WHILE two of its carriages lie in the grave of a Brighton shed covered with graffiti and littered with debris, the spirit of one of the stalwarts of the railway age is kept alive and well at a Winsford pub..

The Brighton Belle in Middlewich Road installed a carriage from the train of the same name when it retired from the tracks in 1972, and it has continued to serve as a restaurant ever since.

From the 1930s to the 1970s the Brighton Belle was a popular form of transport from London to the south coast.

The unique procession of chocolate and cream cars welcomed many passengers in its heyday when it was famous for its speciality dish of kippers.

It was reported this week that MPs and railwaymen in Brighton were furious to discover that two carriages from the once beautiful train were rotting away in a Brighton shed and had become the target for vandals and graffiti artists.

However, a stroll down the centre isle of the 65-year old cabin, attached to the Winsford public house formerly called The Railway Inn, shows that although the service is at a standstill, it is certainly running smoothly on the inside, a fitting tribute to its former glory.

The snug seats and fine wood tables sit obediently beside the windows while the toilets and panelling, decorated with subtle artwork, retain their original structure.

Even the table lamps and overhead light casing remain untouched and in the unlikely event that you forget you're dining in a railway carriage, a glance upwards sees the luggage racks, now vacant but still a well-fitting piece of the car's authentic uniform.

In fact, the upholstery and carpets are the only additions to the original clothing. The heating system is the most up-to-date facility, but even that radiates through the train's original vents.

The outside displays an antique design but, unlike its sisters on the south coast, does not wear the scars of vandals or a coat of rust.

John and Di Hale took over the running of the pub in December, attracted by the unique extension, and are well aware of its widespread appeal.

Di, who just happened to grow up in - you guessed it - Brighton, said: "People from all around the north west, from Liverpool, Crewe, Manchester and Warrington, come in to eat in the carriage.

"We get them phoning up saying that they have driven past and would like to have a meal there.

"You get a feel of what it was like to dine on the original Brighton Belle. The only difference is it doesn't move."

John added: "And we don't serve kippers any more either!

"But you can see why it catches people's attention. After all, you don't see too many pubs with a railway carriage strapped to the side!

"The good thing is that it hasn't been mutilated by people trying to modernise it. It doesn't belie its age, but this keeps it authentic."

And John assures customers that, like their predecessors, all their needs will be met.

"This is one train where you can go to the toilet while the train is stopped. There's not many you can say that about."

If Orient Express Trains, who have bought the devastated carriages in a plan to restore some pride, paid a visit to Winsford they would see the perfect example of how history can be preserved and continued.

It seems a sad waste that the beautiful carriages, once a splendid sight on the line from London to Brighton, were allowed to go so much off the rails in the first place.

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