The Birmingham Pullman was a named passenger train operating in the United Kingdom. [1]

Birmingham Pullman

The Birmingham Pullman passing High Wycombe in 1962
Overview
Service type	Passenger train
First service	12 September 1960
Last service	1966
Former operator(s)	British Rail
Route
Termini	London Paddington Wolverhampton Low Level
Stops	Birmingham Snow Hill
Service frequency	Daily Monday to Friday
Technical
Rolling stock	British Rail Classes 251 and 261
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Operating speed	90 mph (145 km/h)

History

The Birmingham Pullman was operated by the Blue Pullman and introduced by British Rail on 12 September 1960. Departures from Wolverhampton Low Level station at 7:00 am, with pickups at Birmingham Snow Hill at 7:30 am, Solihull at 7:40 am and Leamington Spa at 8:00 gave an arrival time at London Paddington of 9:35 am.[2] A second departure left Birmingham Snow Hill at 2:30 pm, with an arrival at London Paddington of 4:25 pm.

The return services departed London Paddington at 12:10 pm, arriving in Birmingham Snow Hill at 2:05 pm. The evening train left Paddington at 4:50 pm and arrived back at Birmingham Snow Hill at 6:55 pm, and Wolverhampton Low Level at 7:20 pm.

On 15 August 1963, a replacement service for the Birmingham Pullman train, hauled by British Rail Class 52 D1040 Western Queen, ran into freight wagons near Solihull, killing all three men in the cab.[3] It was found to be a signaller's error.[4]

With the electrification of the West Coast Main Line in 1966, the service was withdrawn and the trains were transferred to the Western Region.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Birmingham Pullman.