Difference between revisions of "Northern Belle"

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[[File:47790 , Claycross Jct.jpg||300px|thumb|right|A Northern Belle excursion in 2011 (Wikimedia Commons)]]
 
[[File:47790 , Claycross Jct.jpg||300px|thumb|right|A Northern Belle excursion in 2011 (Wikimedia Commons)]]
'''Belmond Northern Belle''' is a private luxury train owned by Belmond Limited. The train operates mainly in northern Britain with departures from Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. It reflects the style of 1930s rail travel on England's 'Belle' trains and the Pullman carriages of the company's sister train, the 'Belmond British Pullman' which operates mainly around London.<ref>[http://www.belmond.com/northern-belle-train/ Northern Belle Train on www.belmond.com]</ref>
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'''The Northern Belle''' is a private luxury train launched in 2000 which operates mainly in northern Britain with departures from Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. It reflects the style of 1930s rail travel on England's 'Belle' trains and Pullman carriages.<ref>[https://www.northernbelle.co.uk/northern-belle-train/luxury-train-journeys-uk Northern Belle Train website]</ref>  
  
In [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2010-2019#February 2017|February 2017]], the SVR announced that they had entered into a 10-year contract to stable the Northern Belle set at Kidderminster using Carriage Siding 1, located between the [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed|Carriage Shed]] and the running line. The Belmond rolling stock comprises 11 operational carriages and two spare vehicles.<ref>[http://www.svrlive.com/copy-of-news-180916-1-smf-2 Announcement on SVR Live]</ref>
+
Northern Belle Limited was owned by Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and operated the train under under the title 'Belmond Northern Belle' as a sister to the 'Belmond British Pullman', which operates mainly around London.
 +
 
 +
==Contract with the SVR==
 +
In [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2010-2019#February 2017|February 2017]], the SVR announced that they had entered into a 10-year contract to stable the Northern Belle set at Kidderminster using Carriage Siding 1, located between the [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed|Carriage Shed]] and the running line.<ref>[http://www.svrlive.com/copy-of-news-180916-1-smf-2 Announcement on SVR Live]</ref> Following its mainline trip and return to the SVR, the train usually entered the SVR mainly late at night and stabled back on Carriage Siding 1 before SVR services began in the morning. An hour before its mainline departure time the set would have Direct Rail Services (DRS) locomotives (often Class 57 locomotives in top and tail mode) attached and move to the exchange road ready for departure. This mainly occurred before SVR services started. The operation required the SVR to provide signalmen and shunters available for working anti-social hours, which was covered by paid staff. Some maintenance work took place and, on occasion, locomotives underwent an exam in the [[Diesel Depot]].
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 +
A small compound at the North end of the Kidderminster car park provided space for Belmond Northern Belle containers and office accommodation for their staff. Some on-train staff were recruited locally.
 +
 
 +
===2017 special train===
 +
To mark the tenth anniversary of the [[2007 Storm Damage]] the SVR organised on 19 June 2017 a special service on the line for its members and supporters. This utilised the Belle, hauled by [[SR 34027 Taw Valley]] and a Class 57 diesel locomotive.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/belmond-northern-belle SVR Live 7 June 2017] (Retrieved 31 March 2018)</ref>
 +
 
 +
===2017 sale and 2018 contract termination===
 +
On 2 November 2017 the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express sold The Northern Belle Limited for an undisclosed sum to Northern Belle (Holdings) Limited, a new company being a 50-50 joint venture between tour promotor David Pitts, owner of Wakefield-based marketing agency D P Publicity, and David Smith, owner of West Coast Railways.<ref>[http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/huddersfield-businessman-bought-train-13889254 Huddersfield Examiner, 12 November 2017]</ref> The new owners invoked the early termination clause in the contract from June 2018. The stock was rebased at Carnforth by 9 March 2018, by which time the compound was cleared and only two spare vehicles remained on the SVR,<ref>[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/news_letters/Newsletter_68-2018.pdf LNER Coach Fund Newsletter No. 68]</ref> although occasional stabling continued after that date. The spare vehicles were collected by two West Coast Railways locomotives and moved to Carnforth in May 2018<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3864&start=75 SVR Forum post]</ref>. The 2018 Report and Accounts recorded £57,000 of stabling cost revenue to the SVR in addition to the budgeted annual amount, by virtue of the termination.
  
