Stobart Pullman
Encyclopedia
Railtour
A railtour is a special train which is run in order to allow people to experience rail travel which is not available using timetabled passenger services...
operator in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, operating pullman
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:...
type charter trains, as Stobart Rail Tours. The company was a subsidiary of Eddie Stobart Ltd.
Eddie Stobart Ltd.
Stobart Group Ltd is a large British multimodal logistics company, with interests in Transport and Distribution, Estates, Infrastructure and Civils, Air and Biomass, through operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Belgium...
and was operated by Stobart’s rail partner, Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services
Direct Rail Services is a freight operating company created by British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The company started rail operations in 1995 using five heavily refurbished Class 20/3 diesel locomotives. Since then it has expanded greatly, and has acquired many more locomotives, most bought...
(DRS). On 16 July 2008, the company released a statement on its website that "train operations have been suspended".
History
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 RailVicta Westlink Rail
Victa Westlink Rail was a railway company based at Derby, United Kingdom. The company was formed in December 2006 following the liquidation of FM Rail. It has since been absorbed by Stobart Rail....
into the Stobart Group. Victa Westlink had the railtour company Hertfordshire Rail Tours
Hertfordshire Rail Tours
Hertfordshire Rail Tours was a company that ran charter trains for enthusiasts, named as they were originally based in Hertfordshire. Most of its trains started from London Terminals, although most from London King's Cross. A fair proportion of charter trains used the "Pride of the Nation" dining...
as a subsidiary. This tour company was rationalised and relaunched as the Stobart Pullman in February 2008, although using rolling stock and traction provided by DRS.
Fareham railway station
Fareham railway station is a railway station on the West Coastway Line situated about from the town of Fareham in Hampshire.- History :Fareham station was first opened by the London and South Western Railway in 1841 on the line from Eastleigh to Gosport. Later additions connected Fareham station...
, and returning to London at Euston
Euston railway station
Euston railway station, also known as London Euston, is a central London railway terminus in the London Borough of Camden. It is the sixth busiest rail terminal in London . It is one of 18 railway stations managed by Network Rail, and is the southern terminus of the West Coast Main Line...
. This service was run as a top and tail
Top and tail
A top-and-tail railway train has locomotives at both ends, for ease of changing direction. This is a British term. It is normal for only the leading locomotive to power the train when in top-and-tail mode, cf push pull operation with both locomotives powering.It is properly distinct from a...
ed train, powered by locomotives 47802 Pride of Cumbria and 47712 Pride of Carlisle in DRS compass livery, and a Stobart Pullman headboard.
Services
The Stobart Pullman comprised primarily rail tour charter trains, on circular dining trips and the regular scenic railtour 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 tournamentThe Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
. 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.
Fleet
British Rail Class 47
The British Rail Class 47, is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Crewe Works and Brush's Falcon Works, Loughborough between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British...
diesel locomotives from the DRS charter pool, repainted into DRS Compass livery. The rolling stock was to First Open
First Open
A First Open or FO, is a type of railway carriage used by British Rail. They were first produced as British Railways Mark 1, and subsequently Mark 2, Mark 3, and Mark 4 variants were produced.-Mark 4:...
(FO) configuration and carried a dark blue Stobart Pullman livery, with Stobart fleetnames and the chevron S Stobart logo. Doors were painted white with the DRS compass logo and wording. The Stobart Pullman crest and wording was applied to the coaches between every other window.
- 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
Blue Pullman
Blue Pullman may refer to:* British Rail Classes 251 and 261, a type of diesel-electric multiple unit built by Metro Cammell in 1960** Blue Pullman , a 1960 film about the train of the same name...
train as Dionysos and Artemis, introduced by FM Rail
FM Rail
FM Rail Limited was a railway spot-hire and charter company based at Derby, United Kingdom. The company was formed in January 2005 following the merging of spot-hire company Fragonset Railways Limited with charter train operating company Merlin Rail Limited...
for the Hertfordshire rail tour company.
Normal Train Arrangement
- DRS Class 47
- DRS Mk3 FO
- DRS Mk3 FO
- DRS Mk1 restaurant
- DRS Mk3 FO
- DRS Mk3 FO
- DRS Mk3 FO
- DRS Mk1 restaurant
- DRS Mk3 FO
- DRS Mk3 FO
- DRS Mk2 brake vehicle
- DRS Class 47