The Northern Belle is one of Britain's poshest trains and even includes a carriage from the late Queen’s Royal Train. It has previously been dubbed by actor Bill Nighy as “the grand dame of luxury travel” on Channel 5’s 'The World’s Most Scenic Railway Journeys.' Northern Belle (Image: Hollie Carr) It arrived at Weymouth Train Station on Thursday, August 15 and was met by a number of eager train enthusiasts keen to get a glimpse.
Train spotter Ben Collins from Weymouth often heads down to the station when anything ‘special’ rolls in. Ben Collins (Image: Hollie Carr) He said: “It’s nice to see tourists coming down to Weymouth on the train and it’s good for the local economy.” Mr Collins also explained that trainspotting is ‘definitely a communal thing.
’ As the train pulled into the station, staff jumped off and laid down branded mats for passengers to disembark onto. Joanne and Mark Jones had taken a trip from Birmingham to Weymouth on the Northern Belle alongside their friends Juliette and Chris Flower. Joanne Jones, Mark Jones, Juliette Flower and Chris Flower (Image: Hollie Carr) They said: “It has been lovely; it was a really nice journey” adding that the trip was a birthday gift.
The group have visited Weymouth a number of times before and had planned to ‘find a nice pub and have a few pints.’ There is a strict rule for the trip which is that jeans and trainers are banned - meaning you'll have to look the part as you sit in the same seats that may once have been used by royals themselves. The Northern Belle, once part of the Orient Express group, transports passengers back to the golden age of rail travel with 1930s-style Pullman carriages.
Northern Belle (Image: Hollie Carr) It was followed by a black 5 class steam locomotive which had travelled to the seaside town from London Victoria which arrived about half an hour later. The excursion, offered by the Railway Touring Company, says it will give visitors almost three and a half hours in Weymouth to discover much of what this seaside town has to offer. The railway station is close to the beach and shops.
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