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Railways - Carriages: Pullmans, Mk1, 2, 3; Midland Railway Carriages
Does not include books containing scale diagrams as their main function, but some books may include these and this will be noted where it applies. For scale diagrams see: Model Railways - Planbooks
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Titles to Look Out For:
1984. Midland Railway Carriages: Volume One by R. E. Lacy and George Dow
1986. Midland Railway Carriages: Volume Two by R. E. Lacy and George Dow

1948. Pullman and Perfection by F. Burtt and W. Beckerlegge

On Amazon:
Lacy, R. E.; and Dow, George. 'Midland Railway Carriages: Volume One', published in 1984 in Great Britain by Wild Swan Publications in hardback with dustjacket, 170pp, ISBN 0906867193. Sorry, sold out, but click image to access prebuilt search for this title on Amazon
1984, Wild Swan Publications, hbk
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  • Midland Railway Carriages: Volume One [top]
    Written by R. E. Lacy and George Dow
    First published in 1984 in Great Britain by Wild Swan Publications in hardback with dustjacket, 170pp, ISBN 0906867193. Original UK retail price when first sold: £12.50 net
  • N.B. This work includes many scale drawings/diagrams of Midland Railway Carriages executed by the late Ralph Lacy, who was drawing them from as long ago as 1933 (in St. Pancras station), not forgetting the invaluable Midland Railway diagrams (official numbers denoted where known) and photographs

About this book/synopsis: This authoritative work is a full history of the Midland Railway carriage, which deservedly enjoyed an international reputation for excellence in design, materials, construction and finish. Owing to its size, this comprehensive account has been divided into two volumes, the first (this one) embracing the development of the Midland Railway carriage up to 1901 under the aegis of Kirtley and Clayton and the epoch-making decisions of the company to offer third class accommodation on all trains, to abolish second-class and to introduce upholstery into third-class carriages.

The study of the Midland Railway Carriage has particular relevance to the history of rail transport and the movement of passengers because no other company did so much to improve the lot of the third-class traveller, comforting him with cushions, amongst other improvements. Might sound like a minor issue, but as with any form of travel, the longer it takes, the more you need the journey to be comfortable, and comfortable to a consistent and prolonged level. For the Midland Railway third class customer, this was the result of one man's decision to initiate a consistent policy on this issue and he was the Midland Railway general manager, James Allport.

The third-class traveller would also find that Allport had guaranteed them provision of transport on all trains and gave them seating and compartments in through-carriages; but there was more - they could also enjoy the train's catering facilities in the dining cars or the refreshment and dining rooms (with a luncheon and tea basket facility) and comfortable accommodation offered by some well-appointed hotels. This standard of provision of services for the third-class traveller then, taken all in all, is said to be actually higher than that offered today.

The policy was introduced in the 1870s and was maintained right until the company ceased to exist independently in 1922. The reader should not assume that looking after third-class travellers reduced the level of care for those paying higher fares - it did not.

This book serves first of all a very important purpose and that is to fill a gap. Prior to its publication, there wasn't a book in existence that covered the Midland Railway Carriage, despite its importance, so there was nothing detailing its design evolution, manufacturing processes, materials used, or its finish and livery.

How the book is set out and why:
The appendices deal with vehicle numbers and withdrawal and cut dates etc to simplify the text
The section on Midland coaching stock up to 1873 is dealt with as a whole due to the lack of available material, which has been caused by fire, air raids, accidental and ignorant destruction, etc.
From 1873 onwards, the Midland Railway Carriage can be categorised:
the mainline carriages' development is describe chronologically in chapters 3-9 and 14
the Pullman carriages have merited a chapter of their own
suburban carriages are in Chapter 10
and the remaining types of carriage are in chapters 11-13
N. B. the coaching stock of the two companies absorbed into the Midland in 1903 and 1912: the Belfast & Northern Counties; and the London, Tilbury and Southend railways are included

Contents:
Introduction and Acknowledgements

Chapter 1. Carriages of the Predecessors
Chapter 2. The Kirtley Era - 1844-1873
Chapter 3. Early Clayton - 1873-1876
Chapter 4. Pullman Cars
Chapter 5. Main Line Carriages - 1877-1896
Chapter 6. The Clerestory Hallmark - 1896-1901

Appendices
1. First-class carriage stock changes - 1844-1873
2. Second-class carriage stock changes - 1844-1874
3. Third-class carriage stock changes - 1844-1873
4. Composite carriage stock changes - 1844-1873
5. Passenger brake van stock changes - 1844-1873
6. Horse box stock changes - 1849-1873
7. Carriage truck stock changes - 1844-1873
8. Post Office Carriage stock changes - 1844-1873
9. Midland Railway carriages ordered from private builders - 1874-1875
10. Pullman cars used on Midland Railway
11. Drawing of Midland Railway 31ft underframe of 1883-1895
12. End and part side elevations of typical Clayton arc roof carriage
13. Four styles of roof lamp
14. Duckets of 1897 and 1902
15. End and part side elevations of typical Clayton square light clerestory carriage
Index; Contents of Volume II

Carriage Books on Amazon:

Books about The Midland Railway Company:
Lacy, R. E. & Dow, George. 'Midland Railway Carriages: Volume Two'
1986, Wild Swan Publications, hbk
In stock, not yet listed on Amazon due to delays with delivery

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  • Midland Railway Carriages: Volume Two [top]
    Written by R. E. Lacy and George Dow
    First published in 1986 in Great Britain by Wild Swan Publications, in hardback with dustjacket, 499pp, ISBN 0906867363. Original UK retail price when first sold: £19.95. Designed by Paul Karau

Synopsis: This authoritative, very detailed work is a full history of the Midland Railway carriage, which deservedly enjoyed an international reputation for excellence in design, materials, construction and finish. Owing to its size, this comprehensive account has been divided into two volumes and this volume, volume two, describes the developments that took place during the régimes of Bain and Reid up to the end of 1922.

