Title
Drawings and notes relating to a proposed coach for the Prince of Wales, Great Northern Railway
Reference
CPW
Production date
14-10-1875 - 08-11-1875
Creator
- Great Northern Railway CoBiographyBiography
The Great Northern Railway Co (GNR) was authorised in 1846 to build a line from London to Doncaster via Hitchin, Peterborough and Grantham with a loop line from Peterborough to Bawtry via Lincoln and branches to Sheffield and Wakefield. The first section between Louth and Grimsby opened in 1848. The proper main line was opened in stages; by 1849 services were running from Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln and in 1850 services from London (Maiden Lane) to Peterborough started. In 1852 Kings Cross station and the main line between Peterborough, Grantham and Retford were completed. Coupled with its running powers over parts of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway and the York and North Midland Railway north of Doncaster, the GNR offered services between London and York. A combination of running powers, acquisitions and promotion of new railways, eventually gave the GNR access to Bradford Cambridge, Halifax, Leicester and Nottingham. The GNR also invested in joint railways including the Great Northern & Great Eastern Joint (Huntingdon-March–Doncaster), the Cheshire Lines Committee and in 1889 the Midland & Great Northern Railway giving access to North Norfolk, Norwich and the east coast.
The GNR main line was part of the through route to Scotland and it established the East Coast Joint Stock, a common pool of vehicles, with the North Eastern Railway and the North British Railway. The Flying Scotsman was the most famous train service on that route. The GNR operated intensive passenger express services as well as suburban services to Hatfield, Dunstable and St Albans, and in North London and West Yorkshire, and local passenger services in Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. Its principal freight business was the transport of coal from Yorkshire, and later from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, to London, and the conveyance of coal to and bricks from the brickfields in the Peterborough area.
The GNR’s principal works were at Doncaster where it built locomotives and carriages. Its famous locomotives include the Stirling Singles, Ivatt’s Atlantics and Gresley’s 1922 Pacific.
Scope and Content
File contains drawings and notes relating to a proposed coach for the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, by the Great Northern Railway, 1875, with designs by Thomas Ashbury. The papers comprise a letter headed “Prince of Wales’ Salon” dated 28th Oct 1875, detailing some of the changes the Prince wanted, addressed to “Mr Sterling”, a sketch of the proposed carriage with an attached memo giving the dimensions and a sample of upholstery, a letter dated 14th Oct 1875 addressed to the Office of the superintendent of the line at Leeds, from Mr Cockshott, superintendent of the Great Northern Railway, relaying a request from Lord Colville to prepare drawings for a royal saloon for the Prince of Wales, a drawing of “Proposed Royal Saloon” Doncaster 18th Oct 1875. Scale ½ inch to 1 foot, 3 drawings showing the interior layout of the proposed coach, singed Thomas Ashbury, who was the Managing Director, Ashbury Railway Carriage and Iron Works, Openshaw, Manchester, 8th Nov 1875, a drawing of “proposed royal saloon” Doncaster 20th Oct 1875. Scale ½ inch to 1 foot, a drawing of “Proposed Royal Saloon Carriage” Doncaster Oct 1875. Scale ½ inch to 1 foot, a drawing of “Proposed Royal Saloon” Doncaster 3rd Nov 1875. Scale ½ inch to 1 foot. Includes note on changes made after letter from Lord Colville, Lord Chamberlin to the Princess of Wales and a director of the Great Northern Railway.
Extent
1 volume
Physical description
Good condition but fragile, some tearing to drawings.
Language
English
Archival history
The file was found in a private collection and is likely to have originated from George William King, employee of the London North Eastern Railway who worked as a Premium Apprentice and then Draftsman at Stratford works, Doncaster Works and was Chief Draftsman at Gorton. Donated to the National Railway Museum by a private donor, 2009.
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
National Railway Museum, York
Associated people and organisations
- Great Northern Railway CoBiographyBiography
The Great Northern Railway Co (GNR) was authorised in 1846 to build a line from London to Doncaster via Hitchin, Peterborough and Grantham with a loop line from Peterborough to Bawtry via Lincoln and branches to Sheffield and Wakefield. The first section between Louth and Grimsby opened in 1848. The proper main line was opened in stages; by 1849 services were running from Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln and in 1850 services from London (Maiden Lane) to Peterborough started. In 1852 Kings Cross station and the main line between Peterborough, Grantham and Retford were completed. Coupled with its running powers over parts of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway and the York and North Midland Railway north of Doncaster, the GNR offered services between London and York. A combination of running powers, acquisitions and promotion of new railways, eventually gave the GNR access to Bradford Cambridge, Halifax, Leicester and Nottingham. The GNR also invested in joint railways including the Great Northern & Great Eastern Joint (Huntingdon-March–Doncaster), the Cheshire Lines Committee and in 1889 the Midland & Great Northern Railway giving access to North Norfolk, Norwich and the east coast.
The GNR main line was part of the through route to Scotland and it established the East Coast Joint Stock, a common pool of vehicles, with the North Eastern Railway and the North British Railway. The Flying Scotsman was the most famous train service on that route. The GNR operated intensive passenger express services as well as suburban services to Hatfield, Dunstable and St Albans, and in North London and West Yorkshire, and local passenger services in Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. Its principal freight business was the transport of coal from Yorkshire, and later from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, to London, and the conveyance of coal to and bricks from the brickfields in the Peterborough area.
The GNR’s principal works were at Doncaster where it built locomotives and carriages. Its famous locomotives include the Stirling Singles, Ivatt’s Atlantics and Gresley’s 1922 Pacific.
Subject
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System of arrangement
Single Item
