The Brighton Belle

AT last, a DIFFERENT project with IMHO a good chance of paying the bills.I think this could be a money spinner with good marketing. Kippers on the train going down and a days shopping etc in Brighton followed by silver service meal on way home... thats something id go for and a novel birthday present for Mum perhaps? Yes , great potential here.

 

I'm wondering if VSOE would already have been approached, considering it owns seven ex-5BEL Pullmans...

 

That was my thoughts too.

Regards
Chris

 

Well they have loaned or sold the project at least one coach (car 83?) so I think it is safe to say they are well aware of it! The first class kitchen car still needed may well comwe from their reserve collection too in due course.

Given that the finished product will be largely limited to Southern electrified lines (even if powered by a diesel it will still need to have all its "domstic" electrical requirements met externally, the former Brighton Belle cars don't even have battery boxes or dynamos, drawing all their power from the third rail) I wonder how much it will end up competing for VSOE business. Perhaps it won't as the sets had much higher seating densities (third 2+2, first 2+1) compared to the 1+1 of the altogether more luxurious VSOE cars.

 

I suspect it will either run as a full pullman service all the time, staffed and marketed as part of VSOE, or run mainly as a premium dining service similar to that found on most charter trains perhaps hired by VSOE for certain occasions. Either way it'll be great to see it around, even if its a little out of my price range...


Chris

 

My first childhood memory of the Brighton Belle goes back to the days when the supplementary fare was 2/6. Now I couldn't afford that let alone the train fare so any chance to ride the Brighton Belle will be most welcome.

 

i agree with chris, run as part of a vsoe operation hired to them by the group, after all they have the knowlege of the stock and at stewarts lane a depot that can keep a unit in good order, who knows , maybe if there are sufficient power cars, would a second unit be made up, if the demand was there it would be benificial to vsoe not to have to rely on hiring additional locos for 3rd rail operations, if all they have to do is to have drivers who are passed for what would be a 400 seiries dc unit , and a very marketable icon to have

 

Thinking out side of the box. Maybe this unit could run under its own power down the Lymington branch line. I know it’s only a short line but this maybe the only place this unit could run on the network with out another loco dragging it around.

 

Certainly looks like a good investor for the future? May be a few years off, but sure there are practices from what I have just read to take it to mainline working order?

 

Well living on part of the Brighton Line and use 2 of its stations 4 times a week I'd love to see this come past. I saw the VSOE set at Haywards Heath a few weeks ago (Diesel Hauled).

 

If you read the website and their newsletters you'll see that they intend to bring the unit back to full mainline operation including new control gear and traction motors.

Chris

 

The Brighton Belle first class parlour car seating arrangement in the cars such as Audrey (as shown in the book London to Brighton, Michael H. C. Baker) was the proper 1 + 1. Indeed that is why these cars were acquired by VSOE. The third class cars were 2 + 2. See the diagrams at this address http://www.brightonbelle.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=56.

 

Have anyone heard any new news about this project?

 

Website is here


Keith

 

No news on the website since the beginning of August.

 

Even after looking at the web site the still is no new news about it. The last bit of news on the web site is dated 8/8/10.

 

Considering the complexity of their plans and the behind-the-scenes work needed its not all that surprising things have gone quiet for a while. You can always drop them an email if your concerned.

Chris

 

I understand that there has recently been some movement on this issue, concerning the possible acquisition of the missing fifth coach. Good news if so.

 

deleted

 

Update on Bluebell site, along with a joint press release, confirming the swap of Carina and Doris.

Also now on The Brighton Belle site.