Includes scale diagrams with side, top and end elevations, measurements in feet and inches, and photos - perfect for the railway modeller and detail-minded enthusiast. Photos pick out details such as:
Livery and livery changes
Ceiling design
Lighting
Luggage racks
Upholstery
Linen used in sleeping bunks
Kitchen areas, range, sink & cupboard
Ceiling & wall panels designs
Wall pictures

Contents:
Chapter 7. Bain Succeeds Clayton
Chapter 8. Main Line Carriages - 1905-1915
Chapter 9. Elliptical Roofs Take Over - 1915-1922
Chapter 10. Close-coupled sets and other local carriages
Chapter 11. Motor carriages, motor trains and electric trains
Chapter 12. Slips and Saloons
Chapter 13. Non-Passenger Carrying Stock
Chapter 14. Anglo-Scottish Joint Stock - 1879-1922
Appendices (65 sets of tables, including some diagrams); Index; Index of Diagrams (Volumes I and II)

Illustrations & Scale Diagrams Included (page number indicated) - Click Here

Burtt, F. and Beckerlegge, W. 'Pullman and Perfection', published in 1948 by Ian Allan Ltd in their ABC Locomotives series, in paperback, 41pp. Staple binding. Sorry, sold out, but click image to access pre-built search for this title on Amazon UK
1948, Ian Allan, pbk
Sorry, sold out, but click image to access pre-built search for this title on Amazon UK

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  • Pullman and Perfection [top]
    Written by F. Burtt and W. Beckerlegge
    First published in 1948 in Great Britain by Ian Allan in paperback (staple binding) in their ABC Locomotive Series, 41pp. Illustrated in black & white; with tables of data
    Front cover design by Baldwin; original UK retail price of this publication: one shilling and ninepence

About this book/synopsis: The book introduces Pullmans and gives the history of them (for example, did you know that they were made for the first time in Detroit between 1872 & 1874 for Mr. Allport of the Midland Railway Company and shipped to England in sections), plus other introductory facts and information, for example where the Pullman train originated, who built them in England and the names of all those carriages built by the Pullman Car Company and the date built. Then the book looks at the Pullmans operated on the big four networks: the Southern Railway, the LNER, the LMS and the GWR; also the Metropolitan Railway.

The Appendices are invaluable - they contain the reference, name, build year, builders name, wheels (number of), Diameters, Tare/Tons, Seats 1st and third

Chapters/Contents:
Introductory
The First Pullmans
The Pioneer Services-The Midland and Great Northern Railways

Southern Railway:
L.B. & S. C. Section
S.E. Section
L.C. & D. Section
S.E. & C. Section
L. & S.W. Section

Metropolitan Railway

L.N.E.R.-Great Northern Section
L.N.E.R.-Great Eastern Section

L.M.S.R.-Caledonian Section

Great Southern Railway
Great Western Railway
Appendix 1-Cars [Pullman Cars] in service [as of 1948]
Appendix 1-Cars [Pullman Cars] withdrawn

Photos/Illustrations included:
Title Page: No. 107: The Yorkshire Pullman
P2. The S.R. Devon Belle nr Winchfield, 1947 behind Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 21C14, 'Nederland Line'. Photo by M. W. Earley
P3. The down S.R "Bournemouth Belle" passing Vauxhall behind Merchant Navy 4-6-2 No. 21C18 'British India Line'. Photo by E. S. B. Elcombe
P7. Two photos showing a Midland Railway Drawing Room Car of typically American exterior design. Top photo is a side view. Bottom photo shows the interior of the MR Drawing Room Car.
P9. The L.B. and S.C.R 'Pullman Limited' in 1902
P11. Baltic tank No. 332 hauls the "Southern Belle" in L.B. and S.C.R. days. No location given
P12. Four photos on the same page showing the carriage interiors of:
i. A first class car, electric, "Brighton Belle"
ii. A third class steam-hauled car
iii. A third class car, electric "Brighton Belle"
iv. A 1908 First Class Car "Southern Belle" for comparison to photo 1.
P.13. The "Southern Belle" running immediately prior to route electrication behind King Arthur 4-6-0 793 'Sir Ontzlake'. Photo by O. J. Morris
P15. S.E.R. First Class Car built in the U.S.A in 1892, later named "Dolphin"
P16. First Class Car 'Cosmo Bonsor', formerly on the S.E.R. The photo (b&w) shows the carriage in S.E.R. colours.
P18. The "Devon Belle" showing a full page of 3 photos of these carriages:
i. The interior of the Pullman Observation Cars looking towards the train end of the vehicle
ii & iii. show the reader two exterior views of the "Devon Belle" as it passes Surbiton
P19. The 'New Century Bar' (named Trianon until July 1946) is shown in use on the "Golden Arrow". This bar contained a 1st Class Cocktail bar with seats for 12 passengers
P20. Metropolitan Railway First Class car Mayflower
P21. The "Queen of Scots" successor to the Harrogate Pullman is shown, hauled by an ex-G.N.R. "Atlantic" No. 3284
P22. The "Yorkshire Pullman" near Claypole, headed by L.N.E.R Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific Locomotive "Peregrine", No. 34.
P24. 3 photos:
i) L. B. & S.C.R. First Class Car Vivienne
ii) First Class Car 'Marcelle' formerly in service with the Great Eastern Railway
iii) Southern Region first class car 'Minera', now 'Lady Dalziel'
P25. "The Eastern Belle" en route
P26. Observation end of the observation car 'Maid of Morven'
P27. The G.W.R "Torquay Pullman"

 

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