The Southern Railway (SR) gave the designation 5Bel to the 5-car all-Pullman electric multiple units built to work the prestigious Brighton Belle trains between London Victoria and Brighton. These units survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated TOPS Class 403. Between 1933 and 1935, these units were designated 5Pul (the Pul code was then used for the 6Pul units).
Construction
The SR electrified the London Victoria to Brighton line in the early-1930s, and full electric services commenced over the route from 1 January 1933. For the high-profile Brighton Belle Pullman train, three five-car units, consisting entirely of Pullman cars, were built. All fifteen cars were built by Metropolitan Cammell.
As they were Pullman cars, owned by the independent Pullman Car Company, the individual carriages were numbered in its series, taking numbers 279 to 293, and named. The first class cars took ladies’ names, while the third class cars had less-inspiring Car No xx-style names. However, the units together were allocated numbers in the SR series, originally taking 2051-2053, which was revised in January 1937 to 3051-3053.
Formations
Initial
| Unit Numbers | DMPTB | TPFK | TPFK | TPTP | DMPTB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2051 / 3051 | 288 Car No 88 | 279 Hazel | 282 Doris | 286 Car No 86 | 289 Car No 89 |
| 2052 / 3052 | 290 Car No 90 | 280 Audrey | 284 Vera | 287 Car No 87 | 291 Car No 91 |
| 2053 / 3053 | 292 Car No 92 | 281 Gwen | 283 Mona | 285 Car No 85 | 293 Car No 93 |
Withdrawal and preservation
The last Brighton Belle train ran on 30 April 1972, and the three 5Bel units were withdrawn. However, all fifteen cars were sold into preservation, though none were kept together as a single unit. Instead they have been split up and are used as individual Pullman cars. A number have been returned to service on the mainline with the Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE), working on special charter trains on Southern Region lines. The table below sets out the current position:
| Number | Name | Location | Number | Name | Location | Number | Name | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 279 | Hazel | Privately owned, Moulton | 280 | Audrey | VSOE, in service | 281 | Gwen | VSOE, in service | ||
| 282 | Doris | Bluebell Railway | 283 | Mona | VSOE, stored | 284 | Vera | VSOE, in service | ||
| 285 | Car No 85 | VSOE, stored | 286 | Car No 86 | VSOE, stored | 287 | Car No 87 | Keith and Dufftown Railway | ||
| 288 | Car No 88 | VSOE, stored | 289 | Car No 89 | Privately owned, Rowarth | 290 | Car No 90 | Destroyed by fire in 1991 | ||
| 291 | Car No 91 | Keith and Dufftown Railway | 292 | Car No 92 | VSOE, stored | 293 | Car No 93 | VSOE, stored |
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