 
==Rolling stock==
 
==Rolling stock==
The carriages are painted in ‘Northern Belle’ livery and have been re-engineered in the style of 'Pullman' coaches. The interiors feature artwork, mosaics and wooden marquetry panels. They comprise:
+
The Belmond rolling stock comprises 11 operational carriages and two spare vehicles. The carriages are painted in ‘Northern Belle’ livery and have been re-engineered in the style of 'Pullman' coaches. The interiors feature artwork, mosaics and wooden marquetry panels. They comprise:
  
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
!Number !! Name!! Type !! Built !! Build location !! Notes !! RHR Carriage Survey
 
!Number !! Name!! Type !! Built !! Build location !! Notes !! RHR Carriage Survey
 
|-
 
|-
| 3273 || ''Alnwick'' || BR Mk 2e First Open || 1974 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2737 3273]
+
| 3273 || ''Alnwick'' || BR Mk 2e First Open || 1974 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2737 3273]
 
|-
 
|-
| 3267 || ''Belvoir'' || BR Mk 2e First Open || 1974 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2736 3267]
+
| 3267 || ''Belvoir'' || BR Mk 2e First Open || 1974 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2736 3267]
 
|-
 
|-
|3247|| ''Chatsworth''|| BR Mk 2e First Open || 1972 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3666 3247]
+
|3247|| ''Chatsworth''|| BR Mk 2e First Open || 1972 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3666 3247]
 
|-
 
|-
|3174|| ''Glamis'' || BR Mk 2d First Open || 1971 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3592 3174]
+
|3174|| ''Glamis'' || BR Mk 2d First Open || 1971 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3592 3174]
 
|-
 
|-
|3275|| ''Harlech''|| BR Mk 2e First Open || 1974 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3668 3275]
+
|3275|| ''Harlech''|| BR Mk 2e First Open || 1974 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3668 3275]
 
|-
 
|-
|3182|| ''Warwick''|| BR Mk 2d First Open || 1971 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3664 3182]
+
|3182|| ''Warwick''|| BR Mk 2d First Open || 1971 || Derby || Dining Carriage||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3664 3182]
 
|-
 
|-
|325|| ''Duart''|| BR Mk 1 Restaurant First||1961||Swindon|| spare Kitchen diner ||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3511 325]
+
|325|| ''Duart''|| BR Mk 1 Restaurant First||1961||Swindon|| spare Kitchen diner ||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3511 325]
 
|-
 
|-
|10729|| ''Crewe''|| BR Mk 3a Convertible Sleeper||1980||Derby|| Staff sleeper||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3591 10729]
+
|10729|| ''Crewe''|| BR Mk 3a Convertible Sleeper||1980||Derby|| Staff sleeper||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3591 10729]
 
|-
 
|-
|10734|| ''Balmoral''||BR Mk 3a Royal Train Staff Sleeper||1984|| || Staff sleeper (formerly No 2914)||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=4205 10734]
+
|10734|| ''Balmoral''||BR Mk 3a Royal Train Staff Sleeper||1984|| || Staff sleeper (formerly No 2914)||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=4205 10734]
 
|-
 
|-
|17167|| ''Mow Cop'' || BR Mk 2d Brake Corridor First||1972||Derby|| Brake staff service car (formerly No 14167) ||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3667 17167]
+
|17167|| ''Mow Cop'' || BR Mk 2d Brake Corridor First||1972||Derby|| Brake staff service car (formerly No 14167) ||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3667 17167]
 
|-
 
|-
|1566|| ''Caerdydd''||BR Mk 1 Buffet Kitchen (RKB)||1961||Cravens|| Kitchen car||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=1118 1566]
+
|1566|| ''Caerdydd''||BR Mk 1 Buffet Kitchen (RKB)||1961||Cravens|| Kitchen car||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=1118 1566]
 
|-
 
|-
|1953|| || BR BR Mk 1 Unclassed Restaurant Car (RU)||1960 ||Swindon|| Kitchen car||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2713 1953]
+
|1953|| || BR BR Mk 1 Unclassed Restaurant Car (RU)||1960 ||Swindon|| Kitchen car||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2713 1953]
 
|-
 
|-
|92904|| || BR Mk 1 Gangwayed Full Brake (BG)||1956||Pressed Steel|| Baggage car (formerly No 80867) ||[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3108 92904]
+
|92904|| || BR Mk 1 Gangwayed Full Brake (BG)||1956||Pressed Steel|| Baggage car (formerly No 80867) ||[http://www.cs.rhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3108 92904]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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==Links==
 
==Links==
[http://www.belmond.com/northern-belle-train/ www.belmond.com]<br>
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[https://www.northernbelle.co.uk/northern-belle-train/ Northern Belle website]<br>
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belmond_Northern_Belle Belmond Northern Belle on Wikipedia]
 
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belmond_Northern_Belle Belmond Northern Belle on Wikipedia]
  
  
 
[[Category: Carriage Type SLE / SLEP]]
 
[[Category: Carriage Type SLE / SLEP]]
 +
[[Category:On this day in March | March 09]]

Latest revision as of 16:32, 28 June 2021

A Northern Belle excursion in 2011 (Wikimedia Commons)

The Northern Belle is a private luxury train launched in 2000 which operates mainly in northern Britain with departures from Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. It reflects the style of 1930s rail travel on England's 'Belle' trains and Pullman carriages.[1]

Northern Belle Limited was owned by Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and operated the train under under the title 'Belmond Northern Belle' as a sister to the 'Belmond British Pullman', which operates mainly around London.

