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[Rangie]

I'd like to know why all the sand on the roads 

.

I believe it helps the gun carriage move easier read about it earlier in the week.

[Lizzie Zoom]

.....
 and for once they stopped the babbling commentary for the Westminster Hall session.  What a relief, and  ....

Exactly!

but when that coffin descended into the vault of St. Georges Chapel................ :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Charles had a teary eye

Didn't he just from what I saw through my tears!

[Andy B]

I'd like to know why all the sand on the roads 

.

I believe it helps the gun carriage move easier read about it earlier in the week.

Thanks

[Doctor Gollum]

Some of the answers on tinterwebs are laughable, but officially it allows the carriage to be turned without slipping/skidding.

Not dissimilar to sanding train tracks in the winter months

[Andy B]

I don't really see how it helped it turn as the carriage pivoted in the middle - the coffin was carried on just 1 part of it .... it couldn't NOT turn. But if that's what they said 

[Doctor Gollum]

I don't really see how it helped it turn as the carriage pivoted in the middle - the coffin was carried on just 1 part of it .... it couldn't NOT turn. But if that's what they said 

Being pivoted won't stop the wheels on the outside of the turn from wanting slip sideways. 2.5 tonnes will have a reasonable amount of momentum to control when changing direction

And don't forget both axles are fixed rather than steered so the line the wheels take through a turn are different to those with steerable hubs.

[Lizzie Zoom]

I don't really see how it helped it turn as the carriage pivoted in the middle - the coffin was carried on just 1 part of it .... it couldn't NOT turn. But if that's what they said 

I understood from the BBC commentator that the sand stopped the horses skidding on the road surface

[Andy B]

....
And don't forget both axles are fixed rather than steered so the line the wheels take through a turn are different to those with steerable hubs.

The axle might be fixed but each wheel seemed to spin freely on eaxh axle to me ....

[Andy B]

I don't really see how it helped it turn as the carriage pivoted in the middle - the coffin was carried on just 1 part of it .... it couldn't NOT turn. But if that's what they said 

I understood from the BBC commentator that the sand stopped the horses skidding on the road surface

That sounds more like it .... I know from when I had studs in my drill boots (they make a nice noise) they were pretty slippery on some surfaces

[STEMO]

I watched the procession to Westminster Abbey and from there to Buckingham Palace. I skipped the bits about god in the middle. The sound of the boots on the ground, the pipes, Big Ben tolling at lengthy intervals, accompanied by the guns at Hyde Park, gave me the goosebumps.
It was totally absorbing. I never uttered a word, I was just lost in the occasion. For a short time, I actually felt pride in my country. We'll never see the like of that again.

[Doctor Gollum]

https://youtu.be/4t2y60WsV5M

A short piece about the carriage, and whilst it doesn't answer the question re the sand, it is something that was clearly used during Churchills funeral...

[Nick W]

I watched the procession to Westminster Abbey and from there to Buckingham Palace. I skipped the bits about god in the middle. The sound of the boots on the ground, the pipes, Big Ben tolling at lengthy intervals, accompanied by the guns at Hyde Park, gave me the goosebumps.
It was totally absorbing. I never uttered a word, I was just lost in the occasion. For a short time, I actually felt pride in my country. We'll never see the like of that again.

Big Ben is struck by the clock mechanism, and can't be rung.


You were listening to the half-muffled tenor of Westminster Abbey.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I watched the procession to Westminster Abbey and from there to Buckingham Palace. I skipped the bits about god in the middle. The sound of the boots on the ground, the pipes, Big Ben tolling at lengthy intervals, accompanied by the guns at Hyde Park, gave me the goosebumps.
It was totally absorbing. I never uttered a word, I was just lost in the occasion. For a short time, I actually felt pride in my country. We'll never see the like of that again.

Similar here. I had to work as it became a bank holiday. I planned on watching some of it, but sat there for the whole six hours feeling pretty proud of what this country is still capable of when it matters.
And your right, we will never see the like of it again. Here, or anywhere else.

[STEMO]

I watched the procession to Westminster Abbey and from there to Buckingham Palace. I skipped the bits about god in the middle. The sound of the boots on the ground, the pipes, Big Ben tolling at lengthy intervals, accompanied by the guns at Hyde Park, gave me the goosebumps.
It was totally absorbing. I never uttered a word, I was just lost in the occasion. For a short time, I actually felt pride in my country. We'll never see the like of that again.

Big Ben is struck by the clock mechanism, and can't be rung.


You were listening to the half-muffled tenor of Westminster Abbey.

I kind of thought that, Nick, but the bbc commentator definitely mentioned Big Ben. Whichever bell it was, it was impressive.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Thats what you get for watching the Beeb.