Blue Pullman Comes Back
 

Midland Pullman have reinstated their Blue Pullman service for charter specials;

MIDLAND PULLMAN
Sat 14 November 2020
DEPARTING FROM:
London St Pancras, St Albans, Luton, Bedford
The Midland Pullman was Britain’s first luxury high speed diesel-electric train running in the early 1960’s. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of this iconic train we are honoured to present our own refurbished high speed train as a faithful revival , this will be our inaugural train before offering further tours in 2021 throughout Britain.

My eldest Daughter is treating me and has booked us both onto this inaugural trip for one of the London-Manchester-London tours in November, so something to look forward to during these strange days of COVID and lock-downs.

Strange timing. Inaugral trip in the middle of Corona. Wil it pay for itself under Social Distancing ?

Good luck to them anyway, love to see this come back.

BW

The revived Blue Pullman is being run by Locomotive Services Ltd. under their Statesman Rail brand, using an HST, repainted into the Midland Pullman livery from the 60s.
LSL have been the first to resume railtours following the lockdown (as Saphos Trains & Statesman Rail) and were quoted in the railway press at the time as saying that they can manage financially at 60% loadings and that they can make the social distancing work.
Anyway, it looks like a good venture and hope you enjoy your trip MC.

https://midlandpullman.com/journey/midland-pullman

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/08...announced.html

Tony

Thanks for the info Tony. And doesn't the HST look great in blue/white?

Nom nom nom :D

Thanks for the responses folks, I will report back on how it all goes after my trip.

Unfortunately we wont take the Monsal Dale Midland route of the original BP from the Ambergate Triangle, for obvious reasons, but will do the Sheffield Edale route through the Peak District.

Good stuff. Could you take some photos? I'd love to see her close up.

Cheers, BW.

Enjoy the trip - I'd love to see some pics too!

Latest update is now a round trip missing Manchester due to covid, so there may be a few more scenic pictures as the route now takes in the East Midlands.
Hope to post a few.

This deserves to work! That HST looks great in the Blue Pullman livery.

There is some info, and a picture here.

https://www.focustransport.org/2020/...des-again.html

Not wearing a yellow front. Now that we have horrendously bright headlights the need for yellow panels seems to have been relaxed.

A good thing in this case.

The ECS working will be coming my way on November 14th - but with a provisional timing of 7:18am the light might not be at its best for a classic photo!

According to Railway Herald it appears that the Midland Pullman HST set will be out on test between Crewe-Carnforth-Rugby-Crewe every day next week, Monday 2nd-Friday 6th November.
http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/railtours

I think these are the timings for Monday 2/11/20 for Crewe-Carnforth:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/tra...11-02/detailed

Timings Carnforth-Rugby:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/tra...11-02/detailed

Timings Rugby-Crewe:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/tra...11-02/detailed

Tony

The set arrived at Crewe a few minutes ago, and the first videos are being posted online.
I must admit it does look rather good.

Cheers John

Looks very nice, modern but retro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtyfGXJRXt0

Oooooh, tasty!

Best looking HST I've ever seen.

Thanks Philip. :)

Moved from Eastleigh where it has been refurbished and painted at Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works. Does look really good!

Tony

Is the trip still going ahead with it falling within the timeframe of the recently announced lockdown?

Cheers John

Railway Herald are reporting that today's test run (2/11/20) is NOT the Midland Pullman HST set, but it is LSL's other HST set which is in East Midlands Railway livery and powered by class 43 power cars Nos.43058 & 43059.
It is not clear if the Midland Pullman set will be in use on any of the other days.

Tony

Silly me, went to Lichfield TV to see it.

I have checked Railway Herald this morning and they have amended their listing to state that the HST Test Runs for the remainder of this week (Tues-Fri) are provisionally to run with 43058/9, the EMT-liveried power cars as per yesterday's run. This may change of course!

Tony

And Realtime Trains are showing that the train is currently underway, using 43059 & 43058:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/tra...11-03/detailed

Tony

:eek: wow that amazing!

Update today on Railway Herald shows that it is now postponed until 12th December.:(

Tony

Link from The Railway Hub:

https://www.therailwayhub.co.uk/3826...ullman-launch/

Tony

Realtime Trains show it running again with 43058/9 today (4/11/20).

Tony

Hi Tony, yes we have received a letter notifying us of the new date on the 12th.
Here's hoping it is able to run on that day.

Yes, fingers crossed that it runs and you can still enjoy your day out.

Tony

Today's test run is cancelled (Thurs 5/11/20).

Tony

Realtime Trains is showing that the test train is out again this morning with 43058/9 (6/11/20).

Tony

The HST hauled the Midland Pullman service to perfect timings on the inaugural first charter yesterday.
The rerouted schedule gave some additional scenic views of the East Midlands.
A great day was had by all, pictures to follow.

Glad you got your day out at last MC & that the trip lived up to expectations.

Tony

Thanks Tony.

Again the trip was subjected to some delays due to line side traspassers trying to get too close to the action.
Fortunately there was enough flexibility in the schedule to make up for the delays.
There was one chap we saw as we passed on the down fast who was perched on a rail bridge girder less than 1 metre from the freight loop leaving only MM to spare from passing traffic.

The (new) Blue Pullman in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFwN_lNILYQ

The Tale of the Blue Pullman
 

The Tale of the Blue Pullman.

A video history of the Blue Pullman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65Y8qPHOsAc

Grab some photos going across the Monsal dale viaduct please!!!