The British Pullman takes its name from George Mortimer Pullman, an American, who in 1864 built The Pioneer, the first railway carriage designed with true comfort for the passenger. The later creation of the Pullman Car Company in 1882 led to his domination of luxury train travel in Britain from that time onwards.
These luxury day cars formed the train that would take passengers from London to the English Channel ports as part of the famous Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, as well as travelling the length and breadth of Great Britain.
The history of the train lies in the individual carriages which today form the British Pullman. The carriages have changed hands many times during their lifetime and bring with them stories and events which give them their unique character.
The British Pullman carriages were described by their originator, George Mortimer Pullman, as 'Palaces on Wheels'. His description still holds true. The original 1920s and 30s carriages have been painstakingly refurbished and are again the most sumptuous railway carriages in the world.
Each of the 11 carriages has its own name, decor and history. Minerva, for example has Edwardian-type marquetry, Zena was used in the 1976 film 'Agatha', while Perseus was reserved for Royalty, visiting Heads of State and used in Winston Churchill's funeral train in 1965.
Discover the fascinating history of each of the British Pullman below.
Audrey
First class kitchen car, 20 seats, marquetry landscape panels and Art Deco strip lights. Audrey was built in 1932 by the Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd for the Brighton Belle. The car was damaged in 1940 by an air raid at Victoria Station but was repaired and rejoined the Brighton Belle in 1947. Audrey carried the Queen, the Queen Mother and H.R.H Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh to review the Fleet in 1953. She transported the Queen on her visit to Sussex University in 1964. VSOE acquired Audrey from D.S Lowther in 1980.
Cygnus
First class parlour car, 26 seats, Australian walnut panels, mirrors and old prints. Construction commenced in 1938 by Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Co but the completion was deferred until 1951 due to the war. Cygnus was used in the special Festival of Britain rake in 1951 reserved for use by Royalty and visiting Heads of State and made her last journey of Golden Arrow in 1972. VSOE acquired Cygnus from North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 1977.
Gwen
First class kitchen car, 20 seats, pearwood and shell motif on English walnut. Gwen was built in 1932 by Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd for the Brighton Belle. In 1948 she was used, with sister car Mona, to convey H.M Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) to Brighton. The Brighton Belle service was withdrawn in 1972. Gwen was preserved as a restaurant at The Horseless Carriage, Chingford, Essex and later at the Colne Valley Railway, Castle Hedingham Essex. VSOE acquired Gwen in 1988 and she joined the Pullman train in 1999.
Ibis
First class kitchen car, 20 seats, Greek dancing girls marquetry. Ibis was built in 1925 by Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd and sold to La Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits et des Grands Express Européens for service in Italy. Purchased by the Pullman Car Company Ltd. in 1928 and returned to Britain for Golden Arrow service, Ibis later entered the Cunard boat train service between Victoria and Southampton in 1952. Ibis retired in 1968 and was acquired by VSOE from the Birmingham Railway Museum in 1981. She was displayed on Wall Street, New York in July 2000 for the flotation of Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.
Ione
First class kitchen car, 20 seats, burr wood panels and Victorian frieze. Ione was built in 1928 by the Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co.Ltd for the Queen of Scots Pullman. Her service included Ocean liner services to Plymouth or Southampton and Bournemouth Belle between 1929-1939, Queen of Scots 1948-1954 and 1960-1964, Golden Arrow, Yorkshire and South Wales Pullman 1954-1960 and on the high speed Talisman route (880 miles per day) between 1964-1968. Ione retired in 1968 and was acquired by VSOE from the Birmingham Railway Museum in 1981.
Lucille
First class parlour car, 24 seats, Grecian urn design on green dyed holly wood. Lucille was built in 1928 by the Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd for the Queen of Scots Pullman of the London and North Eastern Railway. She was transferred to the Southern Region in 1963 and ran in the Bournemouth Belle between 1963-1967. Preserved by Mr E. Lewis-Evans at the South Eastern Steam Centre in Ashford between 1968-1984, Lucille was acquired by VSOE in 1985.
Minerva
First class parlour car, 26 seats, Edwardian-type marquetry. Minerva was built in 1927 by the Midland Railway Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd. Her service included the Devon Belle between 1947-1951, the special Festival of Britain rake in 1951 and Golden Arrow between 1951-1961. VSOE acquired Minerva from Lytham Creek Railway Museum in 1981.
Perseus
First class parlour car, 26 seats, ash panels and old prints. Construction commenced in 1938 by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Co but completion was deferred until 1951 due to the war. Perseus was used in the special Festival of Britain rake in 1951, reserved for use by Royalty and visiting Heads of State and used in Winston Churchill’s funeral train in 1965. She made her last journey of Golden Arrow in 1972 and was acquired by VSOE from North Yorkshire Moors Railway in 1977.
Phoenix
First class parlour car, 26 seats, oval frames of marquetry flowers on American cherry wood. Phoenix was built in 1927 by the Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd and named Rainbow. She was destroyed by fire at Micheldever, England in 1936. Rebuilt in 1952 by Preston Park Works, Brighton, Rainbow was appropriately renamed Phoenix. Phoenix was the favourite carriage of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, used by General de Gaulle and visiting Heads of State and made her last journey of Golden Arrow in 1972. She became a stationary restaurant in Lyon, France in 1973 and was acquired by VSOE in 1980.
Vera
First class kitchen car, 20 seats, marquetry antelope leaping between palm trees. Vera was built in 1932 by the Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd, for the Brighton Belle. She was always paired with Audrey as a two car unit. Vera was directly hit in an air raid at Victoria Station in 1940, her roof was extensively repaired and she rejoined the Brighton Belle in 1947. She was used by Royalty to review the Fleet in 1953 and for Prince Charles’ and Princess Annes’ first trip on an electric train in 1954. The Brighton Belle service was withdrawn in 1972 and Vera was preserved as a garden house in Suffolk. VSOE acquired Vera in 1985 and she joined the British Pullman train in 1990.
Zena
First class parlour car, 24 seats, Art Deco marquetry. Zena was built in 1928 by the Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd. Her service included the Bournemouth Belle between 1929-1946, Queen of Scots and Yorkshire Pullman 1946-1955, Golden Arrow 1955-1960, Queen of Scots 1960-1961 and Tees-Tyne Pullman between 1961-1965. Zena was used in “Agatha” about Agatha Cristie in 1976. VSOE acquired her from T. Robinson in 1979.
Many of the carriages have been used by the British royal family. Although there has traditionally been a special royal train for longer journeys, the British Pullman carriages were often called into service on shorter journeys. Some of the carriages were used to bring foreign dignitaries to Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 (Minerva and Perseus).
Many of the carriages have been involved in a variety of national events, including the state visits of French Presidents Auriol in 1950 (Zena) and de Gaulle in 1960 (Phoenix); the visit of Russian leaders Bulganin and Krushchev in 1956 (Perseus) and the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 (Cygnus and Perseus).
Many of the carriages were withdrawn from service in the 1960s and 70s - and were either bought by enthusiasts or simply left to languish and deteriorate in railway sidings
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