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33-490: The Belmond Royal Scotsman is a Scottish overnight luxury train, started in 1985 by GS&WR (Great Scottish and Western Railway Co.), and run since 2005 by Belmond Ltd. Its itineraries include 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- or 7-night journeys around the Scottish Highlands , visiting castles, distilleries and historic sites. Once each year, it also makes a 7-night journey around the whole of Great Britain . The first train

66-434: A pantry and small galley which was often convertible to a dormitory for the chef and porter/steward at night with cutting board covering a sink, a combination oven/stove/hot-water-tank/steam-heating-boiler and diminished side door for loading supplies, then a private restroom/bathing-room, one or two deluxe private rooms for a personal secretary perhaps and the line's vice president, a locked china/silver/liquor cabinet along

99-410: A door, and larger panoramic windows were installed all around the end of the car. On older heavyweight cars, the rear end of the car consisted of an enlarged, canopied porch-like open vestibule platform area, with the door and enlarged windows set back into the car, giving wind-wing shelter from the draft. Whether old or new there was frequently a large open lounge in the B end where passengers could enjoy

132-576: A traditional enclosed type for its compartment or "first class" passengers and an open type resembling a flat car for its tourist class riders. When passenger trains were still the preferred mode of intercity transportation in America, observations often were used by those campaigning for public office, especially for the Presidency of the United States such as United States Railcar No. 1,

165-666: The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway for the Chessie which never went into service. The C&O cars were sold to the Denver & Rio Grande and ran on the Royal Gorge . As described above, the observation car on scheduled passenger trains has largely fallen victim to increased operational costs. An outstanding exception is Via Rail 's Canadian , which still operates on every triweekly trip between Toronto and Vancouver with

198-796: The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad , the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad , and the Western Pacific Railroad for use on their joint California Zephyr , and the Canadian Pacific Railway for The Canadian and The Dominion . The WP touted this combination car type as "the best of both worlds" in passenger amenities. Budd also built observation cars for the Wabash Railroad for their Blue Bird trains between Chicago and St. Louis, and for

231-500: The Ferdinand Magellan . On a whistle stop train tour the candidate's train would pull into town and stop with the observation end at the station, then the candidate would appear on the observation platform to deliver his " stump speech ". The observation platform made a perfect temporary stage for just such an event. Like political candidates, famous personalities such as members of a royal family or film stars would use

264-479: The Milwaukee Road ’s passenger trains were often rounded out with either a " Skytop Lounge " or a finned " Beavertail observation " the latter due to noted industrial designer Otto Kuhler . The Milwaukee's observations were easily recognizable as the observation end of the cars were not only rounded, but also slanted toward the front of the car, often with windows extending up from the normal window height to

297-604: The British Pullman train. In 2023, the company also launched a Dior Spa on The Royal Scotsman. In 2024, the company returned the Eastern & Oriental Express to service, after the train service was paused during the pandemic. The company also launched a Dior Spa aboard, and unveiled a sleeper carriage for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, designed by French street artist JR. The carriage

330-617: The abandoning of the Single cabins is scheduled, for which one more replacement carriage, Pullman Kitchen First 315 Heron is foreseen. The train length is 675 feet (206 m) without locos. Until 2015, the Royal Scotsman motive power was provided by West Coast Railways , usually using Class 37, Class 47 or Class 57 diesel locomotives. For the 2016 season, the haulage contract was taken over by GB Railfreight . Two of their Class 66 locomotives, 66743 and 66746, being dedicated to

363-601: The coach was shipped to Mivan Marine in Antrim, where it was outfitted with two Bamford SPA rooms and 2 additional bedrooms (1 PRM Twin and 1 Double) with inter-connection. Upon completion the carriage was taken back to CRRES for final mechanical works and entry into the rolling stock library as 99337. The carriage entered service in September 2016. Following an announcement in March 2023, a new accommodation category, Grand Suite,

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396-592: The company announced an agreement with Sardegna Resorts S.r.l to manage Romazzino in Sardinia. It has also added a cluster of new properties in Mexico. In August 2023, Belmond re-opened Maroma following a redesign, in which ten beachfront suites were added. In June 2023 it entered into an agreement with Cora Pacific Development to open Milaroca, a hotel on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, in 2025. In December 2023,

