End of the Line for Luxury Presidential Rail Travel

Niles

Irish Independent 17/10/2011 wrote:

END OF THE LINE FOR LUXURY PRESIDENTIAL RAIL TRAVEL

So this is how the other half travelled.

Deep-pile carpets, leather sofas, Waterford Crystal light fittings and wash basins cast from Connemara marble were the comforts of successive heads of state travelling on board the presidential train.

But those days come to an end in just over a week when the state coach is officially taken out of service and passed on to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland for safe-keeping.

The carriage used as the presidential train since the 1970s - number 5408 - will be joined by its predecessor number 351 on public display at Dublin's Heuston Station from 28th October.

Former Iarnród Éireann press officer Cyril Ferris travelled with every president since Eamon de Valera and saw first hand what life was like on board.

"The president would arrive at the station and be met by the CIÉ chairman or a senior official and escorted to the train. They'd be met at the door of the train by the station master in full uniform and, obviously, there'd be a red carpet.

"Presidents mostly did the same thing. They would sit at a coffee table and go through the day's papers.

"Lunch would be served about 12:30pm, which would be a starter, maybe something like smoked salmon, followed by a steak, it was good quality cuisine.

"Some presidents would eat by themselves, but Esrkine Childers liked to hold court. He would often discuss cabinet rows that had happened not long before."

The original state car was highly ornate and was built in 1902 by the Great Southern and Western Railway at Inchicore for the state visit of King Edward VII the following year.

It officially became the presidential saloon in 1961, and those who travelled on it include Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and US President Dwight D Eisenhower.

It continued in use until it was replaced by a newly built saloon, called a Mark II, in 1977.

The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland runs the older state coach a couple of times a year. It is available for hire, costing about €2,000 a day.

"It seats 18 people and is great for something like a corporate bash," spokesman Chas Meredith said.

"Every country had a royal or presidential train. It comes out of CIÉ in very good condition. It's wonderful that it's compatible with the rest of our fleet."

- Paul Melia

Irish Independent

.

Judgement Day

Amazing that it's in good condition given what CIE allowed to happen to 351 before it found its way into preservation.

CaptainSkidmark

what does it look like?

Judgement Day

5408 is a conversion of a standard MkII dining car so looks nothing special on the outside (or the inside for that matter) despite what the Indo's article might lead you to believe.

Niles

CaptainSkidmark wrote: »

what does it look like?

351 - webpage here.

5408 - exterior pic here Can't seem to find any online shots of the interior, it was last on display at the Inchicore Staff Family Fun Day in August 2009.

In any case the exhibition is open to the public over the Bank Holiday weekend for a nominal fee.

L1011

Did McAleese ever use it?

Even by 1977 the rail network had withered to nearly its current size so I suspect it was use in total less times than the old one.

Niles

MYOB wrote: »

Did McAleese ever use it?

Even by 1977 the rail network had withered to nearly its current size so I suspect it was use in total less times than the old one.

I believe 5408 was last used in 1996, so probably not, but she is known to have used the mkIII "Executive" carriages on occasions (presumably because of the higher speed). She traveled from Pearse to Dun Laoighaire in 351 for its launch in 2000.

Niles

Niles wrote: »

5408 - exterior pic here Can't seem to find any online shots of the interior, it was last on display at the Inchicore Staff Family Fun Day in August 2009.

I posted this in the photo thread already but since you asked...



I also have another photo of a seating compartment but it was hard to get a decent shot.

Losty Dublin

MYOB wrote: »

Did McAleese ever use it?

Even by 1977 the rail network had withered to nearly its current size so I suspect it was use in total less times than the old one.

President Robinson used to travel by rail a lot as her husband was something of a train buff. At times it used to be a pain to roster the Saloon for them as their movements were irregular and often required only a single journey, leaving Irish Rail with a empty carriage on many trains that required stabling or shunting at awkward hours. On one summer day, the Dad was called upon to drive one train for them as Her Excellency and his nibs went to Limerick via Waterford via rail and back to Dublin. There was a shortage of drivers who knew the W+L road as well as both mainlines so he was press ganged into it.

While it is nice to think that they traveled via rail, they still sent the presidential car and her team to their destination for her visits so there was no benefit in going by train economy wise :rolleyes:

Judgement Day

Karsini wrote: »

I posted this in the photo thread already but since you asked...

I also have another photo of a seating compartment but it was hard to get a decent shot.

Luxury rail travel - I rest my case - looks about as luxurious as a MkI heating van.

Cookie_Monster

why take the train when you've a couple of jet and choppers at you call these days... not to mention the mercs

Losty Dublin

Judgement Day wrote: »

Luxury rail travel - I rest my case - looks about as luxurious as a MkI heating van.

Guards van is luxury to some of us. Constant heat from the genny, there is lots of room for bags and your legs plus a constant supply of hot tea on demand from the guard if he is in a good mood. Indeed, these are the main reasons why I joined the RPSI

here.from.day.1

Interesting alright, but they look kinda crumby.. kinda REAL crumby.

