The Queens starts her Christmas holiday

[mpthomson]

Correct - However the Queen IS the Duke of Lancaster. The Monarch is always the Duke of Lancaster. I think it stems from Henry the 5th who ascended to the throne from the Duchy of Lancaster and has passed ot every monarch thereafter.

As an aisde a Duke is the top of the hereditary title tree and a female may hold a dukedom in her own right and be addressed as Duke.

This isn’t correct, the title is in abeyance and doesn’t formally exist anymore, HM would never be addressed or referred to as Duke of Lancaster in the way that some other royals are known by different titles in different parts of the UK. It’s used on an informal basis only, within Lancashire as part of a toast and by the Duke of Lancs Army regiment, as I said earlier (I grew up on the Duchy of Lancaster estate).

 

[DarloRich]

This isn’t correct, the title is in abeyance and doesn’t formally exist anymore, HM would never be addressed or referred to as Duke of Lancaster in the way that some other royals are known by different titles in different parts of the UK. It’s used on an informal basis only, within Lancashire as part of a toast and by the Duke of Lancs Army regiment, as I said earlier (I grew up on the Duchy of Lancaster estate).

That i did not know. I thought it existed as part of the hereditary honours in the monarchs name but was just not used. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[rebmcr]

I have not heard of any guard being positioned in case (say) DOO cameras failed, though it would not surprise me. 387s can be worked by guards, although finding someone with the route knowledge to route-conduct a guard with 387 knowledge (who would quite possibly be one of the few based South of the Thames in Southern land) would be quite the logistical effort.

What sort of challenge would it be to have a driver (who signs the route and 387s) carry out "standby guard" duties?

 

[HLE]

A union one to say the least.

A driver is there to drive it not act as a guard. Then there’s the fact not enough drivers are employed to cover the drivers’ diagrams without RDW in the first place

 

[6Gman]

What sort of challenge would it be to have a driver (who signs the route and 387s) carry out "standby guard" duties?

Drivers aren't trained in "guard duties" (whatever they may mean in this context) in the same way that Guards aren't trained in "driver duties".

 

[XDM]

Drivers aren't trained in "guard duties" (whatever they may mean in this context) in the same way that Guards aren't trained in "driver duties".

True now, but not 3 years ago.
Years ago, in exchange for a good pay rise, Southern Eastern drivers agreed to act as guards if needed, but without the revenue duties. Did not happen very much, but it did happen.
Then about 3 years ago, when South Eastern wanted to extended DOO from Strood 3 stations to Gillingham, ASLEF said only if you drop the guards' role. TOC agreed. Everyone happy. But I am told more than a few drivers quite enjoyed an occasionally different view of the route & stations from a guard's perspective. It was quite interesting.

 

[GodAtum]

Yes, absolutely. It's a normal service train. The Royal Party normally have one of the 1st class compartments for their exclusive use. Rumour this year is that they used the standard class bit right at the front of the train. Standard class and first class seats are exactly the same.

is there a 1st class service on that train?

 

[Hadders]

is there a 1st class service on that train?

There is indeed but on 387s the seats in 1st are exactly the same as those in standard - and to make matters worse they’re ironing board seats.

I’m surprised a 365 wasn’t substituted which has far better seating in both classes of accommodation.

 

[infobleep]

There is indeed but on 387s the seats in 1st are exactly the same as those in standard - and to make matters worse they’re ironing board seats.

I’m surprised a 365 wasn’t substituted which has far better seating in both classes of accommodation.

Surely they would want to promote a modern railway and so use the newer rolling stock.

Either that or the train is usually formed of those carriages so they did what they do every day.

 

[Hadders]

Class 365 trains operated between Kings Cross and Kings Lynn for the last 20 years. The 387s have mainly displaced the 365s on the Kings Lynn services although the 365s still make up many of the services operating to Cambridge and Peterborough.

I agree that you’d expect the railway to want to showcase its latest trains but it’s difficult to do that when the seating in 1st class on a 387 is exactly the same as in standard. Even GTR’s publicity for WiFi on the 387s used internal pictures from 365s, I can only assume they’re too embarrassed to publicise what the inside of a 387 looks like.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I am not implying the Queen dodged her fare.

.

