Enjoy a restful break in a restored historic Pullman car at Ravenglass station
FOLLOWING their £335,000 restoration from near-derelict condition, two Pullman cars alongside the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway are now available as staycation accommodation.
Originally built in 1917 as part of a First World War ambulance train, cars Elmira and Maid of Kent are the
UK's oldest railway camping coaches still in their original location, and easily accessible for the Cumbrian Coastal Way.
Funded by £250,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a private investment of £85,000, the innovative transformation of these two historically-important vehicles into new accommodation for up to six people has painstakingly preserved many of the carriages' original highly-crafted features.
A new sensory garden will also support the natural ecosystem and enhance visitors' stays.
As the roadmap out of lockdown progresses, the coaches will also be opened up at selected times for pre-booked socially distanced visits, giving people a new perspective into their unique heritage and helping to share stories and memories of the so-called ‘carriages off the rails'.
The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway's Rachel Bell said: “Bringing
these nationally significant camping coaches back to life has been a real labour of love, and it is fantastic to be giving staying visitors the chance to soak in their rich heritage for the first time in many, many decades.
“We think it's a fantastic way of reinvigorating a unique slice of railway history and raising awareness of the Western Lake District and the lesser-known Lake
District coast to a new generation of staycationers who want to travel in a more eco-friendly way and enjoy authentic family experiences.”
Dawn McGough, community rail manager for Community Rail Cumbria, said: “I am so pleased and excited by the prospect of these two wonderful Pullman coaches being restored to their former glory. In the mid-1930s, this new ground-breaking concept took off on Britain's railways as a unique way of staying in remote picturesque locations accessible by the train.
“My challenge to all the people and families who stay in the coaches is to plan their holiday using only the railway and leave the car at home.
“There are a host of attractions and interesting places to visit along the Cumbrian coast railway, very easily accessible from stations along the route, and much quieter than the tourist hotspots in the heart of the Lake District.”