Mary, Queen of Scots of 7 February 1587, Mary was told that she was to be executed the next morning. She spent the last hours of her life in prayer, distributing her belongings to her household, and writing her will and a letter to the King of France. The scaffold that was erected in the Great Hall was draped in black cloth. It was reached by two or three steps and furnished with the block, a cushion for her to kneel on and three stools, for her and the earls of Shrewsbury and Kent, who were there to witness the execution. The executioners (one
Queen of Scots (train) both afford the asking price and guarantee the safe future of these unique vehicles. West Coast Railways at Carnforth purchased the train outright in 2008 and have since fully restored it, albeit in a non-authentic livery. The train now makes at least two visits to Scotland during the summer months, providing personal transport for present day owner David Smith. The name "The Queen of Scots" was originally given to an LNER/BR Pullman train which ran from to via , , and . Through-trains from London to Scotland on the West Coast route did not initially have dining cars although the