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Pullman Car 'Aquila'
Golden Arrow Kitchen First, built in 1951

This carriage is no longer on the Bluebell Railway

'Aquila' about to be shunted to Sheffield Park after being sold - Matthew Cousins - 15 September 2023

'Aquila' soon to depart after being sold, 15 September 2023
(Matthew Cousins)

Interior of Aquila - Richard Jones The 1951 Golden Arrow cars had been planned before the second world war; indeed the design, the LNER-design of underframe and Gresley heavyweight bogie, and some other materials date from 1938. The timing of their eventual completion in 1951 ensured they were associated with the "Festival of Britain" that year, some of the new Cars forming a short VIP train prior to the reformation of the Golden Arrow using the new cars, and others rebuilt to match, on 11 June. Distinctive due to their cleaner, more modern interiors, and particularly their rectangular rather than oval lavatory and pantry windows, they were the last "traditional" Pullman design to be constructed before the takeover of the Pullman Car Co. by the BTC in 1954. Subsequent designs were based on BR's standard rolling stock.

'Aquila' was built as a first-class kitchen car, with separate arm chairs (as seen in Richard Jones' adjacent present-day view of its restored interior), and entered service on the Golden Arrow on 11 June 1951. You can read more detail about 'Aquila' in this Pullman Car Services-Archive Special Issue (pdf download).

'Aquila' was used by HM The Queen on a number of occasions such as for a journey to Windsor in March 1958. There are full details and a photo in this Pullman Car Services-Archive extract (pdf download). From 14 June 1965 Pullman cars just provided the first-class accommodation on the Golden Arrow train, with second class passengers travelling in ordinary carriages.

'Aquila' was one of the Pullman Cars used on 9 July 1967 for the final Bournemouth Belle run, and withdrawn from service afterwards.

From 1968 it was one of five Pullmans which formed the Bulmers' Cider Train based in Hereford, along with Car Nos 36, 64 and 76 (which are or have been also resident on the Bluebell), when it was painted green, red and white. These 5 cars were subsequently sold to the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, in 1986. Along with Car 36 it went to the Colne Valley Railway in 1988. In November 2019 it was moved to the South Devon Railway, having been bought privately, where its owner refurbished the interior with many newly made parts commissioned to replace missing fittings.


'Aquila' prior to unloading at Sheffield Park - David Jones - 28 May 2021

'Aquila' prior to unloading at Sheffield Park on 28 May 2021
(David Jones)

Moving to the Bluebell in 2021 on a 30-year loan, the following year it was purchased by the Bluebell.

It was intended that, following completion of the overhaul of Pullman Car No. 54, and completion of some other projects, this car would enter the Bluebell workshops for a body and underframe overhaul, re-wiring and fitting of steam heating. However, a thorough assessment of it, and Car No. 36, led to the conclusion that, for our purposes, to maintain a 4-car Pullman Train, making use of a kitchen in a non-Pullman vehicle rather than relying on the small Pullman kitchens, the 42 seats which a parlour car could provide was much more useful than the 22 seats in 'Aquila', and could also be achieved at substantially lower cost.

In August 2023 this carriage was therefore offered for sale, and has now been sold.


diagram_as_built

Aquila, 22 First-class seats

'Aquila' leaves Stewarts Lane depot after refurbishment in 1988 (Graham Burtenshaw)
Type: Pullman Kitchen First
Built: Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon (1951)
Pullman Schedule No: 305
Name: 'Aquila'
Seating: 22 first class
Length: 65 ft. 10 in. as built, later 66 ft. 1/4 in. (both over buffers)
Weight: 40 Tons
Withdrawn: 1967
Preserved: 1968
To Bluebell: 27 May 2021
Owned by: Bluebell Railway 2022-2023
Left Bluebell Railway: 20 September 2023

Current status: see Railway Heritage Register

Right: 'Aquila' leaves Stewarts Lane depot after refurbishment in 1988 (Graham Burtenshaw)


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