Northern Belle: The luxurious way to travel
Nov 5 2009 By Edward Stephens
From the moment the cream and brown carriages of the Northern Belle came into view expectations were high.
The distinctive livery of a bygone era hinted that we were about to experience a train journey with a difference.
Like its sister train the Orient Express, this elegant lady comes from the Golden Age of rail travel when refinement and quality rather than speed and cost-cutting were the order of the day.
As it stopped at Birmingham International Railway Station and stewards in 1930s uniforms stepped out and laid red carpets at each of the doors for passengers it re-affirmed my first thoughts.
Okay, it wasn’t pulled by a steam engine, but as soon as we stepped on board that disappointment was soon forgotten as we entered a world of marquetry embellished wood-panelled carriages, polished brassware and intimate lighting.
The tables were laid with fine bone china, silver-plated cutlery and distinctive wine glasses all bearing the evocative VSOE monogram – Venice Simplon-Orient Express.
We sat down at a pre-booked table for four in the sort of huge armchairs you would normally only see in a gentleman’s club, a world away from train travel of today.
Shortly after the train pulled away from the station, brunch was preceded by an Orient Express Bellini, a cocktail of chilled champagne and peach puree which was, appropriately, invented at Harry’s Bar in Venice in 1934.
Suitably revived, we went on to fresh fruit cocktail followed by scrambled eggs wrapped in a smoked salmon parcel served on a warm buttered crumpet finished with fresh Whitby crab, hollandaise, tomato and chives. It was rounded off with a selection of preserves and Danish pastries served with Columbian coffee.
Brunch over, it was time to explore the other carriages because each one – they are all named after a stately home or castle – has a different interior. We were in Alnwick – named after that formidable fortress in Northumberland – whose interior panelling and decoration was in an elegant mixture of oak, box-wood, yew tree, sycamore and pith walnut.
In contrast to the deep, rich colours of our carriage, some were lined with panels in woods of a much lighter hue with a completely different, but equally special feel to them.
