Blue Pullmans for Ireland

corktina

In the withdrawal section here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_251

Anyone know anything about this?

Grandeeod

I've heard this one before and it was even reported in publications back in 1973. However I don't know what CIE was planning. I can only speculate. At the time Irish Railways were in a serious comeback mode and the circa 2 hour Cork run was being mooted. It was also during the delivery of the MK2 stock. Perhaps they considered them for the Cork route, enabling them to cascade more MK2 stock onto other routes and retire a lot of older coaches sooner than they inevitably did.

Why didn't they buy them? Money or the sets historical problems. Hope somebody can shed some factual light on this.

corktina

Interesting isn't it. I wonder if Wiki are just being "complete" by adding a remote possibility. They mention the announcement in the press that a rake had been purchased for preservation, and I recall that announcement at the time which was accompanied by a shot of the coaches entering the scrapyard! (the UK scrapyards at the time were really quick and would have scrapped them almost instantly).....no more than wishful thinking at the time I think and I wonder if the Irish angle is the same.

Grandeeod

Irish Railfans News reported it in 1973. However in all the history of Irish Railways that I've read, it was never featured.

corktina

it's probably that Wiki picked up on. I remember these hammering through Reading when I was a sprog....first an 8 car for Bristol followed a few minutes later by 2x 6 car for South Wales. They didn't stop at Reading, two of the few trains that didn't stop.

The chief one of the other non-stops I recall best was the up Cornish Riviera which hammered through the through line on full throttle , having opened up coming off the Berks and Line with two Warships in multiple.. fantastic sounds...wish I could go back to those days :-(

late sixties/early seventies

The Blue Pullmans were unusual in that two traction motors were on the power car (which had a seating area) and two more were on the first coach, all supplied by the one diesel engine, with the same set-up at the other end of the rake.

end of the road

interesting stuff, back then i think scrapyards were probably told to scrap everything by BR hence why none were preserved?
have you tried asking about this on railuk? the lads there know their stuff so surely one of them will know something?

corktina

I think it's mainly an Irish thing...most UK types don't even know we don't still belong to them (tongue in cheek...)