Publicity

At the launch of the Pullman service (LMR) the LMR produced a chrome-litho poster in nine colours from a design by Mr A. N. Wolstenholmes, showing a set travelling at speed through typical Derbyshire countryside.

They also produced a 12 page brochure, with a high standard of printing and with colour and b/w pictures. It contained many facts thought to be of interest to the diligent traveller. There was brief details of the train itself, timings, notes on the St Pancras to Manchester line and the Pullman Car Co. Ltd., with some illustrations of Pullman cars on the Midland Railway in early days . The coloured frontispiece used the same artwork as the poster, and chief places on the Midland route to Leicester and Manchester were shown in a coloured pictorial map. The pleasing gilt cover bore the arms of the County of London and of the City of Manchester.

The LMR produced a range of leaflets on the vehicle while they ran them, which can be found here.

One of the suppliers of parts for the sets, J. Stone & Co. (Deptford) Ltd., also published a 12 page brochure, 'Equipment for British Railways New Diesel Pullman Trains', describing the equipment supplied by the company for the vehicles. It described the auxiliary power supply and distribution gear, complete air-conditioning and lighting installations, inter-coach electric couplings, speedometers and distance counters, and the track speed controls used in conjunction with the special braking. Illustrations included layout drawings which aid the location and identification of Stone equipment, and there were drawings of the complete six- and eight-car trains accompanied by lists summarising all components and indicating the cars in which they may be installed.

The WR had a much easier job of publicising the services as the LMR services had started two months earlier and to a very favourable reception. Nevertheless, considerable effort was made by the Regional Public Relations & Publicity Department to present the appeal of high-speed luxury travel.

They also produced their own brochure 'Pullman Diesel Express Service', in conjunction with the Pullman Car Co. Ltd. It included a comprehensive description of the eight car sets and notes on the routes and places of interest to be seen, a brief history of the Pullman Car Co Ltd since 1859, a specimen 'a la carte' menu, wine list, details of railway fares and Pullman supplements, and provisional timetables. The 20-page brochure had colour illustrations with pictures of the exterior and interiors of first and second class saloons, and there was a simplified diagram of the routes.

A poster was also produced, printed in six colours by Waterlow & Sons Ltd, and 1,000 copies were distributed throughout British Railways

Another company that was proud of supplying parts for the sets was the Skefko Ball Bearing Co. Ltd. who had a large window display in their showroom, featuring a huge poster of a unit, a 6-car model and route plans etc.

The British Transport Commission Film Unit made a film 'Blue Pullman', and this was awarded first prize in the Technical & Industrial Information section of the Festival for Films for Television held in Rome in 1961. The film, produced by Edgar Anstey and directed by James Ritchie, covered the story of the units from prototype testing to inauguration. Although it was essentially a documentary, there were plenty of human touches and all the personnel, scientist, engineers, crew and Pullman staff got equal credit for the success of the train. The film was in excellent colour, and by putting it on general release, the BTC in a striking manner showed the public not only what was being done by was of providing first-class train services, but also demonstrated how much care and painstaking research was involved before a new train could be passed as suitable for service.

(This film, as well as another Film Unit one showing a WR run and an excellent film made by Met-Camm showing the construction of the sets are now available on a single video.) Details on the British Transport Film website.