Royalty on the S&DJR

[Guest Jack Benson]

Thanks to an anonymous reader of the blog, we have received some images, including this of the Royal Train that visited both the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway and the Salisbury and Dorset Junction Railway.

 

 

Royal occasion at Broadstone on 15th May  1940; the empty stock of the GWR Royal Train having been brought from Blandford back to Broadstone behind 'Black Five' 5289 departs behind T9 sr119 towards West moors and Downton, Here their Majesties will rejoin the train following their visit to Blandford Camp.
 

First coach is a brake third,probably either diagram D87 ex-ambulance stock, 57' long with flat ends (1924); or D107 or D111 bow-ended stock; 61'long (1930). This is a general service coach.

 

The second coach is a G59 first class saloon, either No 9004 or 9005 (there were only two). 61' long, bow-ended. These coaches were completely self-contained, with kitchen, pantry, guard's compartment and coupe end windows and were for private hire.

 

The third coach shows too little to identify, but is also late 20's/early 30's stock.

 

Despite being 'on' Southern territory, the GWR royal train was used, possibly as the Pullman (the Southern had no dedicated Royal stock)  stock used by the SR for was elsewhere in 1940?

 

 

sr119/30119 was specially reserved for working royal trains - a unique position for a pre-Grouping engine.  When not in such service it worked from Dorchester shed where it is seen here about 1948 still in malachite green but with its BR numbering and lettering.

 

In addition, a snippet in Lockett's S&D in Colour suggests that Shillingstone station was almost* unique amongst the DCR station, for its canopy. Allegedly due to Shillingstone being used by visiting Royalty to the Ismay family at Iwerne Minster House, prior to 1928 when it was sold. It could be true, however the LSWR/Southern was notoriously frugal with money and the SDJR was always in financial crisis.

 

Iwerne Minster House now Clayesmore School.

 

Cheers

 

Jack

 

*Blandford has a canopy as befitted the most important DCR station.

 

 

 

 

 

[CarriageShed]

2 hours ago, Jack Benson said:

Despite being 'on' Southern territory, the GWR royal train was used, possibly as the Pullman (the Southern had no dedicated Royal stock)  stock used by the SR for was elsewhere in 1940?

 

 

Royal saloon No 17 of the old LSWR royal train was serving as a makeshift bungalow by 1940. I don't think the other carriages fared even that well.

[geoffers]

The Royal Train to Blandford is mentioned in Peter Smith's "Footplate over the Mendips" and includes a couple of photos as well including the one above of the T9. The driver was Jack Flynn on the Black 5 and the fireman Donald Beale who also wrote about his trip in his book "Donald Beale's Somerset and Dorset".  They were relieved the following morning, after spending the night in the cab, by Driver Albert Good anf Fireman Harry Jeans. 

 

The Shillingstone canopy was rumoured to have been installed due to the visits of the Prince of Wales to a local mansion. There was, it was rumoured, a lady there whose company he enjoyed.

[Guest Jack Benson]

The Prince of Wales, would have been Edward VII, 'Darling Eddie' who also enjoyed the favours of Liilie Langtry in Bournemouth, also he was a regular visitor to Kingston Lacey and Breamore, both local stately piles.

 

Cheers

 

Jack

[Steamport Southport]

I believe that what stock used was dependant on starting point and destination.

 

If it was a trip from/to Windsor then the GWR train would be used. If it was to Balmoral (via the Highland Railway) then the LMS would have preference. Likewise if it was Sandringham then the LNER train.

 

I think you're right that the SR didn't have a dedicated royal train post 1925 and used the other companies carriages or Pullmans depending on need. Plenty of references to the Brighton Belle being used for royal trains for example. Probably less need for the sleeping cars on the SR.

 

 

Jason

[Guest Jack Benson]

Hi,

 

In hindsight, I find Lockett's suggestion that the canopy was provided for 'Royalty' in the person of the Prince of Wales (later Edward Vii) to be rather thin.  The station, with canopy, was opened on 31st August 1863 some forty years before Edward VII was a guest of the estate of Iwerne Minister House where the shooting was particularly good.

 

Initially it sounded plausible but the timelines, simply, do not match as Edward, born 1841, was not 'interested' in shooting until his later years.

 

Cheers

 

Jack

 

 

[CarriageShed]

Sounds very similar to cities being 'founded' by a conquering group when in fact they were rebuilt, redesigned, or refurbished. Perhaps the canopy was similarly refurbished or improved?