Join the new Vintage Trains Pullman club!

VINTAGE Trains has set up a Pullman club to support its continued use of luxury coaches on the national network.

The Tyseley-based train operator currently has four Pullman carriages in its collection – Parlour cars Nos. 349 and 353, Kitchen Car No. 361 and First Class Kitchen Car No. 311 Eagle.

However, the immediate goal of the new club is to fund the restoration of No. 353 to service later this year, thereby allowing Vintage Trains to offer an extra 42 Pullman dining seats on its excursions.

A selection of sponsorship options is available to members. Seat sponsors get their own dedicated seat for one year, complete with name plaque. They will be given advance notice of all Vintage Trains excursions so they get the first chance to book their own seat.

Annual seat sponsorship is available for a minimum donation of £500 for each seat, of which 42 are available.

Members are also being invited to sponsor parts of materials, including window refurbishment, which includes new seals at £300, of which 12 are available; a square metre of new carpet at £25 (50 available); repainting the exterior for £100 (60 packages available); varnishing the interior at £100 (10 available); bodywork repairs £250 (140 available); and bogie lift and overhaul at £5000 (two packages available).

Straight donations up to £250 will earn a Pullman Club certificate. Those donating up to £500 will get a behindthe-scenes tour at Tyseley Locomotive Works and an invitation to No. 353’s launch there.

Donations above £500 will get all of the above plus your name on a plaque in the vestibule of No. 353 and an invitation to the Tyseley Locomotive Works open weekend.

For more details on these and to download an application form, visit www.vintagetrains.co.uk

A ‘Black Five’ in the winter sun: LMS 4-6-0 No. 45231 The Sherwood Forester eases Saphos Trains’ ‘North Wales Coast Express’ towards Abergele & Pensarn station on the outward leg from Crewe to Holyhead on February 1. The train was worked by Class 47s D1935 and D1924 top and tailing from Leicester to Crewe, with the 5MT taking over from D1935 to Holyhead. A points failure at Valley prevented the ‘Black Five’ from being turned, so the Brush Type 4 led the return. ANDREW SOUTHWELL