Overview

• Pullman Car No 246 ‘Lydia’, built in 1924, played a key role in D-Day strategy meetings and carried Winston Churchill’s coffin during his 1965 state funeral.
• After being out of service for over five decades, the carriage has been meticulously restored to its original Art Deco grandeur by South Devon Railway.
• Originally constructed by the Midland Railway Carriage & Wagon Company, ‘Lydia’ exemplifies the golden age of luxury rail travel and craftsmanship.
• Starting this summer, the carriage will operate scenic journeys between Buckfastleigh and Totnes, offering passengers a historic and immersive experience.
• The restoration highlights the cultural and political significance of ‘Lydia’, bridging Britain’s wartime history with modern heritage tourism.