Coronation Cruise Ends With a Glorious Highlight!
The Caronia Coronation Cruise of 1953 was probably one of the most special of her career. Having now firmly established her reputation as a superlative vessel to travel in, this particular cruise was aimed at those who wished to do a Mediterranean and European Tour in style! This would culminate in being present in the crowds witnessing the Coronation Procession, with reserved seats in a specially built viewing stand at Apsley House which stands right in the heart of London, at Hyde Park Corner.
Uniquely, the Caronia would be used as their floating hotel for two nights at Southampton for the duration of the Coronation. Usually upon arrival there, all the passengers would disembark within a few hours, with precedence given to those who wished to “Catch a Cunard Queen” for their return crossing to the USA.
On this occasion however, an excursion to the New Forest, Salisbury and Winchester, by specially chartered Pullman train no less, was held on the Friday. The passengers returning to the Caronia for an overnight stay before boarding more special Pullman trains to London very early on the following morning.
Obviously with this major pageant, British Railways would have been running several extra trains to and from London anyway, so any additional return trains specifically for Caronia's passengers would indeed have been something really special.
Barry D. Smith sent in this information giving clearer details of the actual arrangements…
Extract from "PULLMAN" (pub 1983) by Julian Morel
“1953-CORONATION AND SPITHEAD REVIEW”
Pullman's sister organisation, Thomas Cook & Son had built a giant 5,500 seat stand on the Coronation route at Apsley House and Pullman had responsibility for the catering. It was a Cook's-Pullman venture inspired by joint chairman Stanley Adams.
The stand was fully booked, each person received an elaborate meal box prepared at (Pullman's) Battersea stores and supplemented by a running buffet service. Cook's had a party of 500 American visitors to the Coronation brought over on the Caronia. This was a Coronation Cruise on Cunard's luxury liner and was major operation in itself, extending over three days.
On Monday 1st June, an excursion was arranged to the cathedral cities of Winchester and Salisbury with luncheon and tea served en-route. About 100 Caronia passengers were carried in a 5-car Pullman train.
[Left:]
01 June 1953 day excursion Pullman Train ticket face. Note the equally “posh” fare of 31
shillings and sixpence, this equating to 1½
Guineas
[Image: Courtesy of Andrew Fairholm]
On Coronation Day, the 500 Caronia passengers were taken by two 12-car all Pullman trains at 4am and 4.15am from Southampton to Victoria and then conveyed by coach to and from the Apsley House stand at Hyde Park Corner. The party returned to their ship that evening, leaving Victoria at 6.57pm and 7.34pm. Breakfast was served on the morning journey and dinner on the return.
The next day, Wednesday 3rd June, 125 passengers from the Caronia were conveyed in a 6-car Pullman train from Southampton New Docks to Dover Marine en-route for Paris.
