European Railroad Discussion > Queen Elizabeth's Funeral Train from Scotland to London??

On today's TV coverage in the US of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, it was mentioned that The Queen will travel
from Scotland to London by Train.  Anybody  over there who can keep the rest  of us railfans
appraised in a dignified manner of the train's progression in a way railfans can appreciate??
Thanks,
Frank30

We'll see what we can do!

This is good news. I was hoping the royal train would return her to London.
If it was pulled by vintage steam would be even better, fingers crossed.
Perhaps the Royal Scotsman.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

If by steam it MUST be the Scotsman, but She was a champion of change and probably would not mind a bit if her funeral train were to proceed under the power of diesel. 

Or electric... 87002 'Royal Sovereign'?!

exhaustED Wrote:
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> Or electric... 87002 'Royal Sovereign'?!

Are 67005 and 67006 still in Royal claret livery?

Frank30 Wrote:
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> On today's TV coverage in the US of Queen
> Elizabeth II's passing, it was mentioned that The
> Queen will travel
> from Scotland to London by Train. 

According to The Guardian, the coffin will travel by road from Balmoral to Edinburgh and, after mourning events there, will be flown to London. All movements after that by road.  These plans were made many years ago, and would have included various contingencies according to the place of death. The variation specifically made for the death occurring in Scotland is codenamed Operation Unicorn. 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/08/the-queens-funeral-what-we-can-expect-over-the-next-10-days



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/22 01:37 by railsmith.

railsmith Wrote:
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> Are 67005 and 67006 still in Royal claret livery?

Yes, 67005 was on a Cardiff to Pwllheli railtour this morning as far as Shrewsbury. Looks like it'll be replaced on the return this evening by 67020. Presumably off to Crewe to be spruced up in readiness for whatever duties are required in the next couple of weeks. King Charles will be touring all parts of the UK between now and the funeral, maybe he'll use the train?

The BBC web quotes HM will be flown to London. Chris uk.

A funeral train would have afforded many people in all the towns along the way to pay their final respects. A missed opportunity for many.

Tom

UP3806 Wrote:
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> A funeral train would have afforded many people in
> all the towns along the way to pay their final
> respects. A missed opportunity for many.

I suspect that the Royal Train running from Edinburgh to London at a speed to allow people at the lineside to pay their respects would have been very disruptive. And if there's one thing Queen Elizabeth wouldn't have wanted is to disrupt people going about their day to day lives.

Last I heard Network Rail is planning a train, clear route Edinburgh to London east coast main line at a moderate speed with a clean up train following to ensure no debris left on the track.

But anything could happen. As usual our press is just geussing and passing it as fact.

Update - This morning looks like it will be the RAF.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/22 00:19 by 3rdboxcar.

The BBC mentioned that the Royal Train was the plan in "Operation London Bridge" but was changed to a flight in order to provide more time in London.

DrawingroomA Wrote:
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> The BBC mentioned that the Royal Train was the
> plan in "Operation London Bridge" but was changed
> to a flight in order to provide more time in
> London.

I think the plan "Operation London Bridge" was for if she died in London. The plan for if she died in Scotland had a different name, which I cannot recall at the moment.  At least that was what I heard somewhere,

The Scotland plan supposedly had the train trip which now seems to have been overridden.

ts1457 Wrote:
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> DrawingroomA Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The BBC mentioned that the Royal Train was the
> > plan in "Operation London Bridge" but was
> changed
> > to a flight in order to provide more time in
> > London.
>
> I think the plan "Operation London Bridge" was for
> if she died in London. The plan for if she died in
> Scotland had a different name, which I cannot
> recall at the moment.  At least that was what I
> heard somewhere,
>
> The Scotland plan supposedly had the train trip
> which now seems to have been overridden.

The Scotland plan was "Operation Unicorn".

Well sounds like she wanted to go in Scotland, good for her

ts1457 Wrote:
--
> I think the plan "Operation London Bridge" was for
> if she died in London. The plan for if she died in
> Scotland had a different name, which I cannot
> recall at the moment.  At least that was what I
> heard somewhere,
>
> The Scotland plan supposedly had the train trip
> which now seems to have been overridden.

Operation London Bridge is the overall plan and is still in effect. There are various sub-operations under that umbrella. Operation Unicorn covers the Scottish aspects.

railsmith Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Operation London Bridge is the overall plan and is
> still in effect. There are various sub-operations
> under that umbrella. Operation Unicorn covers the
> Scottish aspects.

Thanks for the clarification.

Makes sense since it all would end with a state funeral in London.

Party Poopers....

Victor B.


3rdboxcar Wrote:
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> Update - This morning looks like it will be the
> RAF.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> Party Poopers....
>
> Victor B.
>
>

More time for people to come participate in the viewing Westminister Hall. Considering that the queue has been in the 2 to 3 mile long range they need all the time they can get. 
The people want to see her.