Bachmann Midland Pullman

[wombatofludham]

Clifton's music at the start matches the images perfectly - the writer/director of the film (James Ritchie), according to David Watkin who was the cinematographer on the film, deliberately set out to create an air of mystery and suspense at the start, to create a feature film rather than a pure formal record of the introduction of the trains which would only have been of interest to technicians and enthusiasts.  It deliberately did away with the voice-over commentary featured on other BTF films (even if on occasions they were reciting some of the buttock-clenching doggerel of Paul le Saux - "The buffet car's archdeacon of elegance" from Elizabethan Express for example...) to let the music, images and dubbed on "conversations" to set the pace (all the sound track was dubbed as the film was shot on silent film).  In that respect, it wasn't necessarily seen as a "promotional fluff" and BTF had a tradition of doing films that whilst nominally selling rail or bus travel, were filmed more as records of how transport integrated with everyday life, being more documentary than advertisement, an example being "Away for the Day" from 1952, which documents four different groups of people who have hired a coach from their local Tilling Group company for a nice day out - yes, it was flogging the concept of party hire for the Nationalized bus companies, but it is also a social record, all the more valuable today to highlight just how narrow ordinary people's horizons were in 1952 where a day out on the chara was something to get dressed up for and excited about.

 

According to the BFI Blue Pullman not only won several awards but also ran for three weeks in the Odeon cinema at Marble Arch, so perhaps the rather odd production style hit the mark with the critics and public!

[Jamiel]

I did say "or very far from what you would expect the music to portray in a promotional film these days.", which is probably more to the point.

It is shot and edited in the style of someone like Hitchcock, and done well, it is just is very removed from the style of documentary you would expect these days for a film about trains.

That could also be said of 'Night Mail' and many documentaries of the time.

James Ritchie does appear in imdb, but not Wikipedia, perhaps an entry there should be added by someone with knowledge of his work, which can expand beyond the listing nature of imdb to give a more rounded view of his work, awards and associations.

[Colin_McLeod]

it is just a sign of changing styles given the passage of time. Look at old movies from the period and they too, in general, are slow moving, etc.

 

Even without the music discussed in earlier posts, if the opening scene of the Blue Pullman film were being shot today, the first few minutes would be greatly compressed. Today's style no longer uses a slow moving camera to slowly pan every detail, walk through every door etc etc.

 

I confess that I did not watch all of the video as the start was IMO very tedious. I fast forwarded to see scenes of the train from the outside. Even these were protracted. However that was the style back then.

[Holmesfeldian]

A Bristol Sycamore helicopter used for the aerial shots. More information available on the cameraman's (David Watkin) memorial website ...

 

http://davidwatkin.co.uk/blue-pullman-1960-for-btf/

[Jamiel]

I didn't realise it was that David Watkin doing the cinematography!

He won an Oscar for shooting 'Out fo Africa', shot 'Chariots of Fire' and numerous other major feature films, fascinating to see the early work of one of Hollywood's most in demand cinematographers in the 80's and 90's.

The article saying the music was based on Bartok is also interesting, that certainly fits with the opening darkness of the soundtrack.

 

It is a pity that such a place for craftsmen and artists like David Watkin and Clifton Parker can express and hone their skills does not exist in the railways these days.

Getting a little off topic I suspect though.....

Jamie

[Silver Sidelines]

I must apologise if I have upset some of you with my 'appalling' comments regarding the music.  Put it down to someone  who has spent the majority of their adult life within 70 miles of Hadrian's Wall.  I think the music epitomises the south of England and suburbia prior to the 'swinging sixties' and the advent of the northern Mersey Sound.  I would say it highlights the differences in culture between north and south - still a very topical issue.  I guess in one sense the sound track was 'spot on' at targeting its intended audience - well paid commuters from Esher and Alderly Edge.

 

Clifton's music at the start matches the images perfectly -

The visual images of the film are brilliant and thank you for the link to the photographer's memorial site.  You can just imagine what would have been said if they had been asked to make a Health and Safety case prior to filming.  Doubtful if the shots could be repeated in today's 'kid glove' environment.

 

....More information available on the cameraman's (David Watkin) memorial website ...

 

http://davidwatkin.co.uk/blue-pullman-1960-for-btf/

For other dinosaurs like myself, there is a Boxed set of 38 hours worth of BTF CDs including the full length Blue Pullman and the Elizabethan available online from the usual suspects and auction sites for anything between £50 and £100.

 

Regards

 

Ray

[wombatofludham]

I don't think anyone was upset, nor is it a North versus South thing - the Manchester Pullman after all served the North.  I personally have an extremely broad taste in music, about the only thing I really can't stand is overly sentimental Nashville "country and western" or "country rock".  I grew up on a mining estate in Staffordshire but have always been interested in 20th Century British Classical composers, especially Light Classical composers, amongst more mainstream interests, so you can't really say it's a class or cultural issue either.

