Ferrybridge Flyer wrote:How about the Midland Pullman diesels? I dont think they ran on the east coast main line.Speaking of which,is there a full set of these units preserved?Can anyone tell me what they were like to ride on-or even better-drive?
I assume you mean the infamous "Blue Pullman"? If so, then I'm afraid to say none were preserved although in a way they served as a precursor to the HST.
I'd love to have seen some of the Bulleid Pacifics on the ECML as well as the streamlined LMS Pacifics. They say those could have broken Mallard's record but due to the LMS being so curvy in places they never got the chance.
Thanks for that reply. Yes,i was talking about the Blue Pullman-what a shame none were saved.As for breaking Mallard's record,saying it and doing it are totally different things!
The Blue Pullman sets rode quite badly and this problem was never really cured. In fact, although the driving motor cars had passenger accomodation, this was only used as a last resort, such was the uncomfortable ride in these vehicles. The whole train was packed with innovative ideas and luxury features, it was a considerable advance on anything seen previously in the UK at the time of its entry into service in July 1960. Unfortunately, the Metro-Sclieren bogies were not a success, even though the trains were limited to 90 mph and by the time BR introduced its Mk 2D coaches, the writing was on the wall for the Blue Pullmans and regular services ended in May 1973 on the Western Region, the Midland Pullman having been withdrawn as early as April 1966, when the 25 kv electric services were introduced out of Euston. It is doubtful if the Eastern Region would have wanted them as they had Deltics and 100 mph Metro - Camm Pullman cars of their own; it is said that the BRB tried to sell them off to Yugoslavia and Greece - lol - but they all ended up in South Wales scrapyards where they were cut in the 1970s. If you ever get the chance, watch the BTF film 'Blue Pullman' - it is excellent.
Cheers for the info on the pullmans hq1,i was born in 1969 so obviously never saw one of these in action.I will watch the BTF film soon as i can.I really enjoyed all the old films BBC4 showed last year-lets hope the viewing figures have encouraged them to show some this year!
I remember one of the Blue Pullman sets arriving at Hartlepool on a charter one Saturday in 1965?, carrying rugby union fans from the Midlands (Warwickshire) for a County Championship Final against Durham. Another charter that day same arrived with a Britannia Pacific, possibly 70020.
Just had a thought.What about class 73 diesels?That would mean that the ECML would have third rail power.A better alternative to overhead wires?Would there be enough power in the third rail for the expresses that use the ECML today?
Last time I saw a Class 73 (and I think the only time I've seen one *after* I knew what a Class 73 was!), was 4 or possibly 6 years ago whilst travelling on the ECML. Two examples parked up at Peterborough looking rather the worse for wear!
I guess something pulled them there, or they motored along at their own steady pace - a bit like a J70 on the main line for a works visit!
richard wrote:Last time I saw a Class 73 (and I think the only time I've seen one *after* I knew what a Class 73 was!), was 4 or possibly 6 years ago whilst travelling on the ECML. Two examples parked up at Peterborough looking rather the worse for wear!
I guess something pulled them there, or they motored along at their own steady pace - a bit like a J70 on the main line for a works visit!
Richard
Saw two GBRF namers at Eastleigh as we roared through on a Voyager yesterday - ok on the d.c. - say Type 2 haulage capacity on the third rail or just better (they are always EDs in Suvvern speak, by the way) but as weak as kittens when on diesel power - 650 hp or something miserable like that. They weren't supposed to run on the juice when working over the North London line, but they often did...
I rode on the Birmingham Pullman from Birmingham to Paddington on a Saturday when the train could be ridden on a pass. I had heard about the alleged poor riding qualities of the Blue Pullmans and wanted to see for myself. I rode with my wife and two small children initially in the trailing driving motor car because the passenger-carrying driving motor cars were said to be the worst riders. It was nothing like as bad as I had heard. My idea of bad riding passenger vehicles would be the "Nelson" driving motor cars on the Southern or the "T" Stock driving motor cars of the Metropolitan Line of London Underground, which are generally agreed to have been the worst riding trains of all time.
The train crew on the Birmingham Pullman were concerned that we were sitting in a second class car with first class passes, so we moved to a first class car, which did ride a little better. The catering crew made a big fuss of the children, supplying them and us with cakes and tea. I believe that we were the only passengers in the car at the time.
The Blue Pullmans in their day were a major leap forward in British Rail technology. It is a shame that all the vehicles were scrapped. It is only now that we realise how much of past British Rail technology has been lost because of the cut-it-up mentality of the people in charge at the time. Examples of lost technology are the prototype diesels 10,000/1 and 10,201/2/3. In its day, 10,203 was the most powerful single engine diesel locomotive in the world. It is interesting to note that in the USA there is one of almost everything "P.R.R." in preservation in the Pennsylvania Railway Museum at Strasburg, PA, but almost nothing "New York Central" because of the official cut-it-up policy of the "Central" management at the time.
In this LNER forum, we all know how few LNER locomotives have been preserved, while so many former Southern and Great Western locomotives can still be seen today. We must all be eternally grateful to those brave souls who have produced "Tornado", and to those who are giving us a new "Brighton Atlantic" and a "Clan". My question for today is - what should we wish for next? A P2? A B17? My personal wish is for a D16/3 "Claud".
