Leaving Victoria Station on a Thursday morning in the beautiful, fully restored ‘Gwen” a Pullman Carriage, in a cream and maroon livery, just like the carriages I had in my Tri-ang railway set which was pulled by my favourite steam train ‘Princess Elizabeth’.

Gwen – First class kitchen car, 20 seats, built 1932 by Metropolitan Cammell Carriage and Wagon Co. Ltd for the Brighton Belle. In 1948 was used, with sister car Mona, to convey Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) to Brighton. Brighton Belle service withdrawn in 1972. Preserved as a restaurant at The Horseless Carriage, Chingford, Essex, and later at the Colne Valley Railway, Castle Hedingham, Essex. Acquired by VSOE in 1988 and joined British Pullman Train in 1999. Decoration: Pearwood shell motif on English walnut.