Northern Belle-issima

I have recently managed to make up a model version of the Northern Belle luxury Pullman train formed of a Bachmann Class 57, a Bachmann Full Brake, three Hornby Northern Belle Pullman Cars and a Hornby Northern Belle Sleeping Car.

First up is, of course, the locomotive, which is a Bachmann Class 57/3, 57312 'Solway Princess', Catalogue Nº 32-764A. 

She has not yet been fitted with a sound decoder but this should happen in the next week or so.

Immediately behind the loco is this Bachmann BR Mk1 BG Full Brake. 

This is only available via the Bachmann Collector's Club website but it is a really handsome coach and it complements the loco very well.

The Running Nº is 92904 and the Catalogue Nº is 39-175K.

Next up is the first of two Hornby First Open Mk2D FO Dining Cars. 

This one is named 'Glamis.'.

She is followed by 'Warwick'.

These two coaches, I believe, were originally part of a 3-coach pack, which also included a Mk2E FO Dining Car, named 'Harlech'.

Then there is this Mk2D BFK, Service Car Nº 17167.

This, I believe, was part of the R3134 Northern Belle Train Pack and has since been named 'Mow Cop', after Mow Cop Castle in Cheshire.

Bringing up the rear we have this Mk3A SLE Staff Sleeping Car.

This is by Hornby and is Car Nº 10729 'Crewe', Catalogue Nº R4285. 

This particular coach was only available for a couple of years (2006 - 2007) and is extremely difficult to find nowadays.

High time, then, for either Hornby or Bachmann to produce a newer version, since the full size Northern Belle always has two of these cars at the rear.

The real train also has some Mk1 Kitchen Cars/Baggage Cars but these seem never to have been produced in model form.