Choe Sŭng-min's personal train
Menghean leader Choe Sŭng-min received a railway train gifted by the National Railway Company of Themiclesia. While the 20-car train is technically not Choe's personal property, it was given to him in a period of rapid détente between Menghe and Themiclesia and preceded the sale of locomotives and rolling stock to Menghe and co-operation between the two states in this department. In 1990, Choe was not yet established as sole leader, but the train included many features typically reserved for heads of state and has been interpreted politically by some commentators. This train has been used by Choe in his tours of the country from time to time.
Background
In December 1987, some officers of the Menghean army effected a coup d'êtat against the communist Democratic People's Republic of Menghe, which had been languishing economically under its collectivist and isolationist policies. Due to its ongoing development of nuclear weapons, global embargoes were imposed, creating widespread famine. After the coup, its new government appealed for lifting of trade restrictions and international assistance, with a commitment to dismantle its nuclear arsenal. Themiclesia had been one of the first states to respond, providing food and medical supplies short in many Menghean communities, by sea and through the Trans-Hemithean Railway, which was severed in 1960. For party-political reasons, the Themiclesian government was supportive of a rapid détente between Hemithean states much more than the Foreign Office advised, resulting in several probative programmes to normalize relations and provide for early capitalization in Menghean enterprises.
The Themiclesian Liberals, in particular, believed that a less militarist and unilateralist government must be supported at all costs to prevent a "disastrous and expensive retrogression to a divided Hemithea". The train is often considered an a gift with greater political than financial value. Gro Mu of the University of Lower Themiclesia said that the train "is a mobile piece of proof that its occupant commanded the confidence of foreign governments and material, which are key to restoring basic living standards in the famished state; on the one hand, it buys Themiclesia goodwill in the relief effort, and on the other, it describes Choe as a man who can work with foreign governments, unliked his predecessors he deposed."
Consist
Locomotion and power
Adhesion was provided by two D27 diesel locomotives that entered passenger service in Themiclesia in 1984. It was then the newest diesel locomotives, though by that point they were primarily used on non-electrified parts of the network, principally in the remote north and east. These locomotives can travel with the train at a top speed of 165 km/h. The choice of a diesel locomotive was not accidental, as it permitted the train to move through both electrified and non-electrified lines; this flexibility was thought important to Choe's assumed need to appear at remote locations where lines may not be yet electrified. Similarly, only one locomotive was really needed to haul the train, but a second one was provided as a spare engine in case the first needed repairs. A diesel tender, numbered DT27-004 in Themiclesian workshops, was added to provide extra fuel in case the train's schedule prohibited refuelling stops.
Following the tender were two generator cars to supply electricity for lighting, air conditioning, and the kitchen. While one generator was sufficient, a second one was added to provide for any additional equipment the Menghean government may wish to install. Next to the generators were two baggage vans. Though numbered this way, these two cars had no luggage racks and are assumed to be space reserved for communications apparatus.
State rooms
The three carriages consisting of the state apartment meant for Choe's use were given the designation SA, standing for "saloon". Lower Themiclesia Railway Works, the world-renowned manufacturer of luxury carriages and of all Themiclesian royal trains since 1889, was retained by the NRC to furnish and upholster the three carriages, though they were under instructions to exercise restraint in furnishing the state apartment. The Foreign Office emphasized that the Chairman's apartments "should be furnished according to the highest standard of workmanship, but should not contain unnecessary extravagances." Ultimately, the LTRW used wood panels and beige silks to finish the interior and polished brass as accents on knobs and lights. Floors were parquet wood, but red velvet carpet was added to suppress noise; the carpet could be removed if wood floors were preferred.
The first state car contained the Chairman's bedchamber, bath, library, and private dining room. A side corridor ran along its length so that individuals walking through the carriage would not disrupt the occupant. The bedchamber contained a full-sized bed and mattress with space for a canopy above, though it remains unclear if a canopy was actually provided by the NRC or not. There is a wardrobe accessed from the bedchamber. Connected to the bedchamber was a bathtub with a nearby water tank and electric heater. A small toilet and sink is one sliding door from the bath and opens on the other side to the library, which contained bookcases and two desks and chairs. The more ornate desk was meant for the Chairman. Next, there is a dining room with two tables, one for the Chairman under a large window, and the other fitted with coils to keep a private buffet.
The second was designed to be a working space for senior members of the Menghean government. On one end, there is a meeting room, with a large table and 25 chairs. With all 25, the table appears cramped, and some chairs may be removed if a smaller meeting, especially amongst the Steering Committee, was expected. Two small desks were positioned at the corners of the room, probably meant for stenographers. This meeting room is 14 metres in lenght and occupied the larger part of the car. A "projector room" is also known to be on this car. While its finished interior has not been photographed due to heavy curtains almost always closed, this room likely contains seats facing a screen, on which slides may be projected. It is not known if a projector was included. One toilet is situated at the end of the carriage.
