Vintage Trains is bringing back memories of British Rail in the 1960s when freight locomotives worked special trains for days out at seaside resorts, great events, and historic cities.
As the only community-owned train operating company in Britain and possibly the world, Vintage Trains is ideally placed to offer these as part of its commitment first and foremost as a charity.
It has a commitment to preserve history and to support preservation and industry colleagues to give them a working home on the British mainline network.
The concept is to feature classic diesel traction at great value prices with just three simple and easy-to-understand classes of travel that have no cumbersome names or annoying, add-ons.
First Class provides a comfortable seat in lovingly restored Metro Cammell Pullman cars and includes a full English breakfast and a hearty two-course evening meal. Each menu is carefully selected with a focus on the best quality, locally sourced, and seasonal ingredients. A new drinks menu from local breweries, artisan cider producers, and Midlands-based spirits and liqueurs.
Standard Plus steps back to the time of a comfortable, six-person compartment. Each Standard Plus passenger will be welcomed aboard with a glass of fresh juice, a cup of tea or coffee, and a large bacon roll. The return journey features a hot meal from a seasonal menu, served at your seat.
Standard Class has all-around tables, and windows that align with seats and open to hear the roar of the diesel engine. It is handy for the Club Bar carriage, so no more long walks from one end of the train for a cup of tea, a light snack, a cake or a bottle of craft beer.
The Club Car is a new experience in the charter market. It provides an informal space and in the morning offers hot and cold drinks, confections and pastries, and pre-ordered breakfast specials. It also offers locally made craft beers, artisan ciders, as well as other soft and alcoholic drinks and snacks. An evening meal can also be pre-ordered for serving at your seat in the Club Car carriage.
Every Merrymaker will have The Red Pen pub, which in association with local brewers will offer hand-pulled, real ale, or draft ciders that can be enjoyed at your seat or in the Club Car. Traditional bottled beers are also available from the buffet.
The first Merrymaker, titled Mite-y Merrymaker, is on Saturday, 3rd June from Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Stafford and Crewe to Ravenglass for a trip on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, or passengers can stay on the train and continue to Carlisle.
The train will be hauled by Class 37 No. 37403 Isle of Mull. Tickets start from £79 and can be booked online over on the Vintage Trains website.
Back in the day (1970s for me) we enjoyed trips out from Hull to interesting places, the journey being the main attraction of course. Stock was available mk2d/e/f not on scheduled services those Saturdays. The over-riding feature was that these were no-frills, basic journeys at very low excursion prices, marginal cost for BR.
Good luck with this new (profit-making?) venture . . .
Aah remember merry makers. Went to York for 50p 1974.
I went on several from Wellingborough and Northampton. Scarborough..Bridlington and Barmouth spring to mind.