Enjoy a festive feast aboard a steam train this Christmas
Christmas dinner will be served with a difference this December as South Devon Railway brings back its popular festive dining experiences aboard its historic steam trains.
Running from Tuesday, 1 December to Wednesday, 16 December, the three-course Christmas meals will be served in vintage carriages as the trains travel through the winter scenery of the Dart Valley between Buckfastleigh and Totnes.
Passengers can choose to dine in the 1950s Restaurant Car, at £80 per person, or the historic Pullman Car Lydia, built in 1925, at £90 per person.
The festive menu begins with a choice of roasted butternut squash and sage soup with a Parmesan crisp, or chicken liver parfait with port and cranberry chutney and toasted brioche.
Main courses include roast turkey roulade wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with redcurrant and sausage meat, or a mushroom, cranberry and Brie Wellington. Both are served with traditional Christmas accompaniments, including rosemary roast potatoes, maple-glazed parsnips, spiced red cabbage, cauliflower cheese and sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts.
Dessert options are mini Christmas pudding with brandy sauce or Christmas cake trifle with brandy custard, Chantilly cream and candied orange.
Guests will be welcomed aboard with a glass of Cranberry Fizz before being served their meal at their seats. Additional drinks can be purchased through an at-seat bar service.
Ernest Elsworth-Wilson, General Manager of South Devon Railway, said: "There's something rather special about sitting down to Christmas dinner on a steam train, particularly in carriages that have been welcoming passengers for generations.
"Our Pullman Car Lydia is now more than 100 years old, and it's a wonderful setting for a traditional festive meal. We've got all the Christmas favourites on the menu, along with a few special touches, and of course the scenery changes as you enjoy your lunch.
"It's a lovely alternative to the usual Christmas restaurant gathering, whether you're celebrating with family, friends or colleagues. And nobody has to worry about the cooking or washing up."
The dining trains will operate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the period, with lunchtime and evening departures from Buckfastleigh.
Pullman dining runs from 12.30pm to 3pm and 6.30pm to 9pm, with the Restaurant Car also offering lunchtime and evening experiences.
Prices include the train journey, first-class supplement, welcome drink and three-course meal. Menu choices must be made when booking and advance reservations are essential.
For details and tickets, visit southdevonrailway.co.uk/experiences/dining-trains.