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Bachmann 30-425

BR 'Midland Pullman' 6-Car DEMU Train Pack

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest

Manufacturer description

Midland Pullman Train Pack

Contents:

• 6-Car Midland Pullman Train
• Exclusive bound history of the Midland Pullman
• A pack of Midland Pullman Stewards and Train Crew
• Collectible reproduction Menu card from the original service
• Fine Art Print of the Midland Pullman

Features:

• Accessory pack
• Interior lighting
• Directional lighting
• DCC-ready

The iconic Midland Pullman 6-car luxury train is featured in this special Collectors Edition Train Pack. The Luxury service was aimed at the business market between Manchester and London and provided First Class dining service throughout the train.

History

In July 1960 the Midland Pullman was launched as a luxury all-first-class service using two new Blue Pullman six-car diesel-electric units, aimed at covering the high end of the Manchester-London business market while services on the West Coast Main Line were disrupted during electrification. It made the journey from London to Manchester in a record 3 hours 15 minutes; the best time between the two cities immediately prior to this had been 3 hours 50 minutes. The Midland Pullman ran every weekday, up to London in the morning and down to Manchester in the evening. It had two kitchens, and a full meal service was provided at every seat.

Commentators praised the speed and smoothness of the journey and the luxury of the trains.

The service was withdrawn in 1966 and replaced by the electric-locomotive-hauled Manchester Pullman running from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston via the newly electrified West Coast Main Line, with a much-reduced journey time of 2 hours 30 minutes, which marked the end of the Midland line as a direct route for Manchester-London traffic. The two units were eventually transferred to the Western Region to work alongside the similar Western Pullman units.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

^* Class names often change over the lifespan of a locomotive, so this is not necessarily the class name used by the operator in the period modelled.

Bachmann BR “Midland Pullman” 6‑Car DEMU Train Pack is a collectors’ edition model representing the British Rail Class 251 “Midland Pullman” luxury diesel‑electric units introduced in July 1960. The pack contains a six‑car set, a set of stewards and train‑crew figures, a reproduction menu card and a fine‑art print of the train.

The model is finished to a pristine standard and fitted with both interior and directional lighting. It is DCC‑ready with a 21‑pin socket, can negotiate a minimum curve of the second radius (438 mm) and measures 1 640 mm in total length. The livery is listed as “Nanking Blue” (also described as Blue Pullman) and the coach types are based on the Southern Railway Bulleid design. The maximum speed indicated for the prototype is 90 mph.

The historic Midland Pullman operated as an all‑first‑class service between Manchester and London, covering the route in a record 3 hours 15 minutes. Launched in July 1960, it ran weekdays with full kitchen and dining facilities until its withdrawal in 1966, when it was replaced by the electric‑locomotive‑hauled Manchester Pullman on the newly electrified West Coast Main Line. The original units were subsequently transferred to the Western Region.