Blue Pullman DMU
 

I have just found a web site that gives a lot of info on the Blue Pullman DMUs that ran on the Midland and Western regions.

I found it quite interesting.

http://www.railcar.co.uk/hisOthers/BPintro.htm There are 8 sections of info on the LH side.

Does anyone here remember them ?

Very interesting indeed

I only ever seen this train once at Paddington a lovely looking train its just a shame that none were ever saved.

ccmmick.

This was through Bedford on many occasions looked real good

I went with my cousin to Manchester Central one night to see the Blue Pullman arrive from St.Pancras. One of the train attendants saw us trying to peer through the windows and gave us a conducted tour of the train. Very impressive, especially when compared to the ordinary trains of that period.

Such a shame it was scrapped John

BR managed to deface it in the later years, being white with blue at window level, with full yellow fronts. I saw all the WR units, either at Reading, or in the 'Pullman' sheds at Old Oak Common. Lovely looking units, it must be said. You would have thought that at least a driving trailer would have been preserved.
Does anyone have any other 'should have been preserved' moans about an modern traction? I think we're all aware of what STEAM is lacking in preservation (my particular gripe: a GWR 47xx 2-8-0), but what about diesels, electrics, and units?
This might be interesting.... :)

I wolud have liked 10000 or 10001 cant understand why they didnt they were both regular visiters around bedford mostly double headed

Good one Garrat! One of those two would certainly been on MY list, along with SR 20001/2 or 20003, plus a D600 Warship. Look:
http://daverowland.fotopic.net/p44362878.html
:)

Yes D600 warship used to get then through here on rare occasions. 10000/1 looked real good with those large Chrome numbers if they were chrome that is .they were allways very clean locos when I saw them.

Thanks for the link Philip.

The Blue Pullman was taken up the Wirksworth Branch on a test/photo run. There is a photo in the Wirksworth Branch Book (2nd. ed.)

Used to see the Birmingham Pullman (8 car set) in Birmingham Snow Hill quite often. Looked great!

Dave you might get your wish with the 47XX. It is an open secret that Didcot are hoping to use some of the "Barry Bits" to build one once the Saint is finished.

Best wishes,

John H-T.

I'd heard something VERY vague. Now that WOULD be good; let's just hope it happens before I shuffle off this mortal coil! :D

Yes dave this is in the pipeline

Blue Pullman DMU
 

In 1964 I was lucky to be given a cab ride in one of these from Birmingham and back. I was working at Snow Hill at the time and some of the shunting staff often had rides to Didcot and back with a parcel train, they had arranged it for me. When I got in the cab I was told to keep out of site but once underway a chair was produced from somewhere and I was sat between the two drivers all the way to London.On the return trip I was surprised when a waiter came into the cab with food for all of us.
This is one event in my life I will always remember.

I seem to remember that the drivers of the Blue Pullman were required to wear white coats & caps, which earned them the nickname of 'ice-cream men'. :)

Blue pullman DMU
 

Quite right, but i think there was a blue band to the caps

I believe they relied heavily on blue asbestos for insulation and as such were, potentially, extremely dangerous. I did hear somewhere that BR would not let them go for preservation for this reason, but insisted that they were correctly and safely disposed of.

I know it was involved in a crash at Thirsk, but suerly DP2 was not 100% a write off, maybe it should have at least been saved and cosmetically restored, also Kesterl should have been saved and at least one of the Cuban 47's.................