The Coronation (train)

The Coronation was a named train of the London and North Eastern Railway which ran between London King's Cross and Edinburgh. Named the Coronation, to mark the Coronation of King George VI, the service started on 4th July 1937. The down train left King's Cross at 4.00 pm and arrived in Edinburgh at 10.00pm.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 was given a Two tone blue livery. The train was formed out of 4 sets of two car articulated units, additionally a Beaver Tailed 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:

* Locomotive
* 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 Pacific locomotive, which were given a special garter blue livery with red wheels for the service. Latter this livery was later chosen as the standard color for the class. The observation cars used on this service had a distinctive beavertail, they ran in this form until 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, they were never to run as a full set again. The Two beavertail 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 Rail to rebuild them with a more angled end and have larger windows added. They ran in this form from 1959 to 1968. Both the beavertail 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.

References

* [http://www.gresley.org.uk/a4name2.htm gresley org]
* [http://www.user.dccnet.com/d.leech/coronation.html The train in miniature]
* [http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/results.asp?
]
* [http://www.geocities.com/[e-mail]/ Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd]