Authors: Kevin Robertson and Mike Smith
Publisher: Crecy Publishing
ISBN: 9780860936886
Price: RRP £40 (but available at a lower price)
Publication Date: 30th September 2020
Number of pages: 368
Format: Hardback
How Obtained: Purchased
In the 1950s British Railways had to tackle the problem of updating a system worn out and dependent on steam to one capable of competing with a faster road system and air travel. The Blue Pullman service was envisaged as being a standard bearer of this new era.
‘Fully Revised and Unabridged’ is the claim on the cover of The Blue Pullman Story by Kevin Robertson and Mike Smith. Published in September 2020 by Crecy Publishing it is actually a reworking of an earlier volume from Robertson. With over 360 pages and more than 200 well annotated photographs and diagrams the book lives up to its claim.
Very turbulent design and development process for the Blue Pullman
The early chapters cover the development of the train from a concept emerging out of the modernisation plan. This triggered a fraught process of combining innovative design with engineering practicality, along with seemingly endless personality clashes, prior to a delayed launch in July 1960. Being a Pullman service, one chapter is devoted to the staffing and operational problems of catering.
Four chapters follow on the working lives of the trains. Separate sections deal with the distinct London Midland Region (LMR) and Western Region (WR) trains between 1960 and 1966. Subsequently, the LMR sets were allocated to the WR where all trains finished their days in 1973. A final chapter deals with memorabilia and collectables from the trains and includes an overview of available models in various gauges. In addition there is a generous bibliography along with extensive appendices with further information.
The iconic trains were conceived as a premium inter city dining travel experience. British Railways took advantage of the fact that the Pullman Car Company, though semi-autonomous, was owned by the British Transport Commission.
Failure to live up to expectations
The resulting Blue Pullman trains were to eventually run on routes from London to Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Swansea. Sadly they did not live up to expectation, with a reputation for poor ride quality and changing social conditions resulting in an operational life of just thirteen of an anticipated thirty years.
While many routes struggled to make the trains economic, the South Wales Pullman was something of an exception with the midday service to Cardiff operating at over 50% capacity. However, as with previous fast express trains the Severn Tunnel proved something of a problem. Poor track quality in the tunnel both restricted speeds and highlighted the issues with the Blue Pullman ride.
One outwardly minor detail mentioned by the authors is instructive. On at least one occasion the Blue Pullman was routed along the ex-Taff Vale Railway line near Cardiff. In this case a line built in the 1840s with the aim of making profits from the bulk transport of coal was hosting a modern fast train dedicated to passenger comfort. An image which presents the broad arc of railway evolution for over a century!
In Summary
This is a comprehensive work covering everything from design, construction, launch and union issues through to scrapping. Beyond railway history enthusiasts, it will appeal to anyone interested in the history of industrial design and public transport services.
The Good
- Extremely well researched, packed with detail
- Numerous well annotated illustrations, some full page
- Bibliography and extensive set of appendices providing a wealth of additional information.
The Not So Good
- Can be a little verbose in places and would benefit from some additional light editing. But this does not overly retract from the readability of the book.
Outline Contents
- Preface — One special day in 1960
- From a concept to a design (a difficult period)
- A testing time allied to publicity and an introduction to the public
- From aesthetics to engineering
- Are you being served — or not? The trials and tribulations of catering on the Blue Pullman
- Pullman on the London Midland Region 1960-1966
- Pullman on the Western Region 1960-1966
- The years 1966-1973: ‘Just too many trains!’
- Progress and the end of the dream
- Artefacts, merchandise, collectibles and a new build?
About the Authors: Kevin Robertson and Mike Smith
Kevin Robertson had his first article on the local railway published when he was just 14. He took up full-time writing in 1982 and since then has had numerous books on the railway scene published, including The Leader Project: Fiasco or Triumph? which was published by Ian Allan Publishing in 2007 to critical and commercial acclaim. He has written a wide selection of books for the Ian Allan list, and is a particular expert on all things relating to the Southern Region.
Mike Smith runs his own publishing company, Noodle Books, and currently lives in Corhampton in Hampshire.
(from Amazon)
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