Фрагмент статьи
HOW ROYALTY TRAVEL
By Reginald H. Cocks
Illustrated with Photographs by the Author
из американского журнала The Railway Magazine, April, 1898. Немного национальной гордости :)
Оригинал статьи здесь:http://www.rawsonplace.esmartdesign.com/notebook/Commissioner-36/notebook.htm и содержит сведения о императорских поездах других династий Европы.
There are no less than six other similar trains in Russia, without taking into consideration the train which formerly belonged to Napoleon III., and which is now on the P.L.M. system:, of which each carriage has only three rigid axles, and consequently only used for service on other lines. The train, however, which we are describing has made only a few journeys.
It is not generally known that when the Tsar travels another train, an exact prototype of the Tsar's, carrying a part of his suite, either precedes or follows. These two trains wait for each other, then pass and re-pass one another several times during the journey, so that it is not easy to decipher the one wherein the Tsar is travelling. This precaution was taken at the time of the Nihilistic plots, and has since then been wisely continued.
It is not generally known that when the Tsar travels another train, an exact prototype of the Tsar's, carrying a part of his suite, either precedes or follows. These two trains wait for each other, then pass and re-pass one another several times during the journey, so that it is not easy to decipher the one wherein the Tsar is travelling. This precaution was taken at the time of the Nihilistic plots, and has since then been wisely continued.
The largest carriage is nearly 20 metres in length, and contains a dining and drawing- room. These rooms are splendidly equipped with every possible accessory. Paintings, the work of artists of repute, adorn the ceilings and panels; the doors are covered with choice marqueterie. The dining-rooms, in which we find a long table extending the entire length of the car, contains several pictures of a sacred order—patron saints and others. The panelling in this spacious apartment consists of embossed leather of beautiful workmanship.
The twenty-six officials who accompany the train only earn five shillings per diem each, most of them being either skilled electricians or mechanics of some denomination. They receive no pension when they leave the service, but, generally, one year's gratuity is given.
In addition, the Tsar brings his own servants, a butler, four valets, four cooks, etc. There is an engineers' compartment, an electric compartment, a "Delaunay Belleville" boiler fed by means of automatic vapour pumps for heating purposes, a kitchen containing every convenience such as one would find in the palace itself, a special compartment set aside for the repairer, upholsterer, etc.
The carriages are fitted up with three brake systems—the Westinghouse, Hardy’s compressed air, and the ordinary vacuum, this last being kept in reserve. Telephonic communication and electric lighting (for there are no less than 200 electric lamps in use) complete the thousand and one conveniences to be found in this model rolling palace.
The Fatherland has a fine train, but then it is not every Sovereign that cares to make his own " puff-puff " ! There are twelve cars, including two nursery cars, sleeping saloons, breakfast, dining, and drawing rooms. The entrance vestibule shows some superior pieces of statuary, a novelty in Royal trains. The train, we learn, took about three years to build, while the estimated cost is about £186,000.
My thanks are due to the General Managers who have so kindly afforded me material for this article, also to Mons. Marc, of L'Illustration, for the services which he has rendered.
The twenty-six officials who accompany the train only earn five shillings per diem each, most of them being either skilled electricians or mechanics of some denomination. They receive no pension when they leave the service, but, generally, one year's gratuity is given.
In addition, the Tsar brings his own servants, a butler, four valets, four cooks, etc. There is an engineers' compartment, an electric compartment, a "Delaunay Belleville" boiler fed by means of automatic vapour pumps for heating purposes, a kitchen containing every convenience such as one would find in the palace itself, a special compartment set aside for the repairer, upholsterer, etc.
The carriages are fitted up with three brake systems—the Westinghouse, Hardy’s compressed air, and the ordinary vacuum, this last being kept in reserve. Telephonic communication and electric lighting (for there are no less than 200 electric lamps in use) complete the thousand and one conveniences to be found in this model rolling palace.
The Fatherland has a fine train, but then it is not every Sovereign that cares to make his own " puff-puff " ! There are twelve cars, including two nursery cars, sleeping saloons, breakfast, dining, and drawing rooms. The entrance vestibule shows some superior pieces of statuary, a novelty in Royal trains. The train, we learn, took about three years to build, while the estimated cost is about £186,000.
My thanks are due to the General Managers who have so kindly afforded me material for this article, also to Mons. Marc, of L'Illustration, for the services which he has rendered.
