All the media focus on the royal wedding this week got me thinking about the royal train that operated to Ballarat in 1983 for Harry's parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The train operated on 15th April 1983 and received extensive coverage in the media. The May 1983 issue of VicRail News included a cover photo of the train and a feature article. It was also covered in Newsrail (see articles below).
Mark Bau's website includes a photograph of the loco's (and crowds of spectators) at Lydiard St gates and Ballarat B Signal Box.
http://www.victorianrailways.net/photogallery/westsou/ballarat/ballarat.html
One thing that is apparent from the photograph's is how weathered and dirty Ballarat station and surrounds were. The locomotives and carriages might have had gleaming paintwork, but station canopy and buildings had faded paint with dirt and rust stains. It looks like I will need to use weathering powders to significantly weather the building to reflect it's appearance at the time.
My own experience of royal visit occurred a few days before royal train. We were living in Upper Beaconsfield that had been burnt in the Ash Wednesday fires on the 16th February 1983 and the primary school had been invited to neighbouring Cockatoo for the Royals visit to fire affected areas. I remember waiting in the crowd with classmates for hours for the Royal couple to arrive, only for them to both walk straight past the whole class without shaking hands or accepting gifts of flowers. Many students were disappointed but my younger sister didn't care, she was excited that she got to meet Jo Pearson, newsreader for Ten eyewitness news at the time that was covering the story!
Pilot locomotive was S311 (which ran in front of some distance ahead of the royal train). X31 was positioned at Bacchus Marsh as a standby locomotive in case of a failure.
For the return journey of empty cars to Melbourne, S315 led S300 and S311.
Note that 6AZ was used (instead of 8AZ) on the trial run to Geelong on 11th March 1983.
The coaches require more effort. Trainbuilder produce the AZ and the Parlor Car (now only available as part of 5 car set). The Parlor car would require some modifications to reflect its appearance as Norman car in the early 80's. Alternatively the AZ could be produced from a Powerline S car by modifying the ends and producing new sides. Norman is possible from a S car although it would be difficult to get the right shape for the rounded end. State Car No.4 would need to be scratch built or kitbashed using Steam Era Models W car components.
The train operated on 15th April 1983 and received extensive coverage in the media. The May 1983 issue of VicRail News included a cover photo of the train and a feature article. It was also covered in Newsrail (see articles below).
Mark Bau's website includes a photograph of the loco's (and crowds of spectators) at Lydiard St gates and Ballarat B Signal Box.
http://www.victorianrailways.net/photogallery/westsou/ballarat/ballarat.html
One thing that is apparent from the photograph's is how weathered and dirty Ballarat station and surrounds were. The locomotives and carriages might have had gleaming paintwork, but station canopy and buildings had faded paint with dirt and rust stains. It looks like I will need to use weathering powders to significantly weather the building to reflect it's appearance at the time.
My own experience of royal visit occurred a few days before royal train. We were living in Upper Beaconsfield that had been burnt in the Ash Wednesday fires on the 16th February 1983 and the primary school had been invited to neighbouring Cockatoo for the Royals visit to fire affected areas. I remember waiting in the crowd with classmates for hours for the Royal couple to arrive, only for them to both walk straight past the whole class without shaking hands or accepting gifts of flowers. Many students were disappointed but my younger sister didn't care, she was excited that she got to meet Jo Pearson, newsreader for Ten eyewitness news at the time that was covering the story!
Consist
The train was hauled by S300-S315 back to back. The carriages were marshalled from the Ballarat end 8AZ-Norman-State Car No.4. The rounded end of Norman was adjacent to State Car No.4.
Pilot locomotive was S311 (which ran in front of some distance ahead of the royal train). X31 was positioned at Bacchus Marsh as a standby locomotive in case of a failure.
For the return journey of empty cars to Melbourne, S315 led S300 and S311.
Note that 6AZ was used (instead of 8AZ) on the trial run to Geelong on 11th March 1983.
How to model the train?
The motive power is relatively easily produced with commercial models of the S class available from Lima or Trainorama. The headboard with the Prince of Wales feathers could be produced from editing a photo of it in Adobe Photoshop. Standby loco X31 is available from Austrains or Auscision.The coaches require more effort. Trainbuilder produce the AZ and the Parlor Car (now only available as part of 5 car set). The Parlor car would require some modifications to reflect its appearance as Norman car in the early 80's. Alternatively the AZ could be produced from a Powerline S car by modifying the ends and producing new sides. Norman is possible from a S car although it would be difficult to get the right shape for the rounded end. State Car No.4 would need to be scratch built or kitbashed using Steam Era Models W car components.
News articles
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