Blue Pullman Revival

... well almost!

Interesting sight to come out of Eastleigh this autumn:

http://railwayherald.com/uknews/blue-pullman-takes-to-the-rails-in-november

And the subsequent tour:

https://www.statesmanrail.com/journey/the-midland-pullman

 

Believe it or not, I’m quite looking forward to seeing it!
Luckily, it’s first run starts in my neck of the woods.
Often used to see one of the original sets at Birmingham Snow Hill when I lived in the West Midlands.

 

https://www.statesmanrail.com/journey/the-midland-pullman

 

I like the "the HST powercars will not carry a yellow front end, thanks to modified highlights" yet the standard for this requires a Cyclops light which is not visible on the mock up drawing. The jury is very much out on this one. Hope to see it emerge from Eastleigh so I can make my judgement on it and as has been said on more than one occasion, the owners discretion on what colour to paint it.

 

What a great idea. That looks simply stunning...though the purists will be up in arms no doubt!

 

I well remember going to Manchester in the early 60's with some of my spotting pals, just so we could see 'The Midland Pullman.' We were very impressed!

 

It's the ruddy headlights I don't like. Surely someone will fit some that look like the originals not these ones off a Ford Scorpio

 

Any headlights MUST comply with current group standards (and that means 3 headlights arranged in the prescribed triangular configuration etc) if (as is the intention) you want to avoid a big yellow panel on the front!

What they look like is very much a secondary consideration

 

Can but agree John. There has been quite a frothy response on various forums I'm a member of, over the livery. Too which my response is...."OK", considering the positive "rainbow" of liveries/colour schemes in this post privatisation era, what's the correct livery, then?

 

Like the idea, thumbs up from me, £600 for full package tour for two - outch!!

 

I look forward to a ride on this in due course, but I'm not planning to ride on any trains until Covid19 is well suppressed.

 

I can't see how the third headlight will work to get them the derogation, but fingers crossed.

Putting the WIBN hat on for a minute, I wonder if other Mk3 coaches could be made to work with HST power cars, For that sort of money, I'd assume some pretty mighty catering needed, and I also wonder about a sleeper set to do minbreaks (London - Edinburgh weekend anyone?).

I know they take a lot of storing, but I'd think HSTs would be ideal for the luxury travel market, and could see quite a few of them having a good retirement in this way.

Did anyone ever run a longer than 8-coach formation?

 

OK:

a) It's up to the owner to paint it however he wishes.
b) There will be other HSTs preserved in the classic liveries
c) Heritage rail frequently relies on selling a fantasy of an era of luxury travel to the casual punter to survive, and few words sum that up like "Pullman"

All that said, I don't especially care for the look of it. However, the inaugural run will take it about 50 yards from my house so I'll probably mooch along and have a look for myself.

 

Quite agree with you there Dismal. Each to their own and all that, it's just the frothing and gagging from some on the issue.

 

Absolutely. I'm actually mildly surprised they didn't go full brown/yellow Pullman colours.

I do wish them well, if there is a market for an equivalent of the Belmont in Ireland, an HST is pretty much the perfect animal - fast, smooth, comfortable, big windows, and with (AIUI) pretty good route availability. I hope that with a bit careful work now as MkIIIs get taken out of service, they can shuffle their pack with regards to the offer

 

Brown and yellow is reserved for the Brighton emu!

 

Like this one?


Knut

 

I really like the livery but I do have a complaint about the lights, not the necessary headlights but, judging from the photos in the advert link above, the lack of table lamps!

 

Is it clear what the formation would be? Has there ever been an all-first HST formation? Does it make a difference to the ETS requirements (presumably a pair of TRUKs might?)