429-423: The company announced that it had acquired Hacienda Katanchel in Mexico, with a planned opening in 2027. In December 2022, Belmond announced a ten-year plan to upgrade its properties, which it had already begun with the renovation of Splendido Mare in 2021. Upgrades have included renovations and refurbishments to its trains. In October 2021, Belmond launched a train carriage designed by film director Wes Anderson on

462-698: The company is documented in Sherwood's memoir Orient Express: A Personal Journey . On 10 March 2014, Orient-Express Hotels Ltd was renamed Belmond, and on 1 July 2014, Belmond's holding company was also renamed Belmond Ltd. In April 2015, Belmond partnered with Irish Rail to launch the train Belmond Grand Hibernian in Ireland. In July 2016, Indian Hotels Company Limited sold most of its 5.1% stake in Belmond, retaining only 0.44% after

495-419: The expanded observation platform, which was fenced with opulent railing supporting an (optional) illuminated drumhead at the B end. Fresh drinking water, grey water , kerosene/fuel and other tanks crowded beneath the floor sill competed for space with heating/cooling, axle powered mechanical equipment, shore-power batteries and equipment/tool storage bins to support a self-sustaining/self-reliant car whether on

528-400: The final dividing wall facing a large open multipurpose salon. The salon was often fitted with fold down overhead bunks above a retractable dining/conference table over sub-deck storage, a conductor's desk with secured storage for train log, wine log, and merchant's account books along with relevant gauges such as air pressure and speedometer at the track inspection viewing window recessed behind

561-446: The form of reclining coach seats, plush parlor car chairs near side tables or bedrooms and the occasional crew dormitory, such configurations varying greatly between railroads. A lighted drumhead adornment, usually indicating the name of the train or the name/logo of the railroad would invariably (except on the Milwaukee Road , see below) be hung from the tail end of the observation car. Some early trains offered two observation cars:

594-496: The latest improvements of Royal Scotsman even the train will have Grand Suite compartments and a room for wellness treatments. Belmond (company) Belmond Ltd. (formerly Orient-Express Hotels Ltd ) is a hospitality and leisure company that operates hotels, train services and river cruises and safaris worldwide. In 2024, the company has 47 properties in 28 countries and territories, with 32 hotels, six tourist trains, seven river cruise boats and two safaris. The company

627-669: The open observation car end as a stage from which they would greet well-wishers and fans during public tours. In more recent years, presidents Jimmy Carter , George H. W. Bush , Bill Clinton , and Barack Obama have used a heavyweight observation car built by the Pullman Standard Company in 1930. This car is the Georgia 300 . While the cars manufactured by companies such as Pullman-Standard conformed to somewhat standard designs , some railroads created their own distinctive designs for observation ends. For example,

660-411: The road or on a siding while making track orders. This variety of features is easy to spot with a variety of window placement and sizes, while observation car windows tend to be more uniform in size and placement. Among North American railroads, their observation cars often featured any of a variety of upcharge revenue seating, reserved sitting/drawing rooms or sleeper roomettes in the forward section, in

693-569: The roofline. The Milwaukee's observations, including the Skytops, lacked a drumhead, whose place was taken by a large oscillating rear light; instead, each tapered side carried the generic Milwaukee script name "Hiawatha" embossed on stainless steel trim flanking this light. The Milwaukee's Skytops—four parlor cars built in the railroad's own shops and six sleepers built by Pullman-Standard—were designed by noted industrial designer Brooks Stevens . Six railroads bought dome -observation cars from Budd —

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726-696: The sale. In December 2018, the company agreed to be acquired by LVMH in a $ 3.2 billion transaction which would delist the company from the New York Stock Exchange and make it 100% privately owned. The announcement of the sale led Belmond's share price to increase by 40% in a day. The deal closed in April 2019. Belmond has continued to grow its portfolio in Italy. In September 2021, it acquired Villa Beatrice in Portofino . In February 2023,

