What was it like to travel on a UK Pullman train?

Question

I would be interested in any recollections by Yahoo users able to remember travelling on a Pullman Train. Or in information about what they were like.

This is a serious enquiry, not about jokes about Pullman trains like the only "Similar Question" that came up when I was writing this.

Answer 1

A company called "VSOE" (Venice-Simplon Orient Express) still run Pullman trains in this country on various charters, so if you can afford it, you can find out first hand just how spectacularly luxurious these trains are.

Also, the "Manchester Pullman" or rather it's coaches are still being operated to this day by Carnforth based "West Coast Railway Co"

I've been in several Pullman coaches whilst at work (I'm a Train Driver). I'd compare them to a stately home on rails, they are full of Victorian splendour and there isn't a piece of plastic rubbish anywhere to be found.

Answer 2

Remember the Manchester Pullman, which I think was the last to run - with the 'Pullman-style' carriages in the late seventies. It was pulled by a 'Class 86' loco and stopped at Stockport only. Carriages was a grey-blue colour, and remember journey taking 2 hours fifteen minutes. The carriages were nice and spacy, with lovely seating and tables...the aura and decorations were very 70's -  but as the whole train was 'first class' everything was brought to you and you didn't have to queue up for drinks or food. I think they did away with the old carriages and used the C3 sort - but by then, they mixed the four or so first class carriages with the six 2nd class with buffet carriage seperating it. It wasnae the same!

Nice one, Thunderstruck!

Answer 3

LOVELY! nice padded seats table and a light VERY NICE

Answer 4

In the early 1960s I occasionally had to travel to Brighton from London on business for my employers during the afternoon. As that would make me late home, I was permitted to add the price of a Pullman seat and afternoon tea to  my expenses. Although the Brighton Belle was the famous, all Pullman train, on the Brighton line, most  units had one Pullman car. The supplement was, so far as I can remember, around the equivalent of 5p and tea something like 12 1/2 p The seat were wonderfully comfortable, the teas delightful - a choice of numerous sandwiches and cakes. It was quite filling for me not to require a meal when I arrived home.

On the comfort side, many trains of that era were far more comfortable than todays. Now it is just a question of bottoms on seats on hard airline type chairs. Then most long distance carriages had seats that were properly upholstered into which you could sink and luxuriate!

Answer 5

The "South Wales Pullman" ran from Swansea to London Paddington. The original train was locomotive hauled with teak coaches. This was replaced around 1965 by a multiple-unit diesel "Blue Pullman" whose drivers wore white gloves!!!. The unit made a short return trip to Oxford from Paddington during the day before returning to Swansea. The old coaches are still in use, as stated above, for the UK portion of the VSOE train. They are not allowed to pass through the Channel tunnel, hence a change of train is necessary for onward journeys from Calais.

Answer 6

They were the absolute height of luxury. The seats were so well padded that it was like sitting in your favourite comfy armchair, the cars were kept in an immaculate condition both inside and out, and the attendants welcomed you personally onto the train, serving all kinds of food and drink directly to your seat. The only real drawback (apart from the rather expensive luxury of it all!) was the the attendants simply would NOT leave you alone, becoming almost overpowering in their attempts to keep the customer satisfied throughout the journey. You had only to glance oddly at something out of the window and they would pounce, asking if everything was alright and would sir like another drink etc. By the end of a journey I once made from Edinburgh to Kings Cross not only was I almost broke but was mentally exhausted at having to say that everything WAS alright and NO I didn't require anything right now every few minutes throughout the entire trip!

Answer 7

Smelly, smokey,and quite uncomfortable by today's standards