 

In any case, compared to my other big musical interest, the Eurovision Song Contest, British Light Music is possibly more mainstream...

 

Coming back to the film, I don't think spurious health and safety fears would stop such a film being made today, as on-board camera technology for helicopters has improved immeasurably, plus today we could use remote control drones which are used widely for aerial shots nowadays.  Have a look on YouTube for the Hugh Hudson "Britain's Railways" advert from the mid-90s, or the "Aerial Voyage" Transport Video Publishing dvd (which has also been uploaded to YouTube) which used a lot of the footage shot for the advert but which wasn't used, to see what can be done with modern helicopters and film equipment.  I think what stops people doing a modern "BTF" today is the will, and not being seen to "waste" money, than any concerns over the wellbeing of the camera crew.

[Southerner]

To reply to Jamiel's post stating Blue Pullman is shot and edited in the style of someone like Hitchcock really hits the nail on the head as Jimmie Ritchie was as a very knowledgable cinematographer influenced by Hitchcock amongst the other Hollywood greats.

The Hitchcock influence also shows in 'Blue Pullman' as Jimmie Ritchie is the 'technician' shown emerging from the dark room (toilet) towards the start of the film. He can be spotted in at least 2 or 3 other BTF releases as well; it's amusing looking out for him and he's quite distinctive. I am married to his daughter who also appears on 'Cybernetica' in a walk on role, looking very much younger!

The BTF films such as 'Blue Pullman' and many others were targeted at a wide audience and many were hired and shown on 16mm in church halls, schools etc as entertainment in the days when wall to wall tv was undreamed of.

[Captain Kernow]

I noted two Bachmann Blue Pullman sets for sale in the South Devon Railway shop at Buckfastleigh this afternoon (both with yellow ends). One was brand new, for something like £295 (sorry, can't quite recall), but there was also what seemed like a mint condition second hand one for £260.

 

Hope that's of interest to someone.

[Jamiel]

Who was that fool passing on gossip about £700 for a Bachmann Midland Pullman....... Oh, it was me, very sorry.

Anyway, on Hattons website I noticed this rather interesting pre-order for £295 (subject to change - but very probably not a change of £400):



http://www.ehattons.com/107208/Bachmann_Branchline_30_425_Midland_Pullman_Train_Pack_Price_is_estimated_we_will_notify_you_if_price_rise/StockDetail.aspx

So a Midland Pullman, a nice box, book/booklet, some figures, a menu card and a print, all for under £300.

I must say that I do like the packaging, very retro train set feel.

Jamie

 

[CathcartCircle]

So same price I paid in 2013 plus some nice extras too, bargain for such an amazing train. Would be nice if they sold a separate pack of the extras for those who already picked it up, somehow I won't hold my breath! lol!

[Wicor Models]

I think £295 is pretty wide of the mark as having been to the Bachmann preview yesterday I was advised by Bachmann that the price of this pack will be closer to £600.  However the price will not be confirmed until the item is actually in production.

 

Dave

[Jamiel]

Perhaps I should hold off the apologising for the moment then. Good to see that it is still being produced though.

Jamie

[Removed a/c]

Another though is that maybe one of the units won't have a motor?  Breaking it down into components £400 doesn't seem unreasonable. 

[Ruffnut Thorston]

Who was that fool passing on gossip about £700 for a Bachmann Midland Pullman....... Oh, it was me, very sorry.

 

Anyway, on Hattons website I noticed this rather interesting pre-order for £295 (subject to change - but very probably not a change of £400):

 

 

http://www.ehattons.com/107208/Bachmann_Branchline_30_425_Midland_Pullman_Train_Pack_Price_is_estimated_we_will_notify_you_if_price_rise/StockDetail.aspx

 

So a Midland Pullman, a nice box, book/booklet, some figures, a menu card and a print, all for under £300.

 

I must say that I do like the packaging, very retro train set feel.

 

Jamie

 

 

 

Yes, the artwork on the box does remind one of the Tri-ang Railways Blue Pullman Set box art....

 

[Dunsignalling]

Another though is that maybe one of the units won't have a motor?  Breaking it down into components £400 doesn't seem unreasonable. 

Just leaving the motor and gears out of one power car might save a tenner but the car itself, having been designed to be motorised, would have more drag than a conventional coach.

 

Designing and tooling new unpowered chassis components to overcome that would probably cost more than it would save for the small production run expected, 

 

Bear in mind, too, that a 6-car unit running with only one end powered would behave differently to the original, possibly requiring modifications to other vehicles.

