Brighton Belle On Test - 2025 onwards

[Chris125]

The ex-BEL driving car that went to Eastleigh will soon - supposedly mid May - reappear as private hire vehicle 'Celia' in the British Pullman rake, seating up to 12 guests.

Celia｜The British Pullman Carriage by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin

Designed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, the new British Pullman’s Celia private dining carriage is the exclusive venue on the rails for life’s celebrations.

www.belmond.com

Celia is an extraordinary new dining and events carriage imagined and designed by global visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, together with Oscar-winning costume and production designer, Catherine Martin.

Set within an original 1932 Pullman carriage, Celia features a personal cocktail bar, lounge, dining and entertainment area, offering up to 12 guests the most intimate and cinematic way to experience one of Britain’s most storied trains, and the chance to create bespoke events and private dining moments.

 

[WesternLancer]

The ex-BEL driving car that went to Eastleigh will soon - supposedly mid May - reappear as private hire vehicle 'Celia' in the British Pullman rake, seating up to 12 guests.

Celia｜The British Pullman Carriage by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin

Designed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, the new British Pullman’s Celia private dining carriage is the exclusive venue on the rails for life’s celebrations.

www.belmond.com

Design wise that sounds ominous…

Considering the designers. Perhaps some interior images will emerge in due course and we can judge it in reality.

Good that it’s had work done and back on the rails however.

 

[Tony2]

Any idea if the former identity of Celia was car 92 or 93?

 

[Chris125]

Any idea if the former identity of Celia was car 92 or 93?

I'm fairly confident it's 93.

 

[Tony2]

I'm fairly confident it's 93.

I’m intending to catch up with Celia in the summer when it’s running.

From memory of the other carriages on the Belmond Pullman, there’s a small plate somewhere that displays the original number, possibly at the carriage ends?

 

[StephenHunter]

When you say Celia, I can't help but think of flatulence.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Celia to me says Celia Johnson in Brief Encounter.

 

[Invincible]

Not sure the original name of the carriage had a story, but anyone who has seen Baz and Catherine's films know they are good storytellers and have made their own story.

Discover Celia, the British Pullman Carriage by Baz Luhrmann & Catherine Martin

Introducing Celia, the British Pullman carriage designed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin. Discover theatrical storytelling on unique rail journeys.

www.belmond.com

Enter ‘Celia’, our fictitious West End icon of 1932, with a legendary mononym long before it was fashionable

Celia and her friends escape the crowds and steal away aboard this state-of-the-art train, pouring champagne, and laughing off the highs and lows of their latest show.

The "Celia" carriage when it starts service with Belmont later this year will create a lot of interest.

The separate Brighton Belle project presumably will be 3rd rail testing at Derby to get mainline approval, back to Crewe for CDL fitting and testing on doors, and run Victoria to Brighton later this year, or 2027?,
Presumably will have an secure undercover home in London or Eastleigh in-between railtours?

Guess LSL could loan "Celia" to make the fifth Brighton Belle carriage till "Doris" is ready?

 

[WesternLancer]

I'm fairly confident it's 93.

so one of the driving vehicles? Wonder how this is going to work / look in this new incarnation as Celia

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Mar 2026 ==

Celia to me says Celia Johnson in Brief Encounter.

I learned some while ago that names (or people that is) very much follow fashions - As an aside I learned this when I found out some years ago that marketing firms used (they probably have more sophisticated methods now) data from the electoral register to look for concentrations of age groups in order to mail shot sales material - this was pre internet now I remember - so for example if you wanted to mailshot or leaflet older people the software would search the electoral register for concentrations of names that would have been popular names to be given in say the 1910s or 20s for example, in the hope that a leaflet delivered to every door in such an area would have a higher 'target hit rate' than one delivered door to door in a random area with a much more mixed age demographic.

The Pullman car names look, understandably, quite fashion driven by the names of the era they were built in

Celia sounds like a plausible name that would have been fashionable at the time this vehicle was built I suspect

I can't find a full list of Pullman names- but one must exist on line somewhere
here are some listed at least - hopefully helps with my fashion driven analysis

Named Pullman Cars (railway carriages), listing

www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk

 

[Chris125]

so one of the driving vehicles? Wonder how this is going to work / look in this new incarnation as Celia

The artist impressions suggest it's being used like an observation car with the cab windows retained, so will presumably run at the rear.

 

[WesternLancer]

The artist impressions suggest it's being used like an observation car with the cab windows retained, so will presumably run at the rear.

I thought that too - thought I think the impressions are a little bit vague. Hopefully before too long some pictures will merge

Or maybe out of your observation car windows you will see the front end of a support loco like an ex Class 47 or 37 coupled at the back of the train

 

[Chris125]

Looks like she'll remain recognisable as a Brighton Belle driving car:

Eastleigh Works 57302 + Celia

LSL 57302 dragging a Brighton Belle driving coach from the works. It looks like its named Celia 93 / 293 (Metropolitan-Cammell, 1932).

flic.kr

Eastleigh Works 57302 + Celia

LSL 57302 dragging a Brighton Belle driving coach from the works.

flic.kr

 

[WAO]

Just thinking, what do we get by crossing a class 421 with a Brighton Belle?

A 4-PIG?

