Hello again,
My second Hornby thread today [:)]
It’s about Hornby’s Venice-Simplon Orient Express (http://www.hornby.com/prodimg/lrg2143.jpg). The livery of the model dates it in the 1956-1967 period (late BR crest), but the Venice-Simplon Orient Express as such is just an expensive “heritage” train company founded in the 1980s.
Therefore I was wondering whether the use of this model would be limited to the modern era, or whether one could also use it on a late 50s/early 60s layout without major problems with respect to realism…
Many thanks for your advice!
Best wishes,
David
Pullman expresses are an absolute minefield if you want something that will silence rivet counters - there were frequently several cars with the same name (names reused on new builds or rebuilds) and set formations changed regularly. I’d say the Pullman cars and loco in that set match up well - certainly there were Pullmans around then. What I’m not sure about is whether the stock used on this side of the channel travelled via the ferry or whether passengers changed trains at the channel (as they do on the modern Orient Express) - I know the “Night Ferry” sleeping cars were sent across by ship but that used CIWL sleepers (a variant of the European sleepers built to our loading gauge) rather than Pullmans. British Railway Modelling magazine has covered Pullmans in detail in the past but I can’t remember the issue month/year sadly. Hope this is of use!
As a young boy I travelled a number of times on the Orient Express. The boat train would bring us from London Victoria to Dover. We changed trains at the channel.The Orient Express itself ran from Calais in France to Paris before continuing southeast to Switzerland and Italy. Railroading Brit is quite right concerning the "Night Ferry"sleeping cars, these cars belonged to the CIWL. and were built especially for the channel ferry.
The Pullman cars in Hornby’s set did not run in Europe. They were used in England for a number of different Pullman Trains including the Golden Arrow London - Dover.
The CIWL coaching stock had blue livery in Europe during the period you are interested in. Anyway don’t let any of this bother you. Run the train as you wish and call it what you want. Remember it’s your train and your hobby. The Hornby set is quite beautiful I think, I don’t have it myself but I have a number of the new Pullman cars with lighted table lamps. Quite a sight when the room lights are dimmed, all thats needed is Ingrid Bergman.
Enjoy the hobby
William [:)][:)][:)]
Matt and William,
Thank you very much for your help!
William, do you know which kind of lamps the Hornby Pullmans use (how many volts they could bear)? I’m asking because I’d like to use them for permanent lighting on a DCC layout.
Cheers,
David
Hi haardt
Oh boy some one did not read the mine field sign where Pullmans are concerned.
My attitude to them is as long as they are the chocolate and cream ones go for it
I would also keep an eye open for the older Triang and Wren ones that way you can get a variation on names and styles of coach.
If you get a chance at the Brighton Bell that’s a different Kettle of Fish as far as Pullmans go grab it with both hands and run before the owner changes his mind
regards John
Hi Haardt, The lighting is provided by hidden LEDs . Light pipes conduct the light to the table lamps. Power is picked up from the metal wheels by phosphor bronze strips bearing on the axels. As I, as yet, have not moved into the world of DCC I do not know how they would work on a DCC layout.
The Hornby Pullman coaches were employed on many Pullman trains in Britain. An excellent book about the British Pullmans is R.W.Kidner, Pullman Trains in Britain, published by The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-531-4. This will provide you with good information.
William [:)][:)]
