Friday, 31 January 2025

Another Bulleid Blunder?

But First, A Song!

This version dates from the 1930s but it was written in 1883. 

It may surprise our loyal and gullible readers that a group of commuters in Surrey sought to produce a spoof version as a protest against a decision by British Railways.

Post WW2 the indefatigable Oliver Bulleid (he of "Leader" fame) came up with another jackpot idea. 

Instead of boring old buffet cars, why not dress a train's refreshment facility to represent a country pub.

So eight two car sets were converted into Tavern Car twosomes. The interior was all leaded lights and "oak"  beams ...
They served what we now call "pub food" ...
... and the bar had draught beer.  The interior was VERY quaint ...
... but badly ventilated.
But the exterior was simply bonkers!
The tavern end was "half timbered" on a "brick" base and each tavern had a pub sign painted on its sides.
Sweet!
Sadly, after about ten years of deployment in "blood and custard" British Rail repainted them in all over Southern green.
The tale is told in a YouTube video.
The two-car set was once offered (in "O" gauge tinplate?) by ACE trains ...
... but the 2025 Hornby catalogue features a "OO" twin.
The pair look great, but no price is given as yet, nor is a delivery date available.
Yes, of course, fbb would like a sample for Peterville, but the obvious choice would be the tavern car itself. But (Boo, Hiss) it looks like Hornby will only sell them as a pair.

Too much outlay!

There is also a book ...
... but the curse of the Macular (ARMD) means that the old bloke would struggle to read it comfortably; remember, one hand to hold the book, one hand to turn the pages and one hand to hold the magnifier!

Maybe one day a tavern "end" will pop up in the second hand market?

It'll ne "fat chance" within the rapidly diminishing statistic of fbb's life expectancy!

But, after hours on diligent research, fbb has obtained a copy of the spoof version of Rudy Vallee's hit.
Just a few of the words will enable readers to follow the thinking of the Surrey commuters in 1957,

There is a tavern on the train, on the train
Its design will really fog your brain, fog your brain
You drink your wine 'mid laughter free,
And never, never think of tea.

Fare thee well, for we must leave thee,
Do not let this parting grieve thee,
And remember that the best of friends
Must part, must part.
Adieu, adieu kind friend, adieu, adieu, adieu
The bosses don't think much of you
You'll hang your head on a Hardwood oaken beam,
And on you go in drunken dream.

There was a tavern on the train, on the train
But it cost thousands to maintain,, to maintain,
So change them back to drab normality,
No more a tavern will it be.

  Next Variety blog : Saturday 1st February 

1 comment:

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