Pullman coach Bertha arrives at the Swanage Railway
September 2000

News item - dated 3rd November 2000 - updated with additional photos 28th February 2007
Photographs are copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

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Pullman coach Bertha stands at Swanage station after safely arriving from the Bluebell Railway.
Photograph copyright Andrew P.M. Wright

Andrew P.M. Wright has supplied these photos of Bertha, a 1930s luxury Pullman coach, arriving on the Swanage Railway on a low-loader with a police escort via Norden, and then seen down at Swanage after its night-time arrival.

Together with other Pullman cars Lydia and Isle of Thanet now returned to the UK from the USA and under restoration, Bertha will form the Swanage Railway's Wessex Belle dining train as soon as suitable covered storage is available at Swanage.

Pullman coach Bertha is passed by BR Standard Class 4 locomotive No. 80104. at Swanage station after safely arriving from the Bluebell Railway. No 80104 was built at Brighton in 1955 and is now back in regular service on the Swanage Railway.

The following information has been kindly supplied by Richard Salmon, Bluebell Railway, which had been home to Bertha since 1982.

Pullman Car Bertha, an all-steel Kitchen Composite built in 1933.

Type: Pullman Kitchen Composite
Built: (Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon, Birmingham) 1933
Pullman Schedule No: 278
Seating: 12 1st class, 16 3rd class
Length: 66'
Weight: 43 Tons
Withdrawn: 1965-8
Preserved: 1972
To Bluebell: 7/4/1982
Departed Bluebell: 21/9/2000 for the Swanage Railway

For more information on Bertha visit the Bluebell Railway website or click here for a local copy.