Pullman Car Services

PULLMAN CAR SERVICES

The Quality of Service is Remembered Long after the Price is Forgotten

SPECIAL EDITION No.11

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The Stobart Pullman was a rail tour operator in the United Kingdom, operating Pullman type charter trains, as Stobart Rail Tours. The company was a subsidiary of Eddie Stobart Ltd. and was operated by Stobart’s rail partner, Direct Rail Services (DRS).

The Stobart Pullman had its origins in the August 2007 reverse takeover of Eddie Stobart Group by Westbury, which brought the Westbury rail company Victa Westlink Rail into the Stobart Group. Victa Westlink had the rail tour company Hertfordshire Rail Tours as a subsidiary. This tour company was rationalised and relaunched as the Stobart Pullman on February 12th, 2008, although using rolling stock and traction provided by DRS. The Pullman was launched with a lunchtime service for 200 people, the Wessex Circular, departing from London Victoria, travelling to Fareham, and returning to London at Euston. This service was run as a top and tailed train, powered by locomotives 47802 Pride of Cumbria and 47712 Pride of Carlisle in DRS compass livery, and a Stobart Pullman headboard.

©Brad Joyce.

The ‘Stobart Pullman’ departing Southampton for Fareham on Tuesday February 12th, 2008.

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The Stobart Pullman comprised primarily rail tour charter trains, on circular dining trips and the regular scenic rail tour routes, and also trips to specific attractions, and to specific cultural and sporting events, such as Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot, and the 2008 Open Golf tournament. The Pullman was also used for private hire and corporate transport. The Pullman was operated as a fully first-class silver service dining train, with catering provided by Premier Train Catering.

The rolling stock was to First Open (FO) configuration and carried a dark blue Stobart Pullman livery, with Stobart fleet names and the chevron S Stobart logo. Doors were painted white with the DRS compass logo and wording. The Stobart Pullman crest and wording were applied to the coaches between every other window.

The interiors had been thoroughly restored with attention having been given to the furnishing and toilets which had been updated with a company frieze with logos around the walls and etched logos on the mirrors etc. Large laminated photographs of the attractions the tours visited were placed on the bulkheads of the saloons along with extra mirrors which 'lifted' the ambiance of the interiors and the vestibules were re-carpeted and painted giving a welcoming sight as guests boarded the train.

The Stobart Pullman drew traction from five Class 47 diesel locomotives from the DRS charter pool, repainted into DRS Compass livery, in addition a four DRS Class 37s were also utilised on the two West Highland tours.

DRS Class 47 pool: -

No. 47501. No. 47709. No. 47712 Pride of Carlisle. No. 47802 Pride of Cumbria. No. 47832.

(47709 and 47832 are to be renamed by DRS from selections forwarded to Rail Express magazine, which closed on March 24th, 2008). 47709 and 47712 previously hauled the Blue Pullman train as ‘Dionysos’ and ‘Artemis’, introduced by FM Rail for the Hertfordshire rail tour company.

The two West Highland tours utilised the in total four DRS Class 37 locomotives. The “Easter Highlander” utilising No.37069 & 37423 and the “The West Highland Waverley” utilising No.37022 & 37608.

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The normal train formation consisting of a leading DRS Class 47, Coaches and trailing a DRS Class 47. The following coaches have been identified within rail tour formations over the period of operation, February 12th, 2008 to July 16th, 2008.

Mk1 1657 Kitchen Buffet Unclassified. Mk2F 3385 Open First. Mk3A 10237 Kitchen Buffet First. Mk3A 11013 Open First. Mk3A 11019 Open First. Mk3A 11030 Open First. Mk3A 11033 Open First. Mk3A 11044 Open First. Mk3A 11046 Open First. Mk3A 11054 Open First. Mk2D 17159 Corridor Brake First. Mk1 80042 Kitchen Car.

©Doug Lindsay Collection.

47712 PRIDE OF CARLISLE awaits departure with the Stobart Pullman.

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STOBART PULLMAN 2008 RAIL TOURS.

Date & WTT No: Locomotives: Tour Title: Tour Route: *February 12th, 2008. 47712/47802. Launch Tour. Victoria to Fareham to 1Z88 & 1Z89. Euston. *February 23rd, 2008. 47712/47802. Settle & Carlisle Explorer. Kings Cross to Carlisle to 1Z60 & 1Z61. Kings Cross. *February 28th, 2008. 47501/47712. Central Wales Paddington to Shrewsbury 1Z47 & 1Z94. Winter Wonderland. to Paddington. *March 1st, 2008. 47802/47802. Thomas Hardy Circular Northampton to Weymouth 1Z86 & 1Z87. Tour. to Northampton. *March 13th, 2008. 47712/47802. Manchester and the Kings Cross to Manchester- 1Z57 & 1Z58. Pennines. Victoria to Kings Cross.