Rud

So what is the story then with these carriages when they go on public display at Heuston?Will they be parked up at one of the platforms or how will it be organised?

Niles

Rud wrote: »

So what is the story then with these carriages when they go on public display at Heuston?Will they be parked up at one of the platforms or how will it be organised?

They will be on display to the public in Heuston platform 1 Saturday-Monday inclusive of the October Bank Holiday weekend, there will be a nominal charge (don't know exactly what that charge is off the top of my head). It's open from 10:00-17:00 each day.

steamengine

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Guards van is luxury to some of us. Constant heat from the genny, there is lots of room for bags and your legs plus a constant supply of hot tea on demand from the guard if he is in a good mood. Indeed, these are the main reasons why I joined the RPSI

My old motorbikes travelled in style on a few of occasions in the guards van. We seem to forget the flexibility of times gone by.

Judgement Day

steamengine wrote: »

My old motorbikes travelled in style on a few of occasions in the guards van. We seem to forget the flexibility of times gone by.

Not flexibilty - but relevance and usefulness - intercity today is increasingly irrelevant in 21st century Ireland. One day the 'designers' in CIE/IE are going to dream up a train which has no space for passengers. :rolleyes:

Victor

Judgement Day wrote: »

Not flexibilty - but relevance and usefulness - intercity today is increasingly irrelevant in 21st century Ireland. One day the 'designers' in CIE/IE are going to dream up a train which has no space for passengers. :rolleyes:

You mean, like, a freight train?

steamengine

Niles wrote: »

They will be on display to the public in Heuston platform 1 Saturday-Monday inclusive of the October Bank Holiday weekend, there will be a nominal charge (don't know exactly what that charge is off the top of my head). It's open from 10:00-18:00 each day.

Will be there one of the days !!! Any chance of them adding a 071 and a 201 to the display, tour of the cab etc ???

Losty Dublin

From today's RPSI mail...


State Coaches No.351 and No.5408 are elegant coaches which transported Heads of State and foreign dignitaries over the past century, No.351 from 1906 up to the early 1970s, and No.5408 from the 1970s to the 2000s.

Those who have travelled on the coaches include: King Edward VII, President Mary McAleese, President Eamon DeValera, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, President Dwight D Eisenhower of USA and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. As No.5408 is now joining No.351 in "retirement", and is being presented to the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI), President McAleese will be the last Irish Head of State to have travelled in a State Coach.

Iarnród Éireann and the RPSI have created a special exhibition of photographs and mementos of the State Coaches and members of the RPSI will be on hand to provide guided tours of the Coaches throughout the October Bank Holiday weekend.

Admission to the exhibition will cost €2 for adults and children are free. A commemorative brochure will also be available free of charge. All proceeds will go to the RPSI.

The Exhibition will open to the public on:

Friday 28th October, 4pm–7pm

Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th and Monday 31st October, 10am-5pm

Cookie_Monster

I'd love to go see that...

eth0

I never knew there was such a thing as a special carriage for the president. Sad to see it go but probably no money for a new one

Judgement Day wrote: »

Not flexibilty - but relevance and usefulness - intercity today is increasingly irrelevant in 21st century Ireland.

Eh?

corktina

I don't think a new one is necessary. Its just it isnt usable anymore as it can't be coupled to a service train like it would have been in the days of proper trains.

Losty Dublin

corktina wrote: »

I don't think a new one is necessary. Its just it isnt usable anymore as it can't be coupled to a service train like it would have been in the days of proper trains.

Flame, flame!:D:D:D

eth0

corktina wrote: »

I don't think a new one is necessary. Its just it isnt usable anymore as it can't be coupled to a service train like it would have been in the days of proper trains.

I suppose in the days of proper presidents they would just get on the service train and have a chat with his fellow passengers, none of this VIP and security nonsense.

Niles

MYOB wrote: »

Did McAleese ever use it?

Even by 1977 the rail network had withered to nearly its current size so I suspect it was use in total less times than the old one.

Turns out she did use it, in 2002. The last run of the coach to date.

parsi

eth0 wrote: »

I suppose in the days of proper presidents they would just get on the service train and have a chat with his fellow passengers, none of this VIP and security nonsense.

Ah right Ted.

Rud

steamengine wrote: »

Any chance of them adding a 071 and a 201 to the display, tour of the cab etc ???

Yes i would like that also or even bring down the 121 from Inchicore rather than having it slightly hidden and rotting away.Maybe Irish Rail could run tours of it's locos and make some money out of them?

Jonathan

Rud wrote: »

Yes i would like that also or even bring down the 121 from Inchicore rather than having it slightly hidden and rotting away.Maybe Irish Rail could run tours of it's locos and make some money out of them?

Isn't that what ITG/RPSI is for?

flyingsnail

That 121 is owned by the RPSI.

Rud

flyingsnail wrote: »

That 121 is owned by the RPSI.

As far as i know 134,the loco left in Inchicore,isn't owned by the RPSI