759-486: The same dome observation-lounge cars in use on the train since 1955. On several long distance Amtrak routes outside the Northeast Corridor where most trains are equipped with Superliner cars, there are Sightseer Lounge cars. These combine extra window exposure on an upper observation level with a lounge area and dormitory facilities on lower levels of the trains, though are generally placed mid-way through

792-560: The train's consist. Some modern European trains, typically operating in the push-pull mode, are fitted with observation cars on one or both ends. The driver is located in a cabin on the side of the passengers, or above them like in the Swiss GoldenPass . The German ICE control cars feature a see-through driver cabin, with passenger seats behind the driver. In Italy the Settebello , in service between 1952 and 1992, and

825-783: The train. These were repainted into Belmond Royal Scotsman maroon livery with appropriate decals in April/May 2016, the work being carried out by Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works in Hampshire. 66746 appeared first, being released on 11 April with 66743 following on 30 May. The train was a definite inspiration for Belmond's other luxury service Grand Hibernian which entered in service in August 2016 for trips in Ireland and Northern Ireland but ceased in February 2021. The train

858-419: The view as they watched the track recede into the distance, and usually (but not always) equipped as a club car with a bar or buffet where soft drinks, cocktails and snacks could be purchased. This differs from non-revenue business cars or private varnish, which may have featured (starting with the A end;) the normally locked center communicating door to a corridor along one side, leading to the salon with doors to

891-418: The years. Dining Car 1, which used to be a Gresley kitchen car, was damaged in a shunting incident on depot and, as a wooden (Teak) bodied vehicle was deemed unsafe to continue passenger operations, it was withdrawn from mainline service. It was followed in 1992 by Pullman car Raven , acquired at the same time as the others in the train. Dining Car 2 used to be 99131, an ex-LNER SC1999 coach named Victory . It

924-653: Was composed of Mark 1 sleeping cars and three vintage dining and lounge carriages. After the inauguration of the current train set in 1989, the vintage coaches have kept on running as the Queen of Scots charter train. For the second train batch the train's former owner acquired Pullman cars, which were built in 1960 by Metropolitan Cammell for the East Coast Main Line . This train consisted of four sleeping cars, two dining cars, and one observation car . The train's two dining cars have been replaced over

957-630: Was founded in 1976 by the American entrepreneur James Sherwood with the acquisition of the Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy, from the Guinness family for £900,000. Sherwood then bought a number of carriages from the original Orient Express train, which he restored and used to offer rides from Paris and London to his hotel in Venice, thus the former name of the company. Much of the history of

990-548: Was launched in May 2024. Similar to their namesakes on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express , the two compartments feature double beds and a drawing saloon with a sofa. For this a new State Car 1 was converted from another Pullman car, Kitchen First 316 Magpie . It replaced the previous State Car 1 (ex Pullman Parlour First 324 Amber ) in late April 2024. For 2025, the introduction of two more Grand Suites and

1023-569: Was made of Irish Mark 3 carriages, including five sleeping cars , two restaurant cars and an observation car , featuring a very similar composition and carriage layouts like the Royal Scotsman. The carriages have left Ireland in 2022, and Belmond planned to relocate the train to a new place inside Europe. It has been realized in shape of the new service Britannic Explorer , which will have its first ride in July 2025, featuring round trips from London to Cornwall , Wales and The Lake District . Like

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1056-414: Was presented at the 2024 Venice Biennale. Observation car The push-pull mode of operation removes this limitation. In Europe, various trains are now fitted with observation cars at either or both ends. The main spotting feature of observation cars is at the "B" end (tail) of the car; the walls of lightweight and streamlined cars usually round together to form a tapered U shape, smoothly or with

1089-751: Was replaced by the Pullman car Swift , which was acquired in 2011 and converted by Assenta Rail in Scotland. On 9 August 2011, the train hosted the very first wedding on an Orient Express train. Two former Mark 3 sleeping cars were added to the train in 1997 as service carriages, replacing two Mk1 coaches (99987 & 99966). One of them has also got double sleeping cabins. Belmond acquired another Pullman coach in 2015 from CRRES (West Coast Railway Co Ltd) and again employed Assenta Rail to undertake outfitting and project management in order to create "State car - SPA". After provisional mechanical and body works at CRRES

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