Brighton Belle On Test 28/01/25

[trainmania100]

I have seen some gen around that 20118 and 132 are out on a test run with the Brighton Belle unit.

Subsequently I can't find the Brighton belle restoration website that was documenting the work on the train.

Would be good to get some up to date shots if anyone sees it today on its run to Chester and Back.
Makes a series of runs between Crewe and Chester.

Trains at Chester on 28/01/2025 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Chester - Search passenger and freight services at Chester

live.rail-record.co.uk

Obviously it's now on the rails and in a running state I'm curious to know :

1. Has the unit been assigned a class (other than 403), or a particular running number?
2. Is the unit third rail compatible?

 

[matrix24]

Very intresting and completely unexpected.

Beeston is just 8 miles from my home, so tempted but my work today simply will not allow. Sigh.

Hope someone is luckily enough to capture these initial test runs.

 

[trainmania100]

Allegedly running as a 4 car unit

 

[JonathanH]

Seems to have been put in Railcam data as 403050 (running as 3050).

 

[trainmania100]

Video of it here:

x.com

x.com

If you cannot view this video on X, the video shows the 4 car Brighton belle unit being top and tailed between class 20s, passing a boating lake.

 

[D6130]

Video of it here:

x.com

x.com

If you cannot view this video on X, the video shows the 4 car Brighton belle unit being top and tailed between class 20s, passing a boating lake.

That's not a boating lake. It's one of the canal marinas on the Shropshire Union....either Bunbury or Beeston Castle I think. (Sorry....O/T)

 

[Strathclyder]

The Youtuber DestinationTrainsPlanes was on hand to catch the 20s escorting the Belle through Crewe on one of the runs (timestamped video linked below).

Perhaps the first time the Belle (as a unit and not loco-hauled stock) has been that close to the 89?

 

[eastwestdivide]

Nice touch that the unit is already carrying a stencil ‘4’ headcode (for the Victoria/Brighton route).

 

[JonathanH]

Can give you the carriage names that were in the consist if that helps you.

Mabel
Gravetye Manor
Doris
Beryl

Dan.

OK, thanks. So from pictures it looks like the carriages are carrying their 99xxx carriage numbers, so from the names above the consist is 99291-99285-99282-99288.

 

[Cowley]

The Youtuber DestinationTrainsPlanes was on hand at Crewe to catch the 20s escorting the Belle through Crewe on one of the runs (timestamped video linked below).

Perhaps the first time the Belle (as a unit and not loco-hauled stock) has been that close to the 89?

The Brighton Belle, IC class 90s, the 89, Railfreight 20s and an orange 142 all in one shot!

 

[elltrain3]

The Path (5D41/5K44) Has been activated again on RTT with 20118/132 and 4 'coaches' so looks like it's off on another test run again today!

 

[ExRes]

The Path (5D41/5K44) Has been activated again on RTT with 20118/132 and 4 'coaches' so looks like it's off on another test run again today!

0925 5D41 just left Crewe for Chester

 

[swt_passenger]

Another YouTube video taken yesterday at Chester, this one includes a number of close up views of the unit.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Great news

Seems to have been put in Railcam data as 403050 (running as 3050).

Although in the video it is carrying the unit number 3101 (which makes it a 4COR!). The original units were numbered 3051 to 3053.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jan 2025 ==

1. Is the unit third rail compatible?

Yes, which is why it is initially going to be tested in the Chester area. In the video it looks like the shoes haven't been fitted - or maybe they are retractable like on a 73 - presumably as, outside live rail territory, there is a higher risk of them fouling something.

Under the solebar I understand it is essentially a 4CEP, and as such can work in multiple with a 33/1 or 73, extending its geographical range to places like Salisbury, Swanage and Bath

 

[WAO]

Great news
Under the solebar I understand it is essentially a 4CEP, and as such can work in multiple with a 33/1 or 73, extending its geographical range to places like Salisbury, Swanage and Bath

A 4CIG surely. B5 + Mark 6 motor bogies?.

WAO

 

[norbitonflyer]

A 4CIG surely. B5 + Mark 6 motor bogies?.

WAO

Possibly. But aren't the power bogies on the end cars, like a CEP? They certainly were on the units as built.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jan 2025 ==

Yes, which is why it is initially going to be tested in the Chester area.

It should go to New Brighton!

 

[StephenHunter]

Great news

Although in the video it is carrying the unit number 3101 (which makes it a 4COR!). The original units were numbered 3051 to 3053.

403 was the 5BEL TOPS class. 4CORs were 404s.

 

[Polarbear]

Looks superb! Looking forward to it subbing for a 777 on the Liverpool services!

 

[Class15]

Looks superb! Looking forward to it subbing for a 777 on the Liverpool services!

Liverpool? What would it be doing up there? I thought it was for the southern region?

 

[Cowley]

Liverpool? What would it be doing up there? I thought it was for the southern region?

Technically I suppose it could run up there for a change of scenery…

 

[Polarbear]

Liverpool? What would it be doing up there? I thought it was for the southern region?

I wondered the same when I saw the video of the BB set in Chester. It is indeed intended for use on the Southern 3rd rail network eventually & I look forward to being able to travel on it in due course.

 

[Sun Chariot]

The Brighton Belle, ... and an orange 142

How's  that for passenger progress!

 

[GatwickDepress]

Absolutely beautiful. I look forward to seeing it run on Southern metals in the future!

 

[Deepgreen]

It looks very fine, and the orange cantrail stripe is commendably muted (I'm pleasantly surprised they 'got away' with that). I recall my father taking me on one of the last runs of the BB in 1972. The headlines are ghastly, of course. I really hope 3101 is some sort of temporary number and that, say, 3050 is used instead - I don't think it has been used previously (unless I've overlooked something) and is at least consecutive with the three original units' numbers.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Having no yellow ends I presume it has high intensity headlamps? And are those the original names of the cars? If not then they remind me of the old Beryl & Cheryl set .

 

[eastwestdivide]

Car names and numbers and a whole lot more detail at

BloodandCustard - Brighton Belle

From which Doris is an original name but the others just had numbers as they were third class in the original 5-BEL sets.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Great to see. The replacement underframes / bogies should give a smoother passage - as built they were notoriously rough-riding. Regular patrons avoided the soup course!

 

[D6130]

Great to see. The replacement underframes / bogies should give a smoother passage - as built they were notoriously rough-riding. Regular patrons avoided the soup course!

Yes....Sir Laurence Olivier, his wife Joan Plowright and Dora Bryan usually preferred the kippers, I've been told.

 

[Cowley]

Great to see. The replacement underframes / bogies should give a smoother passage - as built they were notoriously rough-riding. Regular patrons avoided the soup course!

I bet they didn’t have too many problems with the G&T’s though.

 

[Ted633]

Having no yellow ends I presume it has high intensity headlamps? And are those the original names of the cars? If not then they remind me of the old Beryl & Cheryl set .

Yes, high intensity headlamps are fitted. The BB never had headlights, so has no grandfather rights to operate with lights that don't meet current standards. They don't look great, but think it would be worse with a yellow panel.