A PRINCE’S TRAIN.

New Zealand Graphic, 1 July 1899, Page 10

A PRINCE’S TRAIN.

It seems that £BOOO was placed at the disposal of Mr R. J. Billinton, the locomotive and carriage superintendent of the London. Brighton and South Coast Railway when he was asked eighteen months ago to turn out a complete train for the Prince and Princess of Wales. Comfort and luxury do not always go together, but the latest royal train (writes a ‘Chronicle' representative, who travelled in it from Brighton to Eastbourne on Saturday) is the most comfortable and luxurious in Europe. There are two other royal trains in the United Kingdom. l»oth provided for the Queen by the Great Western Railway and the North-western Railway, but these are differently constructed from that built by the Brighton company. The new train had its first airing on January 15th, and. as reported in the "Daily Chronicle’ two days later, the run was from Brighton to Portsmouth, then to Victoria, via Horsham, and back home. Saturday’s trip was semi-official, in that the general manager asked several heads of departments, including the superintendent, the Continental traffic manager, and the secretary toseee the latest addition to his rolling stock. A description of the train appeared in Saturday’s ‘Daily Chronicle.’ but two or three additional details may lie mentioned. The five coaches are kept in a special shed at Brighton, the temperature in which is maintained at 65 degrees. The royal saloon, in.the centre of the train, is most daintily furnished. In the section reserved for the Princess there are two sofas and several easy chairs, all of them covered with plain dark green morocco, this having been selected by Her Royal Highness in prefedence to silk or plush. The glass in the windows on the ton of the two compartments is coloured yellow and bears the Prinee's crest and motto. The look-out windows are framed with engravings of the rose, shamrock and thistle. No less than 40s a yard was paid for the green silk used for the window blinds and curtains. Altogether the royal saloon has cost the company £2BOO. The workmanship throughout is of the best, and every part will l>ear the closest inspection. The exterior woodwork is mahogany, and Mr Billinton confesses that it has received twenty-three eoats of paint and has been varnished nine times. The ordinary railway carriaeg receives from ten to eighteen coats of paint and perhaps four of varnish. Other lines on which special saloon aecoinmcdation is provided for the Prince and Princess are the Great Northern, the Chatham and Dover, and the Great Eastern, but they will all now be obliged to follow the lead of the Brighton and make n train for the exclusive use of their Royal Highnesses.