Contract with the SVRSevern Valley Railway

In February 2017, the SVRSevern Valley Railway announced that they had entered into a 10-year contract to stable the Northern Belle set at Kidderminster using Carriage Siding 1, located between the Carriage Shed and the running line.[2] Following its mainline trip and return to the SVRSevern Valley Railway, the train usually entered the SVRSevern Valley Railway mainly late at night and stabled back on Carriage Siding 1 before SVRSevern Valley Railway services began in the morning. An hour before its mainline departure time the set would have Direct Rail Services (DRS) locomotives (often Class 57 locomotives in top and tail mode) attached and move to the exchange road ready for departure. This mainly occurred before SVRSevern Valley Railway services started. The operation required the SVRSevern Valley Railway to provide signalmen and shunters available for working anti-social hours, which was covered by paid staff. Some maintenance work took place and, on occasion, locomotives underwent an exam in the Diesel Depot.

A small compound at the North end of the Kidderminster car park provided space for Belmond Northern Belle containers and office accommodation for their staff. Some on-train staff were recruited locally.

2017 special train

To mark the tenth anniversary of the 2007 Storm Damage the SVRSevern Valley Railway organised on 19 June 2017 a special service on the line for its members and supporters. This utilised the Belle, hauled by SR 34027 Taw Valley and a Class 57 diesel locomotive.[3]

2017 sale and 2018 contract termination

On 2 November 2017 the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express sold The Northern Belle Limited for an undisclosed sum to Northern Belle (Holdings) Limited, a new company being a 50-50 joint venture between tour promotor David Pitts, owner of Wakefield-based marketing agency D P Publicity, and David Smith, owner of West Coast Railways.[4] The new owners invoked the early termination clause in the contract from June 2018. The stock was rebased at Carnforth by 9 March 2018, by which time the compound was cleared and only two spare vehicles remained on the SVRSevern Valley Railway,[5] although occasional stabling continued after that date. The spare vehicles were collected by two West Coast Railways locomotives and moved to Carnforth in May 2018[6]. The 2018 Report and Accounts recorded £57,000 of stabling cost revenue to the SVRSevern Valley Railway in addition to the budgeted annual amount, by virtue of the termination.

Rolling stock

The Belmond rolling stock comprises 11 operational carriages and two spare vehicles. The carriages are painted in ‘Northern Belle’ livery and have been re-engineered in the style of 'Pullman' coaches. The interiors feature artwork, mosaics and wooden marquetry panels. They comprise:

Number Name Type Built Build location Notes RHR Carriage Survey
3273 Alnwick BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 2e First Open 1974 Derby Dining Carriage 3273
3267 Belvoir BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 2e First Open 1974 Derby Dining Carriage 3267
3247 Chatsworth BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 2e First Open 1972 Derby Dining Carriage 3247
3174 Glamis BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 2d First Open 1971 Derby Dining Carriage 3174
3275 Harlech BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 2e First Open 1974 Derby Dining Carriage 3275
3182 Warwick BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 2d First Open 1971 Derby Dining Carriage 3182
325 Duart BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 1 Restaurant First 1961 Swindon spare Kitchen diner 325
10729 Crewe BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 3a Convertible Sleeper 1980 Derby Staff sleeper 10729
10734 Balmoral BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 3a Royal Train Staff Sleeper 1984 Staff sleeper (formerly No 2914) 10734
17167 Mow Cop BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 2d Brake Corridor First 1972 Derby Brake staff service car (formerly No 14167) 17167
1566 Caerdydd BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 1 Buffet Kitchen (RKB) 1961 Cravens Kitchen car 1566
1953 BRBritish Rail or British Railways BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 1 Unclassed Restaurant Car (RU) 1960 Swindon Kitchen car 1953
92904 BRBritish Rail or British Railways Mk 1 Gangwayed Full Brake (BG) 1956 Pressed Steel Baggage car (formerly No 80867) 92904

See also

Carriages visiting the SVR
Mk 3a Convertible Sleeper

References

  1. Northern Belle Train website
  2. Announcement on SVR Live
  3. SVR Live 7 June 2017 (Retrieved 31 March 2018)
  4. Huddersfield Examiner, 12 November 2017
  5. LNER Coach Fund Newsletter No. 68
  6. SVR Forum post

Links

Northern Belle website
Belmond Northern Belle on Wikipedia