Difference between revisions of "Northern Belle"

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(Stock still being stabled 28.4.18)
(2017 sale and 2018 contract termination: last two vehicles left)
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===2017 sale and 2018 contract termination===
 
===2017 sale and 2018 contract termination===
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.<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.
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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.<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>.
  
 
==Rolling stock==
 
==Rolling stock==

Revision as of 20:19, 14 May 2018

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

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.[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].

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