Pullmans moving to KESR

From an article announcing that Pullman cars Lydia and Isle of Thanet will be moving to the KESR:

The Cars date from 1925 and were constructed in Birmingham but worked initially on the Milan - San Remo – Nice - Cannes service. Having returned to Britain, the Cars were renovated and made their debut on 'The Golden Arrow’.


During World War II, ‘Lydia’ had the distinction of being retained for use by Winston Churchill and kept occasionally at Westerham, close to his Chartwell home. Following the cessation of hostilities, Lydia was to be found in the 'Bournemouth Belle', 'Queen of Scots' and 'Tees-Tyne Pullman' before returning once more to the Southern Region for Southampton boat trains and the 'Bournemouth Belle' until 1966.


‘Isle of Thanet’ has a similar history to ‘Lydia’. Initially named 'Leona', on her return to Britain she was renamed 'Princess Elizabeth' but suffered damage by enemy action during WWII. Following rebuilding in 1947 as a 'Guard-Parlour' for use in the 'Devon Belle', she transferred to the Southern Region in 1950 and was renamed ‘Isle of Thanet’ for her new role in the "Thanet Belle'. However much of her time was spent with ‘Lydia’ in the "Golden Arrow' and was included (with ‘Aries’) in the inaugural run of the electric-hauled Golden Arrow service in 1961. Withdrawn from service in 1967, she was selected for preservation and, at an official presentation at Kensington Olympia station, was offered to the American Ambassador by H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh. She subsequently resided with ‘Lydia’ at the National Railroad Museum, Green Bay.



Before that however, ‘Lydia’ and ‘Isle of Thanet’ were included in a special funeral train conveying the body of Sir Winston Churchill and family mourners from Waterloo to Handborough on 30 January 1965. ‘Lydia’ and ‘Isle of Thanet’ then accompanied Flying Scotsman on her tour of America in 1969.



Both Cars were privately purchased and returned to Britain in 2002 for restoration. Lydia was last seen at the National Railway Museum in York (as seen above), when she was exhibited as part of the 50th Anniversary of Winston Churchill’s memorial train. Following a change of ownership, both Cars will move to the K&ESR to join ‘Barbara’, ‘Theodora’ and ‘Aries’. Whist some work is first required, the Cars are in good order and will enable us to provide an all-Pullman dining experience for our customers rather sooner than we had previously envisaged. With services to Robertsbridge now firmly on the horizon, the release of the Maunsell carriages currently in the Pullman set will also prove invaluable.

 

Lydia has arrived. Looks as though the paintwork needs a quick varnish
.