 

This release is clearly intended to generate some extra revenue from existing investment so I don't think that, numbering and price aside, the models themselves will incorporate any significant changes from the first batch.

 

John

[Anthony566]

I have to say this is one of the finest models I have...

[petee19]

I have to say this is one of the finest models I have...

Totally agree,if I had to pick one model from my collection it would be the Blue Pullman,prior to its release it would have been the Brighton Belle.

[soony]

DCC Ready ONLY - the original was DCC fitted , so thats saved £50 on a pair of 21pin chips...

[petee19]

Thats a development, proviously they said that they could only produce it with DCC Chips fitted due to controlling lights etc.

 

I note on the website it is shown as not being DCC ready. (no 21pin DCC symbol).

http://www.Bachmann.co.uk/prod1.php?prod_selected=branchline&prod=0

 

I wonder if this means they have removed the lighting from it too then ?

 

Mine runs on DC and runs with lights on whilst moving,so I see no reason why they would remove them,I doubt that a set without working lights would save that much.

[Jamiel]

I don't think all the information is out there, it is just websites filling in details as best they can.

Peter's Spares show it as DCC ready.

 

http://www.petersspares.com/Bachmann-30425-midland-pullman-train-pack-oo-gauge.ir

My gut feeling is that if they save enough by not fitting the chips, then that will keep it at an affordable price, but since there is very little other than a box cover and a list extras at the moment, everything is just guesses, even if it is guesses by the retailers.

I would have thought that any changes to an existing model, other than not fitting 'extra' parts like decoders would involve costs that would increase production to accommodate the changes, even if they saved a tiny bit of money on the raw materials. Once the production line has been set for a model, it would not be cost effective to make changes.

Jamie

[Removed a/c]

Just leaving the motor and gears out of one power car might save a tenner but the car itself, having been designed to be motorised, would have more drag than a conventional coach.

 

Designing and tooling new unpowered chassis components to overcome that would probably cost more than it would save for the small production run expected, 

 

Bear in mind, too, that a 6-car unit running with only one end powered would behave differently to the original, possibly requiring modifications to other vehicles.

 

This release is clearly intended to generate some extra revenue from existing investment so I don't think that, numbering and price aside, the models themselves will incorporate any significant changes from the first batch.

 

John

I will bow to your expertise but by that reckoning then the Hornby power cars would be two different units then (and I don't believe they are) Also Dapol would have to have two separate models for their Electrics  powered and unpowered which seems like unnecessary expense? 

 

I guess we will just have to wait and see until they hit the shops. 

[Dunsignalling]

I will bow to your expertise but by that reckoning then the Hornby power cars would be two different units then (and I don't believe they are) Also Dapol would have to have two separate models for their Electrics  powered and unpowered which seems like unnecessary expense? 

 

I guess we will just have to wait and see until they hit the shops. 

I must admit that I was a little surprised that both cars were motorised on the original releases.

 

There are two possible reasons that spring immediately to mind, either one simply wasn't man enough for the job or the thing just worked better with both ends powered.

 

My guess is that it was a bit of both and that will still be true on any new batch produced. The old ones run extremely well and (for me) "it ain't broke, so don't fix it" would apply.

 

The motors that Bachmann use, in the quantities they buy them, are not expensive. The few pounds that might be saved by omitting one from a "Premium Collector's Pack" costing at least £500 (as I believe it will) would amount to "spoiling the ship for a haporth of tar".

 

I don't know for certain what the newer Hornby HSTs are like but I understand that the powered car is driven on all four axles whereas the Blue Pullman is only driven on the outermost bogie at each end because of the need to keep the passenger space clear.

 

Dapol N gauge diesels/electrics (powered or not) have very slippery bearings as standard to maximise the performance of their tiny motors (approximately one eighth the volume/power of a comparable OO unit) so probably aren't directly comparable. 

 

John

[Coach bogie]

 

There are two possible reasons that spring immediately to mind, either one simply wasn't man enough for the job or the thing just worked better with both ends powered.

 

 

Or option 3. Manufacturing economies of scale. Cheaper to have three assembly lines producing two cars each per set with more expensive components than four lines with less expensive parts. Include reduced design costs without the expense of a fourth unpowered chassis unit and the price of a second power units becomes negligable, especially with a lower run 'speciality' item like the BP.

 

Mike Wiltshire

[Francis deWeck]

Hmmm, speculation? I contacted Bachmann a short while ago. The set models are going to be configured exactly the same as those in the original issue, but with different running numbers. To my mind then, this will make them the second set which ran as the Midland Pullman. I presume that everything else that comes with the package is aimed at collectors, which doesn't include myself...I buy to run them, as will be the case when I go to fight those resting moths in my wallet!