Article: Governor Peter Underwood gets his royal carriage wish (Tasmania)

[ozbob]

From The Advocate click here!

Governor Peter Underwood gets his royal carriage wish

A CASUAL off-hand remark was made reality yesterday  when  Governor   Peter Underwood  was the first person to officially ride the rails on the restored royal carriage in Devonport.

When the carriage's restoration was completed in Launceston last year, Mr Underwood was invited to take a look at the completed refurbishments.
See your ad here

Don River Railway senior vice-president Glen Stewart said that Mr Underwood said at the time that he  would like to be the first to ride the carriage when it made its way to its new home in Devonport.

"And he took that very seriously and took us up on the offer, it's quite an honour, this carriage, to us, it's irreplaceable,'' Mr Stewart said.

The carriage took its first and last trip on the rails on the route to Coles Beach and back yesterday with Mr Underwood and  invited guests on board.

Mr Stewart said the carriage was one of a kind and said its future was set in stone at its new home.

"It's going to be put on display for public viewing,'' Mr Stewart said.

A ramp is  being built to run up alongside the carriage for curious onlookers to have a look at the interior of a carriage built for royalty.

Mr Stewart said Mr Underwood had been impressed with the carriage.

"He was very impressed with what he saw and enjoyed the ride,'' Mr Stewart said.

At the end of the tour Mr Underwood  was taken on a tour of the Don River Railway's workshop, which has been the envy of many other rail companies interstate.

"He just couldn't get over how big the workshop was,'' Mr Stewart said.

Devonport Mayor Steve Martin was among aldermen  and state politicians to be invited on the inaugural trip and said the council was very supportive of the work the Don River Railway did.

"Don River Railway is an attraction not just for Devonport but the whole region,'' Alderman Martin said.

Alderman Martin said the royal carriage was ``an impressive piece of history'' and said it was great to see it housed in Devonport.

The Devonport City Council offers in-kind support to the Don River Railway and Alderman Martin said it had offered funding support in the past "when it was needed''.

A Devonport City Council grant is being used to construct the viewing ramp that will allow spectators to look at the finished carriage.