Liverpool Pullman
Encyclopedia
The Liverpool Pullman was a British Pullman train
operated by the London Midland Region of British Railways
. It ran daily from to and return, calling only at and . It was introduced in 1966 upon the electrification of the West Coast Main Line
.
The Liverpool Pullman made the end-to-end London-Liverpool journey in a record 2 hours 35 minutes. This was achieved partly by not calling at , contrary to standard practice at the time, and partly by being of relatively low weight, having only eight coaches in total. Unlike many British Pullman services (including its sister train of the same era, the Manchester Pullman
), it was not all-Pullman but also conveyed second-class coaches. Its typical formation was four 2nd-class coaches and four first-class Pullman coaches, hauled by a Class 86
electric locomotive.
In 1968 the down (northbound) Liverpool Pullman was scheduled to cover the 163 miles from Watford Junction to Runcorn in 119 minutes, for an average speed of 82.3 mph, then the fastest-ever start-to-stop regular timing in Britain.
The Liverpool Pullman was not as successful as its Manchester counterpart, and in the 1970s it was downgraded to an ordinary unnamed train at a time when the Pullman concept had gone out of fashion.
Pullman train (UK)
Pullman trains in Great Britain were mainline luxury railway services that operated with first-class coaches and a steward service, provided by the British Pullman Car Company.-Origins:...
operated by the London Midland Region of British Railways
London Midland Region of British Railways
The London Midland Region was one of the six regions created on the formation of the nationalised British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales. The region was managed first from buildings adjacent to Euston Station and later from Stanier...
. It ran daily from to and return, calling only at and . It was introduced in 1966 upon the electrification of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
.
The Liverpool Pullman made the end-to-end London-Liverpool journey in a record 2 hours 35 minutes. This was achieved partly by not calling at , contrary to standard practice at the time, and partly by being of relatively low weight, having only eight coaches in total. Unlike many British Pullman services (including its sister train of the same era, the Manchester Pullman
Manchester Pullman
The Manchester Pullman was a first-class-only Pullman passenger train operated by British Rail, targeted at business travellers. The service began in 1966, operating between and , and offered an at-seat restaurant service to all passengers. It was hauled by electric locomotives...
), it was not all-Pullman but also conveyed second-class coaches. Its typical formation was four 2nd-class coaches and four first-class Pullman coaches, hauled by a Class 86
British Rail Class 86
The British Rail Class 86 was the standard electric locomotive built during the 1960s, developed as a result of testing with the earlier Classes 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85. One hundred of these locomotives were built from 1965-1966 by either English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, or...
electric locomotive.
In 1968 the down (northbound) Liverpool Pullman was scheduled to cover the 163 miles from Watford Junction to Runcorn in 119 minutes, for an average speed of 82.3 mph, then the fastest-ever start-to-stop regular timing in Britain.
The Liverpool Pullman was not as successful as its Manchester counterpart, and in the 1970s it was downgraded to an ordinary unnamed train at a time when the Pullman concept had gone out of fashion.