Former 5Bel carriage, 284 "Vera" at London Victoria on 15th August 2003. This car was previously in unit 3052, and is now owned and operated by VSOE.

The Southern Railway (SR) gave the designation 5Bel to the 5_car all_Pullman electric multiple units built to work the prestigous Brighton Belle trains between London Victoria and Brighton. These units survived long enough in British Rail ownership to be allocated TOPS Class 403. Between 1933 and 1935, these units were designated 5Pul (the Pul code was then used for the 6Pul units).

Construction

The SR electrified the London Victoria to Brighton line in the early_1930s, and full electric services commenced over the route from 1 January 1933. For the high_profile Brighton Belle Pullman train, three five_car units, consisting entirely of Pullman cars, were built. All fifteen cars were built by Metropolitan Cammell.

As they were Pullman cars, owned by the independent Pullman Car Company, the individual carriages were numbered in its series, taking numbers 279 to 293, and named. The first class cars took ladies' names, while the third class cars had less_inspiring Car No xx_style names. However, the units together were allocated numbers in the SR series, originally taking 2051_2053, which was revised in January 1937 to 3051_3053.

Formations

Initial formations of these units were as follows:

Withdrawal & Preservation

The last Brighton Belle train ran on 30 April 1972, and the three 5Bel units were withdrawn. However, all fifteen cars were sold into preservation, though none were kept together as a single unit. Instead they have been split up and are used as individual Pullman cars. A number have been returned to service on the mainline with the Venice Simplon Orient Express (VSOE), working on special charter trains on Southern Region lines. The table below sets out the current position: