Utrecht Railway Museum: Royal Class

[John Ashworth]

I'm in Utrecht for work this week and I popped into the Utrecht Railway Museum. I wish I had brought my camera to Europe, but I didn't bother as I thought I'd be stuck in the office - lesson learnt!

They are preparing a new exhibition called "Royal Class" which includes royal coaches from various countries, including Sweden, Belgium and Netherlands. Some are relatively modern, others look like little old horse-drawn road coaches sitting on railway chassis.

I just missed seeing an Irish royal coach being unloaded from an Allelys Heavy Haulage articulated lorry, although I did get to watch the lorry putting itself back together for its return journey empty. The coach is a Great Southern and Western Railway vehicle, number 351, from 1903. I chatted to the Irish railwayman who accompanied it and was told it carried King Edward VII, his wife and his mistress (not necessarily all at the same time). After independence it was used for Irish presidents and visiting heads of state. Being broad gauge it has to sit on temporary tracks here in the musuem.

Also broad gauge on temporary tracks is a locomotive and royal coaches from Portugal. The loco, No 1, was built by Beyer Peacock in 1862. I noticed a Dutch Beyer Peacock in another corner of the museum - British loco builders certainly spread themselves around.

The British war department loco which I photographed last time I was here (a year or so ago) is now outside, split from its tender, and there seems to be some maintenance going on.

The Royal Class exhibition is from 15th May to 5th September 2010. If anyone is planning to pass through this part of the Netherlands, the museum is worth a look.