GCR "pullman" train

"The Great Central Railway's famous on-train restaurant service will take a
spectacular leap forward over the next twelve months with the creation a
new exclusive dining set. Six carriages will be finished in Pullman style
livery to allow the railway to move into the corporate entertainment
market and develop its charter train business.

"The overhaul of the six carriages will cost in excess of £175,000 and
funding is in place thanks to a major sponsor. Work has started on
upgrading and converting three of the six vehicles already and the entire
set should be complete within twelve months. The GCR would like to place
on record its thanks to its sponsor, who wished to see such a train
created.

The work involves six carriages. At the heart of the set is a dedicated
kitchen car (number 1525) which will be completely overhauled and
redesigned. This vehicle has already been sent to outside contractors to
start work. Two first class open dining carriages (numbers 3079 and 3042)
are being significantly upgraded and will offer eighty four seats. They
will be marshalled either side of the kitchen vehicle to allow liveried
stewards to serve from both ends. Two bar cars will be located alongside
each dining car. The first, (vehicle 1100), has a lounge and bar area and
was formerly part of the national collection. The second bar vehicle
(number 4758) is a conversion from a former second class compartment
carriage and will feature a lounge area. The final vehicle is a full brake
carriage which will be upgraded to act as part exhibition area and part
train stores. The whole set will be finished in Umber and Cream Pullman
style livery.

"The new Pullman-Style train will work alongside the existing first class
train, allowing the railway to run charters and wedding trains at the same
time as continuing its popular range of dining services."

 

It's never going to be a Pullman style train though, its going to be a refurbished Mk 1 set. Somehow I can't see them fitting it out with marquetry panels etc. You can't make a silk purse out of a Sow's ear!

 

Pullman - no. Pullman style - possibly. All the same, its nice to see them going after 'new business'. If it brings in the quids - all power to them

 

Wheres the money coming from?

 

It's in the first post -

Keith

 

Thats a bit harsh don't you think? All they want to do is to recreate a unique type of train and experiance/atmosphere for people to enjoy, and don't forget that genuine Pullman carriages aren't exactly easy to come by... Most heritage railways aren't as fortunate as the Bluebell Railway (and even they only have about 4 of them...), so the other railways have to make do with what they have... The Great Central Railway is actually very lucky, in the fact that they will have, at the very least, a dinning train that RESEMBLES a Pullman train. As you described it quite well yourself, It's a Pullman style train... And for most heritage railways (and normal people for that matter) you can't do better than that...

Unless... Someone had enough money to buy genuine Pullman carriages for the GCR... In which case...

YOUR ON!!!

 

I don't think it's harsh - a Pullman train has cars with marquetry panels with corresponding surrounding panelling Pullman armchairs (or Pullman 2 + 1 seats), the distinctive appearance of Pullman cars with oval toilet and door windows etc. So what if there aren't many of them around? It merely serves to emphasise the specialness of the ones there are. What the GCR have created is undoubtedly a first class dining train - but not a Pullman one! Any customer who travels on it having previously been on the Orient Express, for example, is sure to notice the difference and may well be disappointed - why risk that by claiming it to be something it isn't.

 

Pullman is actually a trading name - possibly still owned by BRBR.

As for there being only few true Pullman cars around - that's quite correct - and that's what makes them Pullmans and the rest imitations.

Good luck to the GCR with their Pullman Style - but Mk1s they are.

 

I agree totally,
Being a Pullman Attendant myself on the K&ESR Pullman Train.
2 Original Pullman cars Barbera and Theodora.
Paired with a Maunsell coach and an Kitchen car.
We also wear the full uniform of the Pullman Attendants with pride.

All our food is cooked on board, fresh on the day.

I strongly believe that if a railway markets a Dining train as a Pullman,
And they do not use Pullman Uniforms, Pullman cars etc, they should NOT be allowed to use the Brand name Pullman, including the Pullman Crest & Colours.

However Dining trains in what ever form are very good money makers for railways and good luck to them.

 

Doesn't look like the "Pullman" brand is exclusively used on trains - there are "Pullman" hotels.

Richard

 

That's getting away from the point. It's interesting to note that VSOE don't advertise the Northern Belle as a Pullman train, even though they have, arguably, done a lot to the interiors of these carriages to give them the Pullman "feel".

 

And a York Pullman Coach (motor) company.
Im happy for any money to be spent on coach refurbishment, call it what you will, the only terms for luxurious train travel that Joe public is going to recognize are Orient Express and Pullman...

 

I was just suggesting to Admin that the "Pullman" brand isn't that exclusive.

VSOE doesn't even use the Pullman name on its Orient Express service - even Admin would let them use that .... or would he?!

Richard

 

VSOE market the Stewats Lane Pullmans as "The British Pullman" - see their website. There's no reason to use it on the continental stock - Pullmans weren't used on the continent, so there's no brand association to be gained from the term. The continental equivalent was Wagons Lits.

 

Oops - looking at the wrong webpage!

Richard

 

Dont forget VSOE has some mark 1s as well.

 

There is only one Mk 1 used for paying passengers in their Pullman set (a Mk 1 Restaurant Car) and I think it is only used as a reserve car in case of failures or if extra capacity is needed. I'm not entirely sure, but I've a vague recollection that they offer a slight discount to anyone who ends up in it. The other Mk 1s are for staff accommodation and generator cars.

 

Interesting discussion, I believe the GCRs Pullman is is fact decieving the public into thinking a compromised Pullman is actually a Pullman!
If you have seen the creation, except for their livery, the carriages are identical to those used in the existing dining train they offer. The only exception being these bar coaches they have created from redundant MK1s and maybe the menu offered.
If they had some Met-camm Pullmans with 1+1 seating installed that would have been a much better product to offer.
..But veneered plywood panneling and the rather drab livery they have applied isnt what I would call Pullman.

 

ot but is the GCR running trains this sunday?

 

The GCR runs trains every Sunday.