PROGRESS ON HISTORIC PULLMAN OBSERVATION COACH REPATRIATED FROM THE USA'S WEST COAST
Monday 6th August 2007

Photos and Report from Steve Doughty - dated 6th August 2007
Project Leader and Deputy Chairman, Swanage Railway Trust.
Photographs are copyright Steve Doughty unless otherwise noted To view a larger version of any photograph on this page, just click on the thumbnail photograph and subsequently use the Back button on your browser to return to this page.

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A proud Ivan Godfrey, with Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 at Rampart Carriage & Wagon at Derby on Monday, 6 August, 2007. Ivan first made the Swanage Railway aware that Car 14 might be available for repatriation from the USA.

Steve Doughty writes:

Work is now well under way on the historic Pullman observation coach rescued from the west coast of the USA and returned to the UK for use on the Swanage Railway - thanks to an ambitious appeal by Swanage Railway volunteers.

I visited Rampart Carriage & Wagon at Derby on Monday 6th August 2007 with Ivan Godfrey and Andy Vincent to inspect progress on Car 14 and to complete discussions on the seat layout and supply of missing seats and parts.

Work has come on a long way since the last visit, with all bogie work now complete, including the replacement of the missing pivot pin which had been cut off at some point during its stay in the USA. Buffers and gangways are now in place and work to the steps has revealed the original 'Clayton' works plates.

The door handles, copies of which are sought for the replacement door, have both been found to be stamped '14'. We are also in need of two grab handles to replace those lost when the door was removed, plus a seven inch (six inch face) SR vacuum gauge for the brake vestibule, so if anyone can help us with these, we would be most grateful.

Ivan Godfrey works on Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14 at Rampart Carriage & Wagon at Derby on Monday, 6 August, 2007. The door handles, copies of which are sought for the replacement door, have both been found to be stamped '14'.

The refurbishment has also uncovered the two lozenge windows behind the bar. We continue to look for a photo of this side iof the car in the USA to understand whether these were covered over when the interior was remodelled at Twickenham prior to shipping to the USA or, as we suspect, while it was in California. It was a pleasure to find these intact beneath later panels as they do improve the appearance of the car. The door cut midway along the side of the car has now been sealed up, the sides painted and the side panels for the 'Pullman Observation Car' legends added over the matchboard panelling. Roof repairs are complete and cantrails are in place.

Inside, a template session to confirm the seat layout revealed a problem - the 'Twickenham' Fireman's Rest interior had significantly reduced the interior width of the car, to the extent that we could not fit the original layout in. However, investigation of the 'new' interior fortunately revealed that the original remained intact behind the 'english pub' panels, so the decision was taken to remove these to restore the available width and, of course, a further original feature. As for the layout itself, it quickly became apparent that the plan to tighten up the pitch a bit to get another seat row in was not feasible as this would have resulted in an unacceptably restricted aisle.

Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14's interior at Derby 6th Aug 2007.
Photograph copyright Andy Vincent

Faced with the choice between the authentic layout with angled sofas and the higher capacity back to back layout now featured in Car 13, the team have put authenticity ahead of the siren call of maximising revenue. If this proves to be the wrong decison, it will be a simple matter to add seats at a later date. We have yet to finalise choice of moquette, with Andy Vincent investigating the possibility of a special run of material to the original design.

Work still to do includes sourcing a new water tank, electrics, modifying the replacement door, interior works as above and application of exterior topcoat and lettering.

A souvenir of Devon Belle Pullman Observation Car No 14's journey from the USA via Southampton on the transport ship Taiko. Photograph copyright Andy Vincent

Inevitably perhaps, the overhaul is likely to cost more than first expected, although Rampart propreitor Paul Ramsden does not believe that there are any more secrets to be uncovered. With the new seats likely to take three months to manufacture, completion is now expected towards the end of the year.

Fund raising for Car 14 continues and I am grateful to those who have sponsored the seats and otherwise contributed to the costs of the overhaul. We do stull need to raise more to finish the job, so please consider sending a cheque to the Swanage Railway Trust (Devon Belle), Station House, Swanage, DORSET BH19 1HB or via our website at this link.

Steve Doughty
6th August 2007

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.

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

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