Train Cars
As a reflection of the affluent 'Belle' trains of the 1930's, each Northern Belle carriage bears the name of a significant stately home. Furnished with commissioned designs, fabrics and marquetry, the Northern Belle is truly a celebration of British heritage and skills.
The Northern Belle comprises six dining carriages, with a maximum capacity of 252 passengers. Each carriage seats 42 guests and contains tables of two and four, with plenty of room for guests to move around and enjoy the train's sociable atmosphere.
A brief history of the stately homes and castles that the Northern Belle carriages are named after and the decoration of each carriage can be found by clicking on the drop down menu below:
- Alnwick - Northumberland, England
A strong hold of the Percy's since 1309, the formidable fortress has been the prize possession in a series of battles between England and Scotland, renovated in the 19th century. Decoration: oak, box wood, yew tree, sycamore, satin wood, purple heat and pith walnut. Marquetry motif: flowers and castle. - Belvoir - Grantham, Yorkshire, England
The dramatic hilltop castle overlooks the Vale of Belvoir, with views to seven counties. Built in Regency Gothic, replacing those there from Norman times. Decoration: Indian rosewood, anagre, oak, pomelle, sycamore, madronna burr, walnut. Marquetry motif: Bees floral and castle. - Chatsworth - Bakewell, England
One of Britain's greatest houses, with lavish rooms, collections and notable gardens with Emperor fountain. The original house was built by Bess of Hardwick in the late 16th century, but the current house was rebuilt in Classical style by the first Duke 1686-1707. Decoration: yew tree burr, sycamore, pith walnut, maple, and satinwood. Marquetry motif: flowers and castle. - Glamis - Tayside, Scotland
The castle dates from to the 14th century, as residence of the Bowes Lyon family, and childhood home of the late HRH Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The fictional setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth. Decoration: sycamore, madronna burr, yew, peartree and box wood. Marquetry motif: Charles René MacIntosh “thrift”. - Harlech - Gwynedd, Wales
Built on a rocky crag in 1283 as part of Kind Edward I’s 'iron ring' of castles to surrounding the coastal fringes of Snowdonia to contain and protect the country, it looks out over both land and sea. A World Heritage Inscribed site. Decoration: maple, boxwood, sycamore, and European walnut. Marquetry motif: landscape and castle. - Warwick - Warwickshire, England
Situated near Stratford upon Avon on a site fortified by William the Conqueror in 1068, the castle with its soaring towers and deep dungeons sits amongst gardens landscaped by Capability Brown' in the 1750s. Decoration: 800 year old oak panels, inset with walnut, boxwood, anagre, satinwood and maple. Marquetry motif: flowers and castle.