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Date & WTT No: Locomotives: Tour Title: Tour Route: *March 15th, 2008. 47712/47802. Stratford-Upon-Avon. Letchworth Garden City to 1Z94 &1Z95. Stratford-upon Avon to Letchworth Garden City. March 21st to 24th, 2008. 47501/47802 Easter West Highlander. Kings Cross to Edinburgh to 1Z40, 1Z42, 1Z44, 1Z45, 37069/37423. Oban to Ayr to Kings Cross. 1Z46, 1Z49, 1Z50, 1Z51. #April 12th, 2008. 47 ?/ 47 ? Euston to Chirk Castle and Llangollen Railway Heritage Diesel Gala to Euston. *April 19th, 2008. 47 ?/ 47 ? Cancelled. Letchworth Garden City to 1Z47 & 1Z48. Bristol Temple Meads to Letchworth Garden City. April 26th, 2008. 47802/47712. Harrogate & York - Spring Kings Cross to York to Kings Flowers and Sight Seeing. Cross via Harrogate. May 10th, 2008. ? High Peaks - Chatsworth Kings Cross to Chesterfield and Crich Tramway to Kings Cross. Village. May 15th, 2008. 47802/47 ? Paddington to Cardiff & 1Z36 & 1Z37. Carmarthen to Paddington. #May 19th, 2008. 47 ?/47 ? Finsbury Park to Durham for Beamish and Morpeth for Cragside House to Finsbury Park. *May 22nd, 2008. 47712/47832. Wessex Lunch Circular. Victoria to Fareham to 1Z94 & 1Z95. Euston. June 7th, 2008. 47832/47 ? Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Kings Cross to Berwick 1Z47 & 1Z49. to Kings Cross. June 14th, 2008. 47832/47712. Settle and Carlisle Kings Cross to Carlisle to Explorer. Kings Cross. June 19th, 2008. 47832/47712. Gold Cup Day at Victoria to Ascot to 1Z94 & 1Z95. Royal Ascot. Salisbury to Victoria. *June 28th, 2008. 47832/47712. K&WVR 40th Anniversary. Kings Cross to Keighley to 1Z47 & 1Z48. Kings Cross. July 5th, 2008. 47832/47 ? The English Riviera. Paddington to Paignton 1Z72 & 1Z93. to Paddington. July 11th to 14th, 2008. 47802/47832. West Highland Waverley. Kings Cross to Fort William 37608/37022. To Kings Cross. 37423/37608. * Tour information source as detailed within ‘Six Bells Junction’ website.

# Currently (October 2017) confirmation is required that tour actually operated.

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The Stobart Pullman Inaugural Tour Tuesday 12th February 2008 - Train Manager D.Lindsay.

©D.Lindsay Collection.

Train Manager Doug Lindsay makes an on-train announcement with Train Guard Darren Hallett.

As is probably well known now in railway circles, Victa Westlink, the company that took over the ailing FM Rail when that into receivership, was itself absorbed into the Stobart Group in late 2007.

Victa Westlink had ‘inherited’ the Hertfordshire Rail Tours brand when they were bought by FM Rail the year before and Victa had been operating most of the HRT tours since the take-over. Stobart, who use the Train Operator DRS for their freight services are to continue to market these Luxury Passenger Tours but are rebranding them as the Stobart Pullman. I have been employed as an Ad-Hoc Train Manager for the former Hertfordshire Rail Tours since September 2007 and am continuing in that position for the time being under the new Stobart Pullman banner.

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In fact, since retiring from Resco Railways I am now self-employed and have set up DSL On Train Services as a provider of Train Management services to the charter market

©Doug Lindsay Collection. Antimacassar.

I caught a train at a very frosty Headcorn at 07.00 on Tuesday 12th February, arriving at Charing Cross about 08.15, then made my way via an extremely busy Circle Line underground train to Victoria arriving about 09.00. There I met up with other Stobart Pullman staff, guests and other acquaintances and we discussed the day ahead.

The set was prepared after some Winter Maintenance and arrived ECS at Victoria on time at 10.27 on February 12th as planned. The two re-liveried Class 47s which top’n’tailed the train had been named, 47712 becoming ‘Pride of Carlisle’ and 47802 ‘Pride of Cumbria’. The stock consisted of seven Mark III FOs, two Kitchen Cars 80042 and 1657 and Mark II BFK 17159.

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©Doug Lindsay Collection. Table Setting.

Invited guests included many former Hertfordshire Rail Tours regular customers, several members of the Eddie Stobart Society, a selection of personnel who are providers to both DRS and Stobart including people from Network Rail and a guest from The Rolling Stock Library. Also, several members of the Railway Press were on board as was Pete Waterman the celebrity ‘Railway Enthusiast’! Many DRS and Stobart directors and managers were on board as well to host their guests and provide information on the launch of the new brochure and Tour Program for the forthcoming season.

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©Doug Lindsay Collection.

Table Dressing.

