THE WHITBY JET RAILTOUR - FRIDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2021

THE WHITBY JET RAILTOUR

  Friday 12th November 2021

Departing From;

FINSBURY PARK,  HERTFORD NORTH,  STEVENAGE,  LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY,  ROYSTON,  CAMBRIDGE,  ELY,  MARCH,  PETERBOROUGH,  GRANTHAM.

This specially preserved HST set run by Midland Pullman are pleased to offer this incredibly special tour as we travel through the Vale of York, then along the East Coast route to Middlesbrough, and into the vast open moorland.  We meander through the magnificent forests and dales of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park with its picturesque villages of honey sandstone, embattled castles & historic abbeys to the ancient fishing town of Whitby, where around two hours will be available at your leisure.

The Esk Valley line is widely considered to be one of the hidden gems of the railway network.  It offers a succession of stunning views along its 36 miles from Middlesbrough to the traditional fishing port of Whitby. Leaving urban life behind we journey into the North Yorkshire Moors National Park passing isolated communities and beside the River Esk to the beautiful fishing port of Whitby with its narrow-cobbled streets, bustling harbour, and intriguing curio shops. 

During your stay consider enjoying the best fish n chips in Britain and walk it off by climbing the 199 steps that lead from the old town up to the ruins of St Hilda’s Abbey which dominates the skyline and inspired Bram Stoker to write his novel, Dracula.

Blue Pullman, A brief history.

In July 1960 the Midland Pullman was relaunched as a luxury all-first-class service using two new Blue Pullman six-car diesel-electric units. The Blue Pullmans were luxury trains used from 1960 to 1973 by British Rail. They were the first Pullman diesel-electric multiple units, incorporating several novel features.

Named after their original Nanking blue livery, the trains were conceived under the 1955 Modernisation Plan to create luxury diesel express trains aimed at competing with the motor car and the emerging domestic air travel market. Although not entirely successful – they were seen as underpowered, and ultimately not economically viable – they demonstrated the possibility of fixed-formation multiple-unit inter-city train services, that a decade later was developed as the InterCity 125, which resembled them in having an integral power car at each end of the train. The sets were an advanced and luxurious design, befitting a Pullman train, although they did suffer some criticism particularly over a persistent ride quality problem. Over time it became costly to maintain such a small fleet of trains. By 1972, with the development of first-class accommodation in Mark 2 coaching stock, the surcharge for Blue Pullmans seemed uneconomical and unreliable to passengers and BR managers, and in 1973 the trains were withdrawn. None of them were preserved.