 

[WesternLancer]

Looks like she'll remain recognisable as a Brighton Belle driving car:

Eastleigh Works 57302 + Celia

LSL 57302 dragging a Brighton Belle driving coach from the works. It looks like its named Celia 93 / 293 (Metropolitan-Cammell, 1932).

flic.kr

Eastleigh Works 57302 + Celia

LSL 57302 dragging a Brighton Belle driving coach from the works.

flic.kr

Thanks for posting these - interesting pics

 

[eastwestdivide]

Just thinking, what do we get by crossing a class 421 with a Brighton Belle?

A 4-PIG?

Or a 4-BEG? You’ll have to beg for the cash to buy a ticket.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Looks like she'll remain recognisable as a Brighton Belle driving car:

Eastleigh Works 57302 + Celia

LSL 57302 dragging a Brighton Belle driving coach from the works. It looks like its named Celia 93 / 293 (Metropolitan-Cammell, 1932).

flic.kr

Eastleigh Works 57302 + Celia

LSL 57302 dragging a Brighton Belle driving coach from the works.

flic.kr

Trying to work out what bogies those are under it
Are they B5s ?

 

[fgwrich]

Trying to work out what bogies those are under it
Are they B5s ?

Indeed, B4/B5s.

Eastleigh Works 57302 + Celia

LSL 57302 dragging a Brighton Belle driving coach from the works.

flic.kr

 

[Sun Chariot]

Indeed, B4/B5s.

A B5 5BEL - has a car registration-plate naunce to it...

 

[fgwrich]

Celia has left Eastleigh for Stewart’s Lane:

Wednesday 22/04/2026 Eastleigh Railway Station

DB Cargo British Pullman, A Belmond Train

67024 brings out The former Brighton Belle driving car with its new lease of life and carries the name "Celia" heads back to Stewarts Lane via Acton

Back in May 2025 it can be seen arriving into Eastleigh Railway Station having arrived by Road into East Yard,

DB Cargo UK

MJDS Photography

Rail Focus

Rail Focus UK & World

Inter City Railway Society

@followers @top fans

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[WesternLancer]

Is Celia restored on its original under frame?
As opposed to the recycled emu chassis that have been used for the Belle restoration project?

And if so does it make it the only restored driving vehicle out there so far really? Minus original interior I would assume.

 

[fgwrich]

Is Celia restored on its original under frame?
As opposed to the recycled emu chassis that have been used for the Belle restoration project?

And if so does it make it the only restored driving vehicle out there so far really? Minus original interior I would assume.

Yep, it certainly hasn’t had the Frankenstein treatment that the 5 Belle trust example has. But then again this is effectively just a coach now. It won’t be driving or acting as an EMU vehicle anymore.

 

[WesternLancer]

Yep, it certainly hasn’t had the Frankenstein treatment that the 5 Belle trust example has. But then again this is effectively just a coach now. It won’t be driving or acting as an EMU vehicle anymore.

Yes indeed. But thanks for confirming.

 

[Chris125]

I see it still has the original heavy duty buffers on the cab end, it's going to look quite distinctive that's for sure.

99593 CELIA at Eastleigh Arlington 220426

Explore Rich09004's 17865 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

 

[sad1e]

Yep, it certainly hasn’t had the Frankenstein treatment that the 5 Belle trust example has

Speaking of the 5BEL unit has there been any updates on it's testing. Wasn't it supposed to begin testing at the beginning of this year.

 

[WesternLancer]

I see it still has the original heavy duty buffers on the cab end, it's going to look quite distinctive that's for sure.

99593 CELIA at Eastleigh Arlington 220426

Explore Rich09004's 17865 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

That’s a good pic.

Tho the changed cab roof line and absence of handrails on former drivers door makes it look distinctly out of character to my eyes.

Having said that it’s good to see the vehicle repaired and renovated and back in use.

 

[Chris125]

Another shot from Rich09004:

Rich09004

Explore Rich09004’s 17,767 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[WAO]

No drop-head Buckeye then.
WAO

 

[Invincible]

That’s a good pic.

Tho the changed cab roof line and absence of handrails on former drivers door makes it look distinctly out of character to my eyes.

Having said that it’s good to see the vehicle repaired and renovated and back in use.

Impression of the interior from Belmond's webpage, for those with £500 per person!

Celia｜The British Pullman Carriage by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin

Designed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, the new British Pullman’s Celia private dining carriage is the exclusive venue on the rails for life’s celebrations.

www.belmond.com

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Apr 2026 ==

Speaking of the 5BEL unit has there been any updates on it's testing. Wasn't it supposed to begin testing at the beginning of this year.

From the last update they were trying to get the unit from Crewe to the Derby 3rd rail test track by rail, but gave no timescales

 

[DarloRich]

some good pictures there - is this vehicle going to be used by Belmond and NOT the Belle project? This one ( Celia) is an original vehicle but not part of the restoration project? Correct?

( sorry - very confused by this!)

 

[Chris125]

some good pictures there - is this vehicle going to be used by Belmond and NOT the Belle project? This one ( Celia) is an original vehicle but not part of the restoration project? Correct?

( sorry - very confused by this!)

Correct.

Tho the changed cab roof line and absence of handrails on former drivers door makes it look distinctly out of character to my eyes.

Has the roof line changed? At first glance there's nothing obvious.