After much photography on Platform 2 at Victoria the train departed on time at 10.43 for the tour of Surrey and Hampshire. This is the second time I had Train Managed the Mark III Cars from Victoria, the previous occasion being the ‘Sussex Carol Christmas Lunch’ on December 11 th 2007 which, incidentally took the same route. It is an odd feeling boarding Mark III cars at Victoria, something we are not used to, and previously something only reserved for Royal workings on the Southern!

Once the train was on the move I made my ‘welcome’ announcements over the train’s PA system, gave a brief resumé of where we were going, the route etc, told everyone who was responsible for the train, the operation and the catering and explaining this new ‘partnership’ which forms the basis of the Stobart Pullman.

Meanwhile champagne and canapés were being served as we traversed the wonderful sights of South London in the now bright Winter sunshine. After our circuitous route through Herne Hill and Streatham we accessed the LSW Main Line at Wimbledon and set off towards Salisbury.

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©Doug Lindsay Collection.

©Doug Lindsay Collection. Pullman Car Services-Archive - Special Edition No.11 Stobart Pullman - Issue 1 - November 2017 Page 11 of 19

As we passed through Basingstoke Luncheon service commenced and I partook of Smoked Salmon dish.

©J.Mayl.

Mk1 Kitchen No.80042 enters Euston Station at the end of the inaugural tour.

Intermittently I made further announcements to point out places of interest en-route and to ask if anyone had any problems that they should alert the attendants who would in turn refer any queries to me or other member of the train’s staff. We by-passed Salisbury using the Laverstock Curve and headed south towards Southampton whilst enjoying the main course of Guinea Fowl. Progress was a little pedestrian through Southampton due possibly to a late running slow train ahead, and after passing the Siemens Maintenance Works at Northam we veered right at St Denys and took the coast line making a timely arrival at Fareham to change crews. However, we were somewhat late departing Fareham and remained so for the rest of the journey, indeed an ‘incident’ at Guildford concerning a regular SWT Unit also helped to increase the delay and thereby we lost our ‘path’ for the rest of the journey, finally arriving at Euston some 20 minutes late. However, the rather slow progress on the return allowed time to enjoy our dessert and cheese courses whilst admiring the countryside bathed in bright winter sunshine.

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From what I saw, many new friendships were forged as our guests partook of informed conversation and exchange of views over their liqueurs and this bodes well for the future of the Stobart Pullman. Our caterers, Premier Train Catering, provided superb fare in their inimitable style with all the flair of the ‘real’ Pullman days and looked excellent in their smart white jackets with gold accessories. Indeed, all the train crew were sporting new Stobart or DRS uniforms and brought a new air of efficiency to the luxury dining train marketplace.

Let us hope this new ‘brand’ in the field of charter services continues to uphold the tradition of Pullman as we launch into the 2008 season. I’m sure G M Pullman himself would be proud to know that his name lives on, not only on trains, but as a general adjective for anything that is just that bit better than the norm!!!

©Brad Joyce.

Mark 3A Open First within the formation of the inaugural ‘Stobart Pullman’ departing Southampton for Fareham on Tuesday February 12th, 2008.

This article was written in late mid-February 2008, and the subsequent tours that ran were equally successful and enjoyed by the passengers, many of whom were saddened by the decision of Stobart to cease operations.

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Coach Branding.

©Doug Lindsay Collection. Pullman Car Services-Archive - Special Edition No.11 Stobart Pullman - Issue 1 - November 2017 Page 14 of 19

2008 Stobart Pullman Rail Tours.

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June 28th, 2008. Keighley Station with 47712 awaiting departure with the returning K&WVR 40th Anniversary.

July 13th, 2008. Rannoch Station.

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July 13th, 2008. Rannoch Station.

The end of the ‘Stobart Pullman’.

On July 16th, 2008, Stobart Pullman released a statement on its website that "Train operations have been suspended". Motive power and coaching stock returned to DRS, and the coaches de-branded.

Coaching Stock Re-use.

Following the demise of Stobart Pullman, there was a move to perhaps utilise the coaching stock as a re-incarnated 'Ocean Liner Express' and one coach No.11030 was actually liveried such as and displayed at the Eastleigh Open Day on May 23rd, 2009. This was connected with the 'Cruise' charter trains that at that time were being run for a Southern Tour Operator, from Scotland, Manchester and other northern towns to Southampton to connect with cruise liners and the former Stobart Pullman set was often used for those charters although by now de-branded.

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Both Photographs ©Doug Lindsay Collection. Both Photographs May 23rd, 2009 ‘Ocean Liner Express’ liveried Mk3A No.11030 & DRS 47712.

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May 23rd, 2009 Vestibule Door Branding on Mk3A Open First No.11030 ‘Ocean Liner Express’

My thanks to the following individuals & web sites for their help, assistance and photographs in the compiling of this document. Doug Lindsay. Brad Joyce. J.Mayl. D.Burton. B.Avery. Wikipedia. *Six Bells Junction - http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/ PCS-Archive.

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