£30,000 APPEAL TO SAVE & RETURN TO THE UK A ‘FLYING SCOTSMAN’ PULLMAN OBSERVATION COACH FROM THE USA -
REPORT ON LOADING OF CAR No 14 IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, FOR RETURN TO THE UK

Photo Report and update from Steve Doughty - dated 15th January 2007
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NEWSFLASH: Monday 22nd January 2007 - Click here or scroll down the page.

Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 being loaded onto a low loader on 13th January 2007 to begin its long journey home to the UK from San Francisco. Photos copyright Cris Hart

Swanage Railway volunteers are working to save a Pullman observation coach from the USA that was hauled by the world famous ‘Flying Scotsman’ steam locomotive – and return it to England, and launched A £30,000 appeal to provide funding. For full details please see our dedicated news page by clicking here.

To see a set of photographs from Andy Sturt showing Pullman Observation Car No 14 and the Flying Scotsman Special Tour Train being prepared at Twickenham in August 1969, please click here.

To see the full set of photographs from Sam Sause showing the separation of Pullman Observation Car No 14 from its bogies, and the hard work of the loading team in San Francisco, please click here.

Please scroll down the page for details of how to easily contribute to this project

Steve Doughty writes:

To all friends and followers of Car 14!

I am pleased to report that the first stage of Car 14's journey home to England from San Francisco has been successfully completed.

On Saturday 13th January, the car body was lifted off its bogies and the three parts loaded on to trailers for transport 500 miles south to Long Beach, near Los Angeles, California. From there, it will travel by sea to Southampton, leaving on 23rd January. Scheduled arrival date in the UK is Monday 19th February 2007.

Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 being loaded onto a low loader on 13th January 2007 to begin its long journey home to the UK from San Francisco. Photos copyright Cris Hart

On arrival the car will go to Rampart Carriage and Wagon in Derby for a detailed survey and restoration to running condition. How long this will take depends on exactly what is found to be necessary on arrival and what this will cost, but it is hoped that the first stage of the restoration will be complete in time for the car to enter service on the Swanage Railway in summer this year.

Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 with lift trucks and low loader on 13th January 2007 to begin its long journey home to the UK from San Francisco. Photos copyright Sam Sause

We are still raising funds for the restoration of Car 14 and for the follow-on project, the Churchill funeral coach S2464S, currently sited at the City of Industry near Los Angeles. Donations to both projects can be made on-line by clicking here to visit the Swanage Railway Trust Appeals section at http://www.swanagerailwaytrust.org.uk/appeals/index.htm#Devon

I would like to add a few personal 'thank-you's to the growing group of supporters who have given their valuable time and money to this project and to some individuals who have made major contributions.

Specifically, I would like to mention the following contributors:
Alan Moore, for his generous financial support to the project.
Ron Kaufman, Brian Perlman and Vicki Carlin of Ron Kaufman Associates, San Francisco, for their donation of Car 14 to the Swanage Railway (and for looking after it for us for 34 years!).
Cris Hart of San Francisco Trains, volunteer, for his work in releasing and loading the car in San Francisco (http://www.sanfranciscotrains.org/)
Randy Hees, of the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources, volunteer, also for releasing and loading the car (http://www.spcrr.org/)
Sam Sause and Tom Kearshy of Grand Transport Agency, logistics contractors, (http://www.grandtransport.us/) for arranging the transport home.
Ivan Godfrey, for 'match making' the SR with Ron Kaufman Associates.

Cris Hart, Randy Hees and Sam Sause have their own websites which you may like to visit by clicking on the above links.

Their commitment to this project has been amazing - this stranger turns up from the other side of the planet and asks for help - and it is freely given in large measure without question, Fantastic! True kindred spirits.

Thanks for your support to this project!

Steve Doughty
Swanage Railway
07860-108754

NEWSFLASH: Monday 22nd January 2007
The body and bogies from Car 14 have now been loaded safely onto the vessel Taiko at Long Beach. Taiko sailed from Long Beach at 1500 hours on Monday 22nd January 2007, ETA Southampton 18th February 2007.

