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.
Contents
Contract with the SVR
In 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 Carriage Shed and the running line.[2]
2017 sale
In 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.[3] 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.[4]
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 | BR Mk 2e First Open | 1974 | Derby | Dining Carriage | 3273 |
| 3267 | Belvoir | BR Mk 2e First Open | 1974 | Derby | Dining Carriage | 3267 |
| 3247 | Chatsworth | BR Mk 2e First Open | 1972 | Derby | Dining Carriage | 3247 |
| 3174 | Glamis | BR Mk 2d First Open | 1971 | Derby | Dining Carriage | 3174 |
| 3275 | Harlech | BR Mk 2e First Open | 1974 | Derby | Dining Carriage | 3275 |
| 3182 | Warwick | BR Mk 2d First Open | 1971 | Derby | Dining Carriage | 3182 |
| 325 | Duart | BR Mk 1 Restaurant First | 1961 | Swindon | spare Kitchen diner | 325 |
| 10729 | Crewe | BR Mk 3a Convertible Sleeper | 1980 | Derby | Staff sleeper | 10729 |
| 10734 | Balmoral | BR Mk 3a Royal Train Staff Sleeper | 1984 | Staff sleeper (formerly No 2914) | 10734 | |
| 17167 | Mow Cop | BR Mk 2d Brake Corridor First | 1972 | Derby | Brake staff service car (formerly No 14167) | 17167 |
| 1566 | Caerdydd | BR Mk 1 Buffet Kitchen (RKB) | 1961 | Cravens | Kitchen car | 1566 |
| 1953 | BR BR Mk 1 Unclassed Restaurant Car (RU) | 1960 | Swindon | Kitchen car | 1953 | |
| 92904 | BR Mk 1 Gangwayed Full Brake (BG) | 1956 | Pressed Steel | Baggage car (formerly No 80867) | 92904 |