There is an unexplainable magic to the world of steam trains. No matter where one goes, a locomotive from the past is always going to turn a big number of heads. The trains are a pinnacle of ingenuity for their time, fuelling our transport networks for more than 100 years, and their elegant designs are a snapshot back in time.
The same can be said for being a passenger on one. Plush interiors, soft, warm lighting, fine dining or just sitting and enjoying the views outside, there is an exclusive charm to watching countryside go by with the loud tooting of a locomotive's whistle and the chugging of its steam engine.
It's little surprise that taking trips with such engines are still enormously popular, decades after diesel engines became the mainstay of British railways. Steam Dreams is one such company offering luxury travel packages involving steam trains, running up and down the country every year.
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The company frequently organises trips from Essex to more remote parts of the English countryside, and cities in the north and west. From multi-day trips in the Lake District, trip to and from Yorkshire, or a sunset ride in the south west, you're not short on options for your steam train experience with this firm.
We've covered Steam Dreams many times before at EssexLive - even filmed the arrival of one of their locomotives to the county which was my most popular live video stream nine years into the job. The company invited us onto their new trip from Southend all the way to Cardiff in Wales last week. The following is my thoughts on the whole experience of what Steam Dreams describe as the "golden age of travel".
For day trips, there are two types of travel you can pick; First Class, a non-dining and considerably cheaper option where you can bring your own food in, sit in plush carriages and opt into afternoon tea, and Pullman Dining, where you're treated to an "elaborate fine dining experience" - this is how I travelled to Cardiff.
Steam Dreams advertise themselves as luxury, exquisite and flawless for their Pullman Dining. For me, this journey brought on a whole new meaning of the word luxury, with everything we ate being a pure delight. My partner and I were seated on a shared table of four, and upon arrival it looked magnificant, elegant and plush. We were greeted enthusiastically by the staff who were eager to assist with practically any need we had.
Our carriages arrived via diesel engine in Leigh-on-Sea, as we would be hooked up with our steam locomotive, the Britannia BR Standard Class 7P 4-6-2 70000, in London before it took us to Cardiff. We were instantly offered our welcome cocktail, a Steam Dreams Bellini, which felt strange to consume at 7.30am, but it was a rich peach flavour and impossible to put down.
The offers and supply of tea and coffee throughout the morning was constant; at one point I had to say no over fear of pumping myself with too much caffiene, but it was hard to refuse when it was so nice. Sat at the table itself, the chairs were extremely comfy with our own arms, headrests, cushions and under-chair heaters.
We were introduced to the train manager, who provided some context of our journey to Wales, plus some interesting facts about the company itself and the locomotive; a top speed of around 70mph, with it getting through around 15,000 gallons of water for the day's trip. Then, it was time for the first of many rounds of food.
A two course breakfast consisted of a "Bircher" muesli with natural yoghurt, berries and honey, added to the dish by the staff. Credit to the trained professionalism of these waiters - not a single drop of food or drink was ever spilled during service, no matter how much the carriages were rocking. The muesli was creamy, fruity and bursting with flavour with soft oats that melted in the mouth.
Options for the second course were a full English breakfast or eggs with salmon and hollandaise on an English muffin. My partner went full fry up, I tried the eggs. The full English was a winner - a chunky fat sausage, crispy bacon and velvety black pudding. My eggs were perfectly poached with the yolk not too runny and a thick, creamy hollandaise complementing the salmon.
We ate breakfast while we waited for our steam train to hook up in London, slightly delayed by signalling issues. But once we heard the first sound from the engine's whistle, it's impossible to resist that magical feeling of glee a child might feel when first stepping on a train. Finally on the move, the Britannia was full steam ahead to Cardiff, missing a stop on the way to ensure we had our full 3.5 hours in the city.
The rest of the morning consisted of a morning bakery basket with jams and honey, then a selection of gorgeous danish pastries that were warm and soft, fresh from the oven, but still buttery and flaky, plus plenty more tea and coffee. The timing of these offerings had clearly been thought out, as there was enough time between courses to digest the previous but also ensuring it was a near constant flow of food and drink during the journey.
The countryside rolled past, and we saw numerous trainspotters on various bridges, roads and platforms keen to get a snap of the Britannia. Before reaching Cardiff, we pre-ordered some drinks to go with our four-course evening meal, with the Pullman Dining ticket giving a £21 tab for drinks, which was conveniently the price of a bottle of house wine.
Arriving in Cardiff Central Railway Station, the Britannia engine was mobbed by multiple trainspotters and excited passengers wanting to get a close-up glimpse inside the cabin and the magnificent machine in front of it. The magic struck again.
For our time in the city, we explored Cardiff Castle and then spent some time walking around Cardiff Bay, enjoying an ice cream on the pier, buying postcards and then stopping for a drink in the Millennium Centre cafe - hallmarks of a trip to the British seaside. Before we knew it, we were back on the platform awaiting the steamer to take us home.
The journey home continued the stellar service of food and drink we'd grown accustomed to on the way there. A glass of Steam Dreams' own champagne to start, before some canapes; a crunchy biscuit-based salmon treat, and an equally tasty deep-fried mushroom and cheese ball - decedant.
Our dinner began around half an hour after we set off from Cardiff, and during this time I experienced the steam train magic again as we rounded a long corner and saw the Britannia chugging away in the distance, steam billowing out. At this point the sun was lower in the sky, and the carriage setting was tranquil.
The starter was a pollock fishcake with spring onion, herbs and a citrus creme fraiche. Of all the food we had that day, this one was the least memorable, as it tasted like a solid fish cake - but solid compared with exemplary is far from a criticism. The main course was a succulent Salt Marsh braised lamb shoulder with a potato fondant, roast carrot puree and vegetables. This was a delight; the lamb fell apart and melted in the mouth, with the potato light, fluffy with a well-seasoned crispy crust. The highlight (surprisingly) was the carrot puree, which brought a brilliant kick of flavour.
Next came along a trolley full of cheese, served up with biscuits and plum or tomato chutneys. I loved the process of bringing a trolley down and serving up whatever cheese you wanted; options included blue cheese, brie, cheddar, two types of red leicester and many others. My favourite was a Welsh red leicester, the flavour of which was so powerful yet deliciously creamy at the same time. I enjoyed this course with a delicious full-bodied yet not too heavy port, pre-ordered earlier in the day.
The last full course of the day was a rhubarb and almond tart with ginger crumble and a splodge of vanilla cream. It is no hyperbole to say this was the best thing I ate all day; an absolutely beautiful tart with a rich filling, thick cream and crusty pastry which gave a sweet but sharp flavour with the rhubarb. Right before the end of the journey, we had one more round of coffee with petits fours (bit size confectionary) that were the perfect conclusion to a day of exquisite dining.
The verdict
Steam Dreams provided us with a sensational dining experience with fantastic service, friendly and knowledgable staff, and a spread of food and drink that did not put a foot wrong. The day was a long one - around 17 hours in total - but it is impossible to deny the appeal of dining in a luxury carriage while being pulled by a steam train through the English countryside.
All this being said, it is impossible to ignore the hefty price tag that comes with such an experience with Steam Dreams. For our journey, Pullman Dining cost £422 per person, with the First Class option coming in at around £200 cheaper. The obvious question is whether it is worth that price - but the answer will hinge on how much it will mean to you.
It is a considerable price to ask for a trip that lasts one day. Granted, from our experience, the quality is extremely high - but it may not be enough for many people to justify paying that. However, to bring this full circle - there is that unquantifiable magic that comes with experiencing "the golden age of travel" under one of the most magnificent and elegant machines to be invented. For many, you simply can't put a price on that.
