UK: Brighton Belle restoration

[John Ashworth]

Volunteers restore Brighton Belle

Page last updated at 08:46 GMT, Thursday, 1 October 2009 09:46 UK
BBC


Volunteers restoring one of the UK's most iconic trains say they hope to have it back on the rails by 2012.

The Brighton Belle ran daily between the south coast and London from 1933 until 1972, when it was pulled from service by British Rail.

One of its regular travellers was actor Lord Olivier, who once campaigned to have kippers restored to its menu.

The 5Bel Trust aims to restore five of the original 15 carriages and hopes they can run on the main line again.

It is working on the bodies, interiors, running gear and electrical equipment of the Pullman vehicles.

Some of the other carriages went into service on the Venice Simplon Orient-Express, and one runs on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex.

'Real atmosphere'

The late Lord Olivier once said the Brighton Belle was as important as the Flying Scotsman and the Master Cutler, which ran between London and Sheffield.

"It had a real atmosphere," said Denis Dunstone, chairman of the 5Bel Trust, which still needs to raise £300,000 to complete the £500,000 project.

"It had a reputation, a name, there was romance and there was something of the excitement of going away for the weekend in Brighton associated with it."

Former passenger Christopher Littledale said it was sad when the Brighton Belle was taken out of service.

"Even younger people know about it, and they say how fantastic it would be to have it back," he said.

"When it ended, it sort of pulled the heart out of Brighton."