other casct: them are Royal or well-to-do folk who have not actually built their own railway carriage, but who have an agreement or contract with certain Companies to retain a splendidly fitted coach ,fpr their own particular use when travelling on the rails. Ol the latter typo is the arrangement made by the King and Queen with edpje of the lines in England. Since the reign of Queen Victoria some of the railways have always kept one special so- of car-,’ nages for Royalty’s use, and this what is generally called “the Royal tram.” The late King Edward, had built, and kept for the sole use of himso f and his family, a carriage of the 011 ! )n the Continental railways. When he visited France, Germany, or Switzerland, this carriage was always awaiting him when he disembarked at Calais or elsewhere across the Channel, When not required it was usually kept at Brussels. Tire framework of the coach’ was Indian teak, whilst Tighter woods were used for the interior boarding and decoration. It had two sleeping compartments, a hot-and-cold bath, and :a separate sleeping-place for the King’s attendants. The lighting of the carriage was done by electricity, and our late King was very proud ol having his own private “home on the railways of Europe,” as he often termed it. Mrs. Mackay, wife of the “Silver King, as the ate Mr. J. W. Mackay was called, had her own special railway carnage in the States. It cost her no less a sum than £6,000, and was sumptuously fitted in every respect. In all her journeys from New York to* Nevada, where her husband's mines were situated, and in many of her shorter travels on the railway from New York, Mrs. Mackay employed this special coach. .of her own, and entertained her friends many a time in it.

. Probably the most costly and splendid-ly-equipped carriage of this private kind on any railway is that belonging to the Czar of Russia. Nicholas 11. has hadthis made so as to be about the last word m such tilings. One part of it is set out as a drawing-room, and all the furniture there is of walnut, upholstered in Pompadour blue and white. The hangings are of delicate rose silk, and all the decorations are of the highest class. Even the pictures on its walls are by the best modern artists. The dining-room is upholstered in Russian leather, and the bedrooms five of them, are equally excellently iitted up. The Baroness de Rothschild has a vato railway car on the Continental railways, which cost. her a largo sum to ouild and equip. But she seldom uses it,, nevertheless, compared with how Royal-, ties and American women of wealth use theirs. Mention of the latter also reminds us that Miss Anna Held formerly had her own private carriage when tra-_ yelling by rail. She bought it from 'Mrs., Langtry, who had it specially purchased’ and prepared for her when she used to make so many and so long tours in the States. How showy this carriage is maybe gathered from the fact that its exterior is of light blue colour, with rich red for the running gear. The framework is of oak, and the interior fittings are of white and gold. The carpets are ol cream velvet pile. The carriage, too, can claim a piano, a compartment with kennels for pet dogs, and an aviary for pet birds! On the English railways such private carriages, except that for the Royal Family, are rare indeed. Some years ago the Duchess of Sutherland always had her own carriage when travelling on the, iron road in the Highlands. The saloon of this famous carnage was decorated in white and green; the mountings were ot silver, both inside and out; and the hangings and upholstery were of .very delicate and beautiful chenille.

Wo need hardly say that the Kaiser , possesses a railway carriage entirely his. own, for use in his dominions. Like, many other private things of the kina;, owned by this monarch, he gave it a, personal signification by having it paint--, ed pure white externally, just as was his former line yacht the Hohenzollern. This carriage, therefore, can be easily told by those who have the good fortune to see it on the railways of the Fatherland. The white is of the finest and richest enamel,which glitters and shines gloriously mthe warm sun. The, interior of the car is very lavishly upholstered and fitted. Bookshelves form a notable feature of it, whilst writing-tables and all their necessaries there prove that, even when travelling on the rails, the German Einperor does not intend to waste much umo in doing nothing.