GCR "pullman" train

These shots show what both bar cars look like having been converted from a SK and TSO

http://clive-hanley.fotopic.net/p64057160.html
http://clive-hanley.fotopic.net/p64057154.html
http://clive-hanley.fotopic.net/p64057155.html

Pictures of the FO
http://clive-hanley.fotopic.net/p66560598.html
http://clive-hanley.fotopic.net/p66560597.html

And the RKB 1525 (RK)
http://railphotosbycliffjones.fotopic.net/p67819332.html

 

The FO looks great - apart from those luggage racks. Why leave them in ?

Bob.

 

That bar looks wonderful, just the right height, as Mr Valentine (Titfield Thunderbolt) would say!

On that subject, now the Upwell Tramway coach is restored, surely it is only a matter of time before it is paired with a 14xx and a Toad in a photo Charter.

 

The luggage racks are VERY useful for parking winter coats, camera cases on, leave them in!:clap2:

 

Just to add, the two bar cars have been given the numbers 1898 and 1899 (unused numbers in the BR series I gather - and 'coincidentally' the years the GCR opened to goods and passenger trains respectively).
1899 was converted first and is ex-TSO 4758
1898 was converted second and is ex-SK 25788
All of the GCR's Pullman-liveried carriages have their numbers on the body ends, if anyone was wondering.

Phil

 

The SK had an intact SK (But unrestored) interior.

In the case of the "Pullmans" 3042 had a retrim and repaint, 3092 had a repaint, 1525 had a rebuild but still awaits replacement bogies, The BG had a repaint inside and out.
And the majority of the work was centred around the 2 Bar Cars which was largely done inhouse and the rebuild of the kitchen vehicle offsite.
The livery isnt to my liking though.

The difference between the two dining trains is that one has the inclusion of bar cars and a different menu, service etc. but everything else is pretty much identical.
The only problem I see now is what is going to replace both 3126 and 3079 as FOs in the orginal dining set when they get their respective rebuilds? the same could be said for 1526? In retrospect, Its a shame they sold 3095 a few years ago.

 

I'm not aware of any intention to 'replace' 3079 or 3126 - the 'Pullman' set was always said to be six coaches. For a 'spare' FO we could, at a pinch, use the railway's one remaining SO which is quite nice inside - just has a little less leg room. For 1526 I imagine a griddle vehicle and a reduced menu would have to do, as has happened before. But neither is a problem unless there are two dining trains out at once, which has never happened before anyway so must be a rare event, although that may change if the Pullman set is to be used for corporate events. Longer term, there is always No.3 as a replacement FO...

 

You might want to retract that comment. They did an amazing job recreating the Pullman style interior.

 

I don't think they were every trying to recreate an authentic Pullman interior. Spending money on these sort of details would not bring in any more income for their catering operations.

What they have created is a higher quality environment (carpets, curtains etc) than a standard Mk1 which is what local businesses and private parties might expect. They are competing against local hotels and function rooms for this sort of business.

It may not be historically correct, but if it makes money and brings in more customers, good luck to them.

Richard

 

Bit of a technical point here, but when we are talking about Pullman style, we might want to include the era! I know when someone says Pullman to me, I immediately think of VSOE, HOWEVER, Vintage Trains have late 1950's Metro Camel Pullmans that have a very different interior.

Anyway, the GCR Pullman Train looks great. It was a pleasure to get a pre-launch tour earlier this year. The food is pretty good too! Highly recommended!

 

You are entitled to your opinion, and I'm entitled to mine. As far as I can tell, all they've done to the FOs is reupholster the seating and put up curtains. That isn't "recreating the Pullman style interior, it's freshening up a Mk 1 FO interior. The bar cars are nothing like Pullmans either, whether of "classic" or Metro-Cammell variety.

 

They look look very nice inside but it is a shame they are not in an authenthic livery.