Pullman
Whether for the wealthy and the famous travelling first class on the Golden Arrow in the years astride World War II, or Londoners throwing caution to the wind with a Pullman supplement only a few pence over the third class day fare to Brighton on the Belle, the extra touches of luxury, comfort, and personal service offered on Pullman cars kept the name Pullman in the public eye for over a century as a symbol of quality.
In Pullman, Julian Morel, who served as an officer of the Pullman Car Company for twenty-one years, ranges over the entire history of Pullman from its beginnings in the USA, born from an idea of George Mortimer Pullman, and translated to Britain, where at one time or another, the distinctive cars operated upon all regions of British Rail and their predecessor main-line companies.
The comprehensive contents reflect not only the intense variety of the Pullman operation, including Royal trains and such star services as the Golden Arrow, Brighton Belle, and the Queen of Scots, but also the cars themselves, and the important background activities in the stores, works and offices, providing the supporting
services for the trains. Sample menus show the wide variety of catering needs on different trains. While the approach to the story is factual, the human side of the enterprise is not neglected and some of the many colourful personalities who, over the years, were associated with Pullman have their place.
Today the company is no more and with BR's network of high-speed air-conditioned trains serving fast food for a mass market the one remaining British Rail train still carrying the Pullman fleet-name does not seem to have a long future. But Pullman set the standards 100 years ago. Only in recent years have the railways themselves caught
up.
Hardback with dust jacket, 224 pages, black & white photographs
Condition: Good/Very Good
ISBN: 9780715383827
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Updated: 2 January 2025