75th Anniversary of Royal Family Visit to South Africa Day 7

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 Day 7: 6th February 1947


Captain's Diary

Today it has been intended that the Royal Family should visit HMS Implacable however there was too much swell.

The ship had been getting rigging up ready for the concert.

The Royal Family enjoyed the Cinema on the quarter deck.

After the Cinema I (Captain Agnew) was put to bed  with the top of my feet poisoned, probably caused by dye in my socks being rubbed in to the skin when dancing the previous day.

Fortunately I was not to ill so was able to command the Squadron from my sea cabin and a chair from the bridge.


Next mode of Transport the Royal Train and other 2 trains.

The train was planned back in 1945 with the Metro-Cammell Carriage and Wagon Company of Saltley Birmingham England. The build had an emphasis on comfortable utilitarianism rather than opulent luxury for the monarch and his family as well as for the several members of the Royal household who would be travelling in the carriages as well.

White Train
This was made up of 14 coaches, 8 built in England (Metro etc) and taken out in small ships, plus 6 coaches (lounge car, kitchen car, diners and baggage car) from the Blue train which normally ran between Johannesburg and cape Town. The White Train was the largest and heaviest that had ever traversed the South African railway system, it was 930ft 11 inches long. The train was painted in ivory and gold. The Kings bathroom had flush cream walls and the toilet fittings were in light green. As well as the Royal Family, this train carried private secretaries, ladies-in-waiting and equerries. The King, Queen and Princesses had separate carriages.

Pilot Train
This was always travelling half an hour ahead and carried rank and file police and railway representatives, the newspaper correspondents and photographers etc. This train was the communications link with the outside world and had a post office coach, telegraph office and even wireless communications with the White Train during travel.

Ghost Train
This train travelled at a distance behind the White train and was the maintenance/repair train.

Picture  of one of the carriages being off loaded in South Africa. Picture from the Book by South African Railways and Harbours Photo Journal.


The picture below is of the Kings Carriage

The White Train getting a clean up.


The next 4  pictures come from the supplement in the London Illustrated London News                       15th February 1947

HRH Princess Stateroom

The King's Stateroom


The Queen's Stateroom


The Royal Family Lounge



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