The REAL Royal Train

[liampilkington]

Is the rumour true that this prestigious train is indeed running on Monday? If so does any one have the times of he stations? I know (if it runs) that it is stoppin at preston. so i wil b there if eny one else is drop me an email.


Liam

liam2001pilkington@hotmail.com

[Goingnorth]

It may well be running, but very few have the times. The only people that get them are the train crew, signallers and controllers. And the wires arrive under 'special undercover wire'...then you only get maybe 50 miles worth of times, never the whole route, nor do you know who is on it. Sorry.

[basildd]

Having worked the Royal train as a guard several times, I can vouch for that - the giveaway was always the timekeeper telling you to 'come to work smart the next day and make sure your shoes are polished' - when on a spare shift! We were only given the instructions on signing on and then in a white envelope and told not to discuss the duty with anyone.

Then when I was Senior Power Controller for NSE, I used to be given an envelope by the Duty Control Manager at the commencement of my shift advising me of the train times within my jurisdiction, what the load was, and what arrangements for locomotives had been made (invariably on the Southern it was 73142 (later 73201) or an ex -works 47 (we didn't have dedicated ones in those days). I also had to ensure that I had suitable motive power strategically placed in case of failure. Signallers on the other hand were given their instructions and they had to regulate other traffic to ensure the train was not cautioned / stopped. Oh and with regards 73142, it used to be shadowed by a helicopter throughout its journey and for this purpose had a large orange spot painted on its roof (for identification).

[Goingnorth]

There *was* a whole series of instructions on the royal train, most of which were silly. Thing's like it had to have two tail lamps etc.

As for the regulation I must have signalled it 10 or more times in a former life, pleased to say I didn't delay it once!

The duty controller for the zone/region would ring up out of the blue, usually a couple of hours before and say 'Hullo, got a fax for you'. And all you would get were timings in your area, plus either side a bit with 1X type headcodes usually.

[johndibben]

Do they still put a 'Bobby' on every bridge

[basildd]

Do they still put a 'Bobby' on every bridge

Certainly still did when I was a guard in the 80's - not sure now but I doubt it - they are too busy harassing motorists!

[johndibben]

I'd like to know why everything has to work like clockwork for 'Brenda' and yet every royal event without fail runs late and I'm left waiting 'proper telly' ?

[basildd]

For the same reason that 200 yards in front of her is some poor sod with a can of whitewash making everything look nice!

[johndibben]

Brenda must have a strange image of her country

[basildd]

Brenda must have a strange image of her country

she thinks it stinks of paint outside of buck House!