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The Coronation (train)
Encyclopedia
The Coronation was a named passenger train of the London and North Eastern Railway
which ran between and . Named to mark the Coronation of King George VI, the service started on 4 July 1937. The down train left London at 16:00 and arrived in Edinburgh at 22:00.
The design of the train was based on the very successful streamlined train built in 1935 called The Silver Jubilee
, but instead of being painted silver it was given a two-tone blue livery. The train was formed out of four sets of two-car articulated units; additionally a 'beaver-tail' observation car
was used in the summer months.
Internally the train was decorated in the Art Deco
style. The train was made up in the following sequence:
The train was usually pulled by a streamlined LNER Class A4
'Pacific' locomotive, given a special Garter Blue livery with red wheels for the service. Later this livery was chosen as the standard colour for the class.
The observation cars used on this service had a distinctive 'beaver tail' shape. They ran in this form until the Second World War broke out and the coaches were put in store. They stayed in store until 1948 when various vehicles returned to service used as general passenger stock, but they were never to run as a full set again. The two beaver-tail observation cars were transferred to the West Highland lines in 1956. Their original observation end was found to give limited views, so the decision was taken by British Railways to rebuild them with a more angled end and have larger windows added. They ran in this form from 1959 to 1968. Both the beaver-tail observation cars have survived and are now being restored by Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd. who intend to restore one in its rebuilt condition and the other to its original condition.
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
which ran between and . Named to mark the Coronation of King George VI, the service started on 4 July 1937. The down train left London at 16:00 and arrived in Edinburgh at 22:00.
The design of the train was based on the very successful streamlined train built in 1935 called The Silver Jubilee
Silver Jubilee (train)
The Silver Jubilee was a named train of the London and North Eastern Railway . It commenced service on September 30, 1935, the train travelling between London King's Cross and Newcastle. It did this at an average speed of 67 mph, taking four hours to complete the journey.The train was made in...
, but instead of being painted silver it was given a two-tone blue livery. The train was formed out of four sets of two-car articulated units; additionally a 'beaver-tail' observation car
Observation car
An observation car/carriage/coach is a type of railroad passenger car, generally operated in a passenger train as the last carriage, with windows on the rear of the car for passengers' viewing pleasure...
was used in the summer months.
Internally the train was decorated in the Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style. The train was made up in the following sequence:
- Locomotive and tender
- Brake Third / Kitchen Third - Two-car articulated
- Open First / Open First - Two-car articulated
- Open Third / Kitchen Third - Two-car articulated
- Open Third / Brake Third - Two-car articulated
- Observation Car
The train was usually pulled by a streamlined LNER Class A4
LNER Class A4
The Class A4 is a class of streamlined 4-6-2 steam locomotive, designed by Nigel Gresley for the London and North Eastern Railway in 1935. Their streamlined design gave them high-speed capability as well as making them instantly recognizable, and one of the class, 4468 Mallard, still claims the...
'Pacific' locomotive, given a special Garter Blue livery with red wheels for the service. Later this livery was chosen as the standard colour for the class.
The observation cars used on this service had a distinctive 'beaver tail' shape. They ran in this form until the Second World War broke out and the coaches were put in store. They stayed in store until 1948 when various vehicles returned to service used as general passenger stock, but they were never to run as a full set again. The two beaver-tail observation cars were transferred to the West Highland lines in 1956. Their original observation end was found to give limited views, so the decision was taken by British Railways to rebuild them with a more angled end and have larger windows added. They ran in this form from 1959 to 1968. Both the beaver-tail observation cars have survived and are now being restored by Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd. who intend to restore one in its rebuilt condition and the other to its original condition.