An exhibition of European royal trains is to go on show at the Dutch Rail Museum in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

The collection, which includes trains used by Tsar Alexander II of Russia and Archduke Franz Ferdinand, opens to the public on April 15.

The collection will be opened by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, who will arrive in her own royal train — which will then go on display at the museum.

Actors dressed as royalty and other historical figures will be on hand to make the exhibition come to life.

King Albert I, Belgium

King Albert’s carriage dates from 1912.

King Ludwig II, Bavaria

Bavarian King Ludwig II’s train dates from 1860.

King Christian IX, Denmark

The interior of Danish King Christian IX’s royal carriage. The King was nicknamed the “father-in-law of Europe” for his six children’s marriages across European royal houses.

Tsar Alexander II, Russia

Russian Tsar Alexander II’ used his carriage from 1870

Queen Anna, the Netherlands

This drawing shows the interior of Dutch Queen Anna Pavlovna’s carriage

King Edward VII, Great Britain

British King Edward VII’s carriage dates from 1902.

Queen Adelaide, Great Britain

The carriage of British Queen Adelaide dates from 1842. The Australian city of Adelaide is named after the Queen, who was consort to William IV.

Queen Maria Pia, Portugal

The Portuguese Queen Maria Pia’s carriage dates from 1858 – the complete train is on show at the exhibition in Utrecht.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria

Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s carriage dates from 1910 – his assassination four years later began the First World War.

Source: AFPrelaxnews, 2010