Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
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Southern Electric Brighton Belle Pullman
Sit back and watch the world's only all Pullman, electric train service make its luxurious way up and down the Brighton line in this film from the mid-sixties
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Overview
This fascinating film gives a lineside observer's view of the world's only all Pullman, electric train service as it runs up and down the line from London Victoria to Brighton. At first we see the train in its original umber and cream livery, a colour scheme inherited from its steam hauled fore-runner. Then we see it in British Rail's more modern, though less attractive, corporate Rail Blue and Pearl Grey livery which it wore until the service was withdrawn in 1972.
The scenes depicted in this film will be seen once again when the electric Brighton Belle service is re-introduced in 2016, following an extensive restoration project costing over six million pounds. Five of the original cars have been lovingly restored and refurbished to their original 1933 condition - the year the service changed from steam to electric haulage. However, the train will also have had major modifications to ensure it complies with the safety standards and regulations of today's modern railway.
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