Belmond British Pullman Train Pack (Hornby)

Hi Super,

Those coaches are stunning, even the non-lit ones look something special, but as you say those table lamps really are something special and actually realistic as this is exactly how the real ones are lit.  You probably also noted that each coach is different as well in terms of the cabin configuration, number of windows etc... and each is also named just like locomotives are usually in this country.

To answer your question, yes they do have oval leaded windows and they are glazed, although in the current configuration they are not lit and I've never seen any that have been.  Although if you wanted to mess with them it would probably be possible to fit an LED into those parts and hook them up to the existing lighting/pickup system.  As for what is behind that window I'm not sure as I've never been inside a real one (yet), but it may be a kitchen unit as these carriages often are used as restaurant cars to serve fine dining during the journey (this was always the case).  I do have another separate one which is a dedicated 'bar' for cocktails etc... again that is lit but again a different window configuration.  I don't know if you noticed, but they also have drawn back 'curtains' on the windows.  In fact this is a way you can tell if a Hornby Pullman carriage is lit or not, if they have the curtains they are 'super detail' ones with the lit lamps, no curtains they are the standard ones (referred to as 'Railroad' these days) and are not lit.

You're right about the cabin on the loco as well, nicely lit but not overpowering, about the only trick they've missed there is not to put a little painted driver figure inside the cabs.  Typically if you get a Roco or Fleischmann model of a modern image loco they will have drivers fitted to complete things.

Regardless this I think is a lovely set and although on the surface it looks a bit expensive when you look at the current pricing for locomotives and coaches it is a stunning bargain, in fact the price of the whole set on Amazon at the moment is a little under the cost of just the locomotive on Hornby's site!