When The King came to America...

Seventy-five years ago, as Europe teetered on the edge of a Second World War, a series of important meetings occurred between King George VI of England President Franklin Roosevelt of the United States of America. While I don't plan on going into the political aspect of the visit, I will go into a few of the more esoteric aspect of the trip.

From May 17, 1939 until June 15, 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toured Canada, marking the first visit of a reigning monarch to visit Canada. And from June 7th to June 10th, they took a short trip into the United States as a part of that visit, marking the first visit to the United States by a reigning British monarch.

Accompanied by Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, they entered they United States at 9:05pm by train at Niagara Falls where they de-trained and were greeted by Secretary of State Hull and British Ambassador Lindsay. From here they traveled on to Buffalo over the New York Central Railroad where they arrived at 10:59pm. From there they traveled over the Pennsylvania Railroad to Harrisburg and on to Baltimore, where they changed from steam engines to the GG-1 electric engines for their trip into Washington, D.C. 

There were no plans for an official visit to Baltimore, as they would only be stopped for six minutes to allow for an engine and crew change. Mrs Emma D. Price of Ten Hills in Baltimore thought that Baltimore should do something to greet Their Majesties, but was denied official permission from the State Department to do so. She then approached officials with the Pennsylvania Railroad who wired her request to York, Pennsylvania. She waited in the train shed and when the train arrived was told that The King and Queen had agreed to meet with her. she presented the American Beauty Roses to Queen Elizabeth on behalf of the Mayor of Baltimore and his wife. 

Mrs Emma D. Price, of Ten Hills in Baltimore, presenting Queen Elizabeth with a bouquet of American Beauty Roses at Pennsylvania Station in Baltimore

Baltimore Sun Photo

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on the platform of their Royal Train

at Pennsylvania Station as they prepare to depart Baltimore.

International News Photo

With the engine and crew change complete, The King and Queen continued on to Washington where they arrived at Union Station on track 20. There President Roosevelt greeted them in the President's Waiting Room, part of the station recently occupied by B. Smith's Restaurant.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Track 20 in Union Station as they prepare to meet 
President Roosevelt.

AP Wire Photo

The Presidential Waiting Room in Union Station. The Walls of the room were cream, trimmed in gold and a deep green.

AP Wire Photo

President Roosevelt greets King George VI in the Presidential Waiting Room at Union Station. Left to right: Mrs Roosevelt, President Roosevelt, Brigadier General Edwin Watson, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Secretary of State Hull

Wide World Photos

After the visit to Washington, which included a trip down the Potomac to Mount Vernon, they continued on to Red Bank, NJ, over the Pennsylvania Railroad, From here Their Majesties traveled by motor coach to Fort Hancock. Here they boarded a US Navy destroyer for their trip into New York City and the 1939 New York World's Fair.

From New York, they continued on to Hyde Park by car, eventually returning to Canada at Rouses Point by way of the New York Central Railroad and the Delaware and Hudson Railroad.

Route of the Royal Train in the United States of America

The cars of the Royal Train were decorated in royal blue with a car-length band of aluminum running across the window area. The aluminum panels were applied in diamond-shaped designs to flash more brilliantly in the sun. Above and below the windows were thin gold bands running the length of each car. The last two cars, where The King and Queen stayed, carried the royal coat of arms in the center under the windows. Each car featured a radio and telephone. The six Canadian National cars were prepared at their Point St. Charles shops. The six Canadian Pacific cars were prepared at their Angus shops. All but the last two cars of the train carried the royal cypher and crown centered below their window lines and a royal crown at each end of the blue stripe above the window line.

Joseph Charbonneau completing the transfer work on the Royal Coat-of-Arms

at the Canadian National Shops at Point St. Charles

Wide World Photos

The two cars occupied by The King and Queen were as follows.

Canadian National Governor General's Car #1 - Open end observation car. Contained two bedroom suites for The King and Queen, a sitting room overlooking the rear platform, and two bedrooms for members of the royal staff. The car carried the royal coat of arms centered below the windows.

The King's Bedroom

Associated Press Photo

Canadian National Governor General's Car #2 - This car featured a large sitting room, and, ahead of that, a dining room with seating for 12. The car carried the royal coat of arms centered below the windows.

Royal Sitting Room complete with Radio and Telephone

Associated Press Photo

Private Dining Room for the King and Queen seen from the Royal Sitting Room

Associate Press Photo

The follow are the remaining cars which made up the Royal Train on this visit.

Canadian Pacific End Door Baggage Car 4473 - This car contained a small Bellis & Morcom generator to supply the train with electricity, powered by steam from the locomotive. Also contained a set of six floodlights to illuminate the train and its surroundings at night.

Canadian Pacific Baggage Sleeper 4484 - This car contained refrigerated food storage and a telephone PBX switchboard to connect the train with telephone service at various stops. Also contained a steam pressing table, ironing board and storage for uniforms and linens. The car also provided sleeping quarters for some of the train's staff.

Canadian National Dining Car 1330 - This car was the latest type of dining car in service with seating for 40.

Canadian Pacific 8 Section on 4 Bedroom Sleeping Car "Viceroy" - This car provided sleeping quarters for several Canadian Mounties, plus a barber shop.

Canadian Pacific 14 Bedroom Sleeper Car "Grand Pre" - This car held the Train Office and provided sleeping accommodations for several officials.

Canadian National Business Car 99 - This car was used by the Lord-in-Waiting, John Scott, The Earl of Eldon, and the Lord Chamberlain, David Lyulph Gore Wolseley Ogilvy, The Earl of Airlie.

Canadian National 6 Compartment Lounge Car "Atlantic" 1196 - This car was used by other members of the royal party.

Canadian Pacific Private Car "Wentworth" - This car was used by the Prime Minister in attendance, William Lyon Mackenzie King, and his staff.

Canadian National 6 Compartment Lounge Car "Pacific" 1197 - This car was used by other members of the royal party.

Canadian Pacific 14 Bedroom Sleeper Car "Grand Manan" - This car provided accommodations for the personal servants of Their Majesties.

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Time to catch a Train...

On Monday, I took the train to Manhattan. I have only been to the city a few times before and never without traveling companions.

But I'm not going to write about the trip, rather I'm going to write about the Journey...

I think Paul Theroux captured the experience of rail travel best in his travel novel, "The Great Railway Bazaar." Travel isn't about the destination, but about the journey.

 Interior of Pennsylvania Station 1910-1963

Rail travel will never be what it once was in the days before the Second World War. The great Pennsylvania Station in New York, the grand corporate structure in steel, glass and sculpture designed by McKim, Mead and White, has been gone nearly 50 years and will never be again.

But as I was rocked to sleep by the gentle swing of the train as we glided through the dark and fog, I was transported back, ever so slightly to a time, not so long ago, when travel was less chaotic, less hurried. 

With each station, sometimes small and sometimes large groups of passengers would join or depart the train as we moved ever closer to our destinations.

They have added some modern conveniences to the train today. They have Wi-Fi connectivity both in the stations as well as in each train car so it is quite easy to stay in touch with the outside world, should you desire.

I've had a chance to travel by train quite a bit in America. I've been a far north as New York city, south as Orlando, south-west as Atlanta, and west as Charleston, West Virginia. Those steel rails take you through the front and back yards of America, letting you see what the Interstate highways and pale blue flight paths allow you to miss.

The trip took about two and a half hours each way and we were on time both ways.

While some may disagree and not every experience may be as pleasant as mine, I find the train to be relaxing and more civilized way to travel, void of the chaos of the outside world. And for a trip to and from Manhattan, I cannot think of a simpler, less expensive and more civilized way to travel than by train, even today.

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