Pullman cars

All photographs taken at Railfest 2004, York, and are copyright of Terry Bye

All-Pullman trains operating on Southern metals were: Bournemouth Belle 1931-1967, Brighton Pullman Limited 1881-1908, Southern Belle 1908-1931 becoming the Brighton Belle 1931-1973, Continental Express 1924-1929 becoming the Golden Arrow 1929-1972, Devon Belle 1947-1954, Eastbourne Pullman 1948 irregularly to 1957, and Thanet Belle 1948-1951 becoming the Kentish Belle 1951-1958. The Night Ferry was a Wagons-Lits train, although at various times Pullman cars were included in its formation.

Today the Pullman luxury concept has been revitalised on the mainline by the Venice Simplon Orient Express operation and on special dining services on preserved railways.

For more information on Pullman train services and cars you are strongly recommended to read "Pullman Trains in Britain" by R.W. Kidner published by the Oakwood Press ISBN 0-85361-531-4.

photograph by Colin Duff

Pegasus, a 1951-built Bar Car for the Golden Arrow, had its bar named "The Trianon Bar" as was traditional for this service. These 1951 cars are distinctive in that they were built with rectangular rather than oval small windows. Pegasus subsequently went on to serve in the night sleeper from Euston with her bar renamed "The Nightcap Bar". She was extensively rebuilt in 1999 to conform to current end loading standards and is seen here on display at Old Oak Common on 6 August 2000.

History of Pullman Car PEGASUS - THE TRIANON BAR Text from Terry Bye
1960 Pullman Schedule Number:	310.
Type of Car as Built:	Bar.
Into Pullman Operation:	1951.
Car Builder:	Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company.
Length & Width:	63' - 10" x 8' - 5½".
Tare Weight:	38t.
Type:	U.
Route Restriction (S.R.)	l.
Seating/Covers:	14.
Livery on Delivery:	Umber and Cream.

The Golden Arrow 1951.
1951 brought the Festival of Britain, much of which centred on areas of London. Also the "Golden Arrow" was to see the introduction of seven new cars and three refurbished cars to the train's formation. A further three new cars were introduced in 1952 to the formation. Originally the new cars were to have been built for service on the LNER and work commenced on them in 1938, but the outbreak of the Second World War brought a halt to construction work. All the cars have Gresley bogies, which gives away their LNER heritage.
On cessation of hostilities in 1945, the Pullman Car Company set about the restoration of services as soon as possible, but to do so meant the cars, many of which had been stored since 1939, had to be taken through the works to bring them back to Pullman standard. In 1949 work finally re-commenced on the new cars at the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon workshops at Smethwick. The new cars consisted CYGNUS (parlour), HERCULES (parlour), PERSEUS (parlour), PEGASUS THE TRIANON BAR (III) (parlour / bar car), AQUILA (kitchen), ORION (kitchen), CARINA (kitchen). In addition to the new cars, three older cars were rebuilt and refurbished - MINERVA (brake parlour), CAR No.35 (parlour) and CAR No.208 (brake parlour).

The new train formation body sides differed with the installation of a rectangular shape with rounded corners windows to the toilets and pantries. In the past these had been oval.
The interiors no longer had marquetry panelling but each differed in panelling used, the cars became known more for the mosaic toilet floors.
The new cars entered operational service on June 11th, 1951.

The Trianon Bar Confusion.
The "Golden Arrow" service recommenced after the Second World War on 15 April 1946. The formation consisted of ten pre-war cars that had been refurbished and overhauled, and the addition of a new concept for Pullman in the UK a Bar Car for serving drinks during the journey.
After only two weeks (May 1st) the TRIANON BAR (l) (8 wheel) was replaced by a second car, the TRIANON BAR (II) (12 wheel). This new car was originally the NEW CENTURY BAR (I) (12w), and operated on the Ostend boat train between Victoria and Dover for only two weeks before transferring to the "Golden Arrow" service. The second TRIANON BAR (II) (12w), was unique in that it was the first all-plastic refreshment car to run on Britain's Railway.
In July, the original TRIANON BAR (I) (8w), re-entered service as the NEW CENTURY BAR (II) (8w), on the Ostend boat train, remaining in service until 1952. Then transferred to Waterloo for operations to Southampton in conjunction with cross Channel services.
In June of 1955 the car was renamed DIAMOND:DAFFODIL BAR (8w) and formed part of the South Wales Pullman operation. TRIANON BAR (II) (12w), remained in operational service until 11 June 1951 when replaced by PEGASUS:TRIANON BAR (III).
TRIANON BAR (II) (12w) was eventually converted into a Buffet car and was allocated the identity of Nº5. It was withdrawn in 1960 to be converted to a Pullman Camping Car.

Pegasus was one of the exhibits at Railfest 2004 in York. Here is the view from the coupe end.

photograph by Terry Bye

And this is the view taken from the bar end of the car..

photograph by T Bye

June 1951 - December 1963.	Golden Arrow Operations.
December 1963 - 1972.	Relocated to LMR and became the 'NIGHTCAP BAR' in the formation of the "Night Limited" all sleeper Euston to Glasgow. (joined by S/No.354 The Hadrian Bar in 1969).
2 August 1970	Noted at York in the car's final livery of BR Blue/Grey, Identified as 'Nightcap Bar' M 310 E.
1976	Purchased by BRM Tyseley.
c1989	On going restoration of the car at Tyseley. Sandwell College became involved in the restoration which included the removal of asbestos.
1990	Further restoration work to commence mid to late year, with a proposed completion date of 1992.
July 1994	Reported as for sale at £25,000
1995	Purchased by Nick Dodson 'Railfilms Ltd', and will be restored to main line standard.
4 January 1995	Transferred from Tyseley to Carnforth.
August 1995	Used in the filming of "Richard III" at both Carnforth and Battersea. Noted in black livery. The then Railtrack Group Standards which govern the construction of rail vehicles on the main line along with modern safety issues preclude the original "timber framed" PEGASUS from returning to the main line as she was.
1999	Restoration of the car commences in earnest. The project to restore PEGASUS and ultimately replace her timber framed skeleton commenced. With completion set for 2000. The new construction will achieve its own Railtrack "Registration Category" having Mk 3 status and avoid many of the problems that older rolling stock on the railway at that time has in terms of safety. PEGASUS was moved from Carnforth to John Blakes Ltd workshops at Leith, in Scotland. EMC International with Nick Dodson managed the restoration, the scope of work included:- Re-designed body to represent the original wooden body. The interior enhanced by the use of original parts and modern compliant materials. Items such as windows, roof ventilators, gangways, external pipework, ETH heaters and interior furnishings were salvaged and refurbished. The original Gresley bogies were overhauled and upgraded by incorporating axle end roller bearings and a double bolster secondary suspension. Body end equipment, such as buffers, electrical boxes and draw gear were also refurbished. Enhancements included a low volume flush controlled emission toilet.
19 October 1999	Press launch by Nick Dodson in Edinburgh, which included a visit to view the restoration of the car.
25th May 2000	Press Launch of the restored car at Carnforth.

Pegasus name panel on the exterior of the car.

The maker's plate under the door. Note the clean white step!

The luxurious bar area viewed from one direction.....

...and from the other.

View of the saloon looking towards the coupe.....

...and looking towards the bar.

The coupe compartment.

All photographs are copyright Terry Bye

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Archive copies of Coupe News, the monthly newsletter of Pullman topics

Photos from inside the derelict Pullman Works at Brighton

This page was last updated 24 June 2004