The third contained a dining room and a reception area. Like the meeting room, the dining room could sit 25 along a large table. The reception area contains several movable couches loosely arranged and tea tables. This is a design typical on Themiclesian state trains, for dignitaries to socialize with each other, thus the provision of unemcumbered spaces. Likewise, there is one toilet at the end of the carriage.
Attending facilities
Between the baggage vans and first state car is the attendants' car, where those serving the Chairman's personal needs normally wait until called. In the workshop, this car has a designation FP, for first-class passenger, but it is extensively modified and does not resemble one running on the Themiclesian railways. There is a cubicle for physicians and a cabinet for equipment and medicine. A writing office is next to it with several desks, provided for his staff. On the other end of the carriage, there are eight swivel chairs that are usual on other FP carriages.
Connected to the third state car is another modified FP carriage given the internal name "antechamber" by the workshop. It contains two dressing rooms meant for male and female visitors, if they did not arrive appropriately-dressed for a meeting with the national leader. It also functions as a waiting space for visitors who have boraded but are not yet summoned to meet the Chairman. The remainder of the carriage is populated by ten swivel chairs. There is also a pair of opposing loveseats on the far end, meant for conversations. There is an attendant chamber in this carriage like in most FP designs in Themiclesia.
There are four identical first-class sleeper cars attached to the train. In each cabin, there is a sleeper area with a bed and a working area with a small desk and chair; there are six cabins like this on each sleeper car. These cars are provided for dignitaries staying on the train overnight. There is one second-class sleeper on the train meant for the Chairman's staff. This sleeper car has ten cabins, five of which sleep four, four sleep two, and one sleeps one, for a capacity of 29.
There exist two further first-class seating cars that are not modified for any specific purpose and are meant for visitors. Each of these cars sits 16 in large, plush swivel chairs, and both have conversation cubicles that could be closed via a sliding door. One section sits four, and the other sits two. Both cars also possess attendants' cubicles. A second-class passenger car that sits 48 in twelve rows of 2 + 1 abreast is present for less important individuals or overflow from the first-class sections.
A first-class dining car is provided with the train. This car includes a kitchen that operates electric ranges and features refrigerators, ovens, and other culinary euqipment. There is a small pantry where non-perishable foods may be stored. There are 42 seats in this car. While actual practice is not certain, the kitchen was designed to supply food for both the Chairman's private table and the restaurant.
At the rear of the train is an observation car, ending in a covered patio. This is meant for the Chairman's publicity needs, where he might wave to onlookers or enjoy a relatively-unobstructed view of the scenery.
Security measures
The NRC referred to security measures meant for Themiclesia's own royal trains that have been in place for decades. These include extra-thick glass and bodywork that provide extra protection against projectiles and explosions. However, the plans and details of security features in the train are covered by diplomatic secrecy and delivered to Menghean authorities, for convenience of augmentation or repair.
Summary
It should be noted that the following summary is taken as the train was en route to Menghe over the Trans-Hemithean Railway in 1990 and later as published in the NRC's audit report, where every carriage in the train is provided with a short description. Exact specifications have never been revealed fully by the NRC or any of the contractors involved in this train's manufacture for diplomatic reasons. As seen in Menghe, this train does not always run with all carriages delivered in 1990. This is particularly true when the train operated on branch lines, where platforms may be shorter than its length. Some media sources have speculated on the identity of Choe's followers given the visible formation of the train, since the type of carriage can be discerned from the distribution of its windows, even if nothing is visible through them.
| # | Designation | Capacity | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| D27 | Main locomotive, diesel-mechanical | ||
| D27 | Spare locomotive, diesel-mechanical | ||
| 1 | DT27 | Diesel tender | |
| 2 | EGX6 | Diesel generator with tank | |
| 3 | EGX6 | Diesel generator with tank | |
| 4 | BX7 | Baggage van with caboose | |
| 5 | BX7 | Baggage van with caboose | |
| 6 | DX7 | 18 | First class passenger, modified fore-end |
| 7 | SAX7 | Saloon with bed, bath, tank and heater, library furniture, dining room | |
| 8 | SAX7 | Meeting room, projector room | |
| 9 | SAX7 | 25 | Reception area |
| 10 | DX7 | 12 | First class passenger seating and changing rooms |
| 11 | FSX7 | 7 | First class sleeper |
| 12 | FSX7 | 7 | First class sleeper |
| 13 | FSX7 | 7 | First class sleeper |
| 14 | FSX7 | 7 | First class sleeper |
| 15 | DX7 | 16 | First class passenger seating |
| 16 | DX7 | 42 | First class kitchen and restaurant |
| 17 | DX7 | 16 | First class passenger seating |
| 18 | SX7 | 48 | Second class passenger seating |
| 19 | SSX7 | 29 | Second class sleeper |
| 20 | PX7 | 10 | First class passenger seating, cubicle, observation platform, with caboose |
Livery
As delivered, the locomotive and train came with a matte charcoal grey base and a single white band running its entire length, located under the windows.