Did Anyone Travel On The Blue Pullman Train In The 1960s//70s ?

[GabrielC 53]

The Midland Blue Pullman train was in service between the years of 1960 to May 1973 when British Rail withdrew the service. 

 

The Blue Pullman was an luxury train service aimed at the business traveller the ticket price included three course meals served by silver service waiters. The coaches were fitted out to an high standard with reclining seats and tables with lamps on them very much in the same vain as it's Southern regions counterpart  the ' Brighton Bell'. The trains were painted in Nanking blue with an white strip in the middle window section on the front of each power car was the Pullman Company crest in gold. However by early 1970s this was changed to grey and blue with yellow ends which ruined their appearance. The trains ran from Paddington Station some went though Monsdale in Derbyshire sadly the enterprise was not an success all sets were removed from service by May 1973 none of the trains were saved also asbestos issues were an concern. 

 

Did anyone on here was lucky enough to travel on the Blue Pullman? 

 

 

[Runningman 142]

Didn't ever travel on that train, but as a young and keen trainspotter, once saw it travel through Hassop Station, that would have possibly been in 1960.

[GabrielC 53]

12 hours ago, Runningman said:

Didn't ever travel on that train, but as a young and keen trainspotter, once saw it travel through Hassop Station, that would have possibly been in 1960.

I would have liked to have seen it myself or better still travelled on it. Perhaps all is not lost one set of the HST class 125 has been repainted in the Midland Pullman scheme the plan is for leisure dining experience will be interesting to see if it takes off or not. 

[Annie Bynnol 611]

Paddington Blue Pullmans went to South  West and South Wales and ran until 1973.

 

St Pancras was the departure point for the Manchester trains along the midland mainline to Nottingham or through Monsal Dale to Manchester.

They were underpowered (90mph max) and could not compete with trains on the new electric Euston -Manchester route and  withdrawn in about 1966 but continued to run as "excursions", "specials" and "football specials"in this area including Sheffield Midland in 1969.

[Lemmy117 15]

As has been said above the Midland Pullman train ran from St. Pancras to Mnachester via Matlock. As the line closed the Midland units were soon transferred to join the others on the Paddington to South Wales service. I'm not aware they were ever used on the line into Sheffield, and can find no evidence they were ever used on football specials!

They were not a great success, although they did introduce some novel ideas, double glazing, Venetian blinds and air conditioning to name a few. Their Achilles heel were the bogies, they were not a good design and were notoriously rough riders. There was one service each day from Manchester to London and back, and between these journeys the set ran a St. Pancras to Nottingham return, so they didn't get much use, and consequently were very expensive to operate. They did prove the concept though, which paved the way for the HST.

 

Nigel L

 

[Annie Bynnol 611]

Some examples of ehere Paddington Blue Pullmans were used:

Preston v Tottenham in 1966

Liverpool v Tottenham in1971

West Brom v Leicester at Hillsborough 1969

Various trips to Hull, Leeds, Carmarthen etc.

Edited April 21, 2021 by Annie Bynnol

[Lemmy117 15]

That's the great thing about this site you  learn something every time, never knew they worked football specials!

 

Nigel L

[Runningman 142]

The answer to this question might be obvious, but I will ask it anyway !

Did the Pullman have a scheduled stop between Derby and Manchester ?

 

Another question.

What was the maximum speed limit on route and on which section was that ?

[hillsbro 28]

57 minutes ago, Runningman said:

... Did the Pullman have a scheduled stop between Derby and Manchester ?

The Wikipedia article indicates that it called at Cheadle Heath station, the only stop en route. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland_Pullman

[Lemmy117 15]

Not sure of the line speed, but the Blue Pullman only had a top speed of 90mph, and being rough riders I bet they didn't do that for long.

[GabrielC 53]

The bogies were not great hence the roughness of the ride if they had been designed today the bogie design would be much better and more stable and perhaps it might have been an more successful enterprise . Another reason for their demise was British Rail decided it was much cheaper to put in a few first class coaches in a rake than run an all sliver service train.  Another factor was the fare which was a lot higher than normal not many could afford to use it hence the low numbers of passengers and the decision to withdrawal them in 1973 was down to not been profitable. 

[Runningman 142]

On 25/04/2021 at 20:02, hillsbro said:

The Wikipedia article indicates that it called at Cheadle Heath station, the only stop en route. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midland_Pullman

Evening hillsbro and thanks for your reply !