Northern Belle

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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]

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 SVRSevern Valley Railway.[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 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. Huddersfield Examiner, 12 November 2017.
  4. LNER Coach Fund Newsletter No. 68

Links

Northern Belle website
Belmond Northern Belle on Wikipedia