...taxes on the other hand.

 

[DanTrain]

...taxes on the other hand.

Well she does pay them to 'Her Majesty's' revenue and customs, i.e. she pays them to herself anyway. Also, she was avoiding tax, not strictly dodging it

 

[BestWestern]

True now, but not 3 years ago.
Years ago, in exchange for a good pay rise, Southern Eastern drivers agreed to act as guards if needed, but without the revenue duties. Did not happen very much, but it did happen.
Then about 3 years ago, when South Eastern wanted to extended DOO from Strood 3 stations to Gillingham, ASLEF said only if you drop the guards' role. TOC agreed. Everyone happy. But I am told more than a few drivers quite enjoyed an occasionally different view of the route & stations from a guard's perspective. It was quite interesting.

Doesn't say much for the world-beating excellence of DOO, does it...

 

[Ianno87]

There is indeed but on 387s the seats in 1st are exactly the same as those in standard - and to make matters worse they’re ironing board seats.

I’m surprised a 365 wasn’t substituted which has far better seating in both classes of accommodation.

I'm not sure a 365 has even been to King's Lynn at all since the May TT change?

Plus the split/join at Cambridge on both outward and return (recoupling to opposing direction services each way) means that you can't just sub a 365 in without significant diagramming consequences.

That and the fact that 387s are more modern and better presentationally for 'the railway'.

 

[mpthomson]

Well she does pay them to 'Her Majesty's' revenue and customs, i.e. she pays them to herself anyway. Also, she was avoiding tax, not strictly dodging it

She doesn’t actually pay tax as such, as she’s exempt. Instead Prince Charles and her voluntarily give a percentage of the gross income from the Duchy estates directly to HMRC in lieu, in Charles’ case it’s 25% but used to be 50% prior to his marrying Diana.

 

[bramling]

I'm not sure a 365 has even been to King's Lynn at all since the May TT change?

Plus the split/join at Cambridge on both outward and return (recoupling to opposing direction services each way) means that you can't just sub a 365 in without significant diagramming consequences.

That and the fact that 387s are more modern and better presentationally for 'the railway'.

It has, I believe, happened a couple of times. There are ways it can happen, but as you say it presents diagramming challenges.

The picture does make me chuckle though, I can’t help but look at it and form the conclusion HM doesn’t look like she’s just concluded a comfortable journey! I bet she preferred the 365s.

 

[InOban]

Sorry if someone has pointed this out, but it would be quite inappropriate, even if practical, for her to use the Royal Train. She isn't on a royal visit. She's going on holiday to her private residence. I'm sure it's an official, and indeed commercial secret, but the party should be paying their fares.

 

[Ianno87]

It has, I believe, happened a couple of times. There are ways it can happen, but as you say it presents diagramming challenges.

The picture does make me chuckle though, I can’t help but look at it and form the conclusion HM doesn’t look like she’s just concluded a comfortable journey! I bet she preferred the 365s.

HM is notorious for her 'relaxed/contented' face always looking grumpy...even when she's not.

Much like Andy Murray and myself!

 

[mervyn72]

I heard that she started using public service trains a few years ago when there was very heavy snow in London and Norfolk so it was considered safer than driving. She enjoyed the experience so much, it sort of stuck. Might be nonsense but nice if it's true.

 

[LowLevel]

Strange operational occurrences do happen sometimes when important figures like Her Maj. are about - she visited Matlock by service train a couple of years ago (impossible to path the Royal Train without a cancellation or two which doubtless wouldn't be done to the great and the good of Derbyshire!!) and as if by magic the regular dogbox 153 unit transformed into one of the pocket sized 222s with first class for the occasion.

 

[mark-h]

There is indeed but on 387s the seats in 1st are exactly the same as those in standard - and to make matters worse they’re ironing board seats.

I am now imagining a Queen's Speech where she rants about the quality of seats on her train journey.

 

[jon0844]

There is indeed but on 387s the seats in 1st are exactly the same as those in standard - and to make matters worse they’re ironing board seats.

I’m surprised a 365 wasn’t substituted which has far better seating in both classes of accommodation.

Perhaps she wanted Wi-Fi access and a power socket to charge her phone and allow her to watch Game of Thrones?