The Coronation (train)

Named to mark the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, it was inaugurated on 5 July 1937.

[2] The train was formed of four two-car articulated units, with a 'beaver-tail' observation car added in summer, marshalled as follows on a southbound service from Edinburgh to London, the northbound service from London to Edinburgh would be marshalled the opposite way round with the Locomotive and tender, and observation car being coupled to the opposite ends (see image right).

26 coaches were built – three of each type of articulated pair plus two observation cars, sufficient to form three eight-coach trains.

[5] The train was usually hauled by a streamlined LNER Class A4 'Pacific' locomotive, in a special garter blue livery with red wheels.

In 1948, various vehicles returned to service as general passenger stock, but they never ran as a full set again - the observation cars were transferred to the West Highland line in 1956.