Sussex railway completes £600,000 wheelchair accessible Pullman carriage

The Bluebell Railway has modified a Pullman Dining Carriage to make it what is believes to be the first in Britain that is wheelchair accessible.

Pullman carriage ‘Car 54' will be officially launched on Wednesday, 24th April 2024 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Surrey-based Paralympian Fabienne Andre, who will then travel in style over the Bluebell Railway.

Fabienne had success with Team GB at the European and World Championships, and with Team England at the Commonwealth Games.

While at the Bluebell Railway, he will be able to view the amazing work that has been done to make its famous “Golden Arrow” train more accessible by wheelchairs.

Although not yet in service, the wheelchair-accessible spaces on the Golden Arrow Dining Train are already being booked up. To ensure ‘Car 54's' 1920s glamour and style are retained, much care and thought went into the modifications.

Subtle and sympathetic changes to the carriage's interior included higher table heights and wider access doors, whilst the former the luggage compartment has been turned into an electric lift for wheelchairs.

As well as Car 54, the Golden Arrow includes luxurious Pullman Cars, Christine and Fingall to recreate the fabulous train that linked London and Paris on one of the world's most glamorous and famous trains.

With their unique wooden wall panelling marquetry and plush seating, the Golden Arrow recreates the heady days of the 1920/30s with fine food and wine served to the standards of yesteryear.

Restoration and modification of ‘Car 54' took eight years and cost approximately £600,000.

It was started in 2016 and was carried out by the Bluebell Railway's own carriage and wagon department with additional paid staff working alongside volunteers.

‘Car 54' was built by Claytons of Lincoln in 1923 and was originally a Third Class Kitchen Car.

Unlike most Pullman carriages, Car 54 has a number, as in the early days, Third Class Pullman carriages were not given names.

In 1937 it was rebuilt as a brake coach, with a shorter saloon and windows closer together than in most Pullmans cars, but resulted in the seats not lining up with the windows.

Entering preservation in 1968, ‘Car 54' initially went to the Dart Valley Railway, then to Tyseley in Birmingham, where work started on modifying it for use on the British portion of the revived Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE).

After work had started to strip it down, it was decided that Third Class vehicles would not be used on the VSOE.

Car 54 was then stored at Carnforth until 1984 before being offered for sale and purchased by the Horsted Keynes Pullman Car Group for eventual use on the Bluebell Railway.

Further information about ‘Car 54' information and details on how to book a trip on the Golden Arrow can be found at
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/golden-arrow/

As well as its normal fleet of locomotives, the Bluebell Railway has visits by other locomotives during its gala events, such as Great Western Railway Manor Class No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor, and the visit of A4 Class No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley for next “October's Giants of Steam” Festival.