This followed a difficult journey from San Francisco, as on Thursday 18th January the vehicle carrying them became trapped when snow drifts on the mountain pass known at the Grapevine, near Tehachapi caused Highway 5 to be closed. Fortunately, the road reopened on Friday19th January enabling the load to reach the port.

Bruce Moore, the driver of the truck carrying the bogies, writes:
"Other than the delay, the trip with the bogies went OK. The Wallenius Steamship person in Baltimore OK'd the 12 hour delivery delay without any problems, and the unloading was prompt & smooth. Los Angeles traffic was smooth. SSA had perfectly clear directions to the pier. My old 1960 Kenworth truck ran just fine. I was happy to play a part in getting this car on the way home. Attached are 2 pictures that I took with my cell phone. 1 is on the Grapevine Hill on I-5 during the snowstorm shutdown, and the other is at the Long Beach terminal."

Bruce Moore

Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14's bogies on Bruce Moore's 1960 Kenworth truck in the snow on the journey to Long Beach and at the port. Photos copyright Bruce Moore

Two pics of Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 sitting on the Mafi trailer and as it looked stowed underdeck. Photos copyright Sam Sause

Follow-up from Sam Sause:
Here are two pics the pier sent us. The fist one is as it looked sitting on the Mafi trailer and the second one as it looked stowed underdeck.

Sam Sause

To see the full set of photographs from Sam Sause showing the separation of Pullman Observation Car No 14 from its bogies, and the hard work of the loading team in San Francisco, please click here.

The loading team in San Francisco. Tom Kearsly (Pier Delivery Manager), Sam Sause, (Project Logistics Coordinator), Cris Hart and Randy Heese (Owner's Rep and Technical Support). Photo copyright Sam Sause

The repatriation and restoration of the observation coach – known as Car 14 – will secure its future and enable it to do what it was built to do; providing passengers with a wonderful way to enjoy the Purbeck countryside from the comfort of a train.

It also offers the potential for the Swanage Railway to further enhance its service to passengers and the relaid Purbeck Line’s reputation as an innovator among heritage railways in the United Kingdom.

Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 lifted off its bogies and being being loaded onto a low loader on 13th January 2007 to begin its long journey home to the UK from San Francisco, in front of the office building where it has remained since being left on the quayside at the end of the ill-fated ‘Flying Scotsman’ tour of the USA and Canada back in 1971. Photo copyright Cris Hart

Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 on its low loader to begin its long journey home to the UK from San Francisco. Photo copyright Cris Hart

Until now located in San Francisco, California, the Pullman observation car has fronted an office building since being left on the quayside at the end of the ill-fated ‘Flying Scotsman’ tour of the USA and Canada back in 1971.

Used variously as a café, conference room and a humble store over the last thirty years, the owners have decided to renovate the offices and have concluded that they no longer require the car.

Agreement has been reached with the Swanage Railway Trust for the coach to return home, not just to England but to Southern Railway metals and a new working life on the Swanage Railway. Sir William McAlpine, who helped rescue ‘Flying Scotsman’ from that same American quayside, has expressed his support for the project.

Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 being loaded onto a low loader to begin its long journey home to the UK from San Francisco. Photo copyright Cris Hart

Close-up of Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14's axlebox, wheel and suspension.
Photo copyright Cris Hart

Donations to the Pullman restoration project can be made to the Swanage Railway Trust (Devon Belle Fund), Station House, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1HB or on-line by debit or credit card via the Trust’s website at ‘www.swanagerailwaytrust.org.uk’ by following this link.

The Swanage Railway Trust website now has an Appeals section with the ability to make online donations to the Devon Belle Fund, the Churchill Project, the Heritage Coach Fund and to the General Fund.

Donations are processed via PayPal and the payment process includes an electronic Gift Aid form that conforms to HMR&C requirements. Donors do not need a PayPal account.

Please click here to visit the Swanage Railway Trust Appeals section at http://www.swanagerailwaytrust.org.uk/appeals/index.htm#Devon

In the event that the project is not successful, donations received with a return address will be refunded. Any balance will go to progress other projects.

Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 in original condition

Contact details:
Steve Doughty
Deputy Chairman
Swanage Railway Trust
Station House
Swanage
DORSET
BH19 1HB
Tel: 07860-108754
Email: stephen.doughty1@btopenworld.com