The Railway Magazine – July 2019

The re-creation of a

5BEL Pullman back

on the main line at

Brighton – filling

a missing gap in

railway preservation

• is getting closer. This
  painting by Jonathan
  Clay certainly helps
  raise the interest factor
  ahead of when that day
  comes.COURTESY OF
  JONATHAN CLAY

RETURN OFTHE

Restoring a 1930s all-electric Pullman train for use on the mainline is a project where the

5BEL Trust has faced and overcome numerous challenges. With the luxury train now being

prepared for testing,Andy Cowardbrings us up-to-date with this ambitious restoration.

W

ork on the restoration of four

‘Brighton Belle’ coaches is nearing

completion, as the 5BEL Trust

project approaches the stage

where the rebuilt vehicles will soon begin

testing in preparation for their return to the

national rail network, operating under their

own power for the first time in almost 50 years.

Donors who have contributed towards the

project and other invited guests were given the

opportunity to view the coaches, which are

undergoing rebuilding atWHDavis

engineering works in Shirebrook, on

June 1, prior to an anticipated move to

Eastleigh during the summer for testing and

commissioning works to begin.

While there remains a lot of work to

be completed before the coaches can leave

Shirebrook, it is clear the restoration and

rebuilding is now reaching the final stages, and

visitors were given a tantalising glimpse of the

luxury that will greet passengers once the train

returns to active service next year.

The work carried out has been done to

the highest standards and the attention to

detail in re-creating the feel of the ‘Brighton

Belle’, while also catering for the needs of the

modern-day passenger, is clear to see.

With the total cost now sitting at around

£6 million, this is arguably one of the most

ambitious restoration projects to have been

carried out in railway preservation, with

funding having come from a dedicated bunch

of supporters and two major benefactors, who

have contributed significant sums towards the

project since it was first started by 5BEL Trust

chairman Denis Dunstone 10 years ago.

It is 47 years since the three 1932-vintage

five-car 5BEL ‘Brighton Belle’ EMUs were

withdrawn by British Rail. As such, returning

the ‘Belle’ to the main line network was never

going to be easy, and the 5BEL Trust has

had to ensure the train is rebuilt to modern

standards. It is effectively being treated as

a newly built train when it comes to main

line certification, and has to comply with

current standards required by new trains as

no ‘Grandfather Rights’ were transferred upon

the privatisation of British Rail, as enjoyed by

other Pullman coaches still operating on the

national network.

Compromises

Although the 5BEL Trust has always

aimed to restore the ‘Brighton Belle’ set as

authentically as possible, there have had to be a

number of compromises and modifications to

adapt the coaches for running on Network Rail

in the 21st century. Most of these changes will

go unnoticed by the travelling public.

Probably the most noticeable modifications

on board the train will be the inclusion

of a modern disabled access toilet within

BRIGHTON

BELLE

30 •The Railway Magazine• July 2019