A unique experience to celebrate in style
Do you have a special occasion coming up, be it a special birthday, engagement party, wedding, retirement or even a corporate event?
Here at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, we have a range of beautiful vintage carriages that could be perfect for your special event and take your guests on a never to be forgotten journey to celebrate this special time.
Your choice of Hire Coaches
You can see that on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway we have a selection of historic coaches that can play host to your special occasion. The details of the coaches we can offer are listed below together with possible catering options and prices. Limited availability, Certain coaches cannot be used on standard service days due to their age.
If you would like to inquire about private carriage hire or have any questions please email group.bookings@kwvr.co.uk
Named ‘The Jubilee Bar’ to commemorate the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, the coach began life as a standard Mark 1 Open Corridor coach. In 1970 it was converted into a bar car with an authentic bar salvaged from a public house in Leeds. It was painted in mock-Pullman livery tones to complement the Pullman carriages that it is often paired with. Today, it serves as the perfect vintage venue for any occasion.
Celebrate your special occasion amongst family and friends whilst you travel along the line through the beautiful Brontë countryside. As you board the Jubilee Bar carriage you can feel a true sense of heritage. It is the perfect way to make your day unique with elegance.
The Jubilee Bar consists of two saloons.
One includes the bar where we can serve soft and alcoholic beverages to your guests. This area has standing room for around 15 – 20 people.
The second area can be left as an open space or furnished with tables and chairs to suit your preferences with space for around 24 guests. The saloons will be exclusive to you and your guests, no members of the public will be permitted to enter your privately hired carriage.
- The Jubilee Bar coach accommodates up to 44 people, seating for 24 plus standing room for a further 15 to 20 people.
- The cost of the carriage includes a Day Rover Ticket for all your guests, therefore no additional tickets need to be purchased.
- Everyone in your group must commence and end their journey at the same station.
- The cost of drinks is additional to the cost of the hire.
- Price includes a full day hire during the allotted timetable
If your party orders food with your booking, tablecloths will be provided at no extra charge. Additional decorative items such as flowers and table centres can be brought by event organisers.
The bar itself has four fully working hand pumps, meaning you can choose to have one or four real ales available for your day. If you have a particular beer that you would like, please let this be known when booking and, as long as we can obtain it from the brewery of your choice, we will be happy to provide it for you. The bar also stocks other items such as a wide variety of bottled ciders, lagers and, of course, wines. Soft drinks and bar snacks such as crisps and nuts will also be available.
Prices start from…
Bookings are charged per day plus any catering requirements requested.
- Weekends during off-peak periods: £1,000
- Weekends during peak periods: £1,200
- Weekdays: £850
Pullman trains offered more luxurious accommodation than ordinary mainline trains and customers were treated to an outstanding level of service on board. The immaculate Umber and Cream coloured carriages were a sight to behold and Pullman was the only way to travel, making it the perfect venue for your occasion.
The Railway has two 3rd Class Pullman cars that are used on special trains and occasions, emulating a style of opulent travel from an age gone by. Delivered new together in 1930 to the LNER as no.’s 83 and 84, on withdrawal the two went their separate ways, to eventually be re-united on the KWVR.
Passengers in the Pullman cars are all seated with no bar area and spaces for standing. On many occasions, depending on the needs of the guests, the Jubilee Bar Car, painted in Pullman colours, is attached to the train to provide this facility.
- The cost of the carriage includes a Day Rover Ticket for all your guests, therefore no additional tickets need to be purchased.
- Everyone in your group must commence and end their journey at the same station.
- The cost of drinks is additional to the cost of the hire.
- Each carriage seats up to 42 people
- Price includes a full day hire during the allotted timetable.
Prices start from…
Bookings are charged per day plus any catering requirements requested.
- from £2000
This coach was built for party travel in 1871 by the Stockton & Darlington Railway but was converted to an inspection saloon for the use of the Locomotive Superintendent at Gateshead Locomotive Works. Withdrawn in 1969 it and was purchased for preservation and found fame as the “Old Gentleman’s” carriage in the 1970 EMI feature film “The Railway Children”
limited availability, during peak season.
Currently the Saloon is out of traffic, without a date for work to be completed yet.
The Old Gentleman’s Saloon has no corridor connection to the rest of the train and is a self-contained coach serving drinks and food to the guests’ order which is pre-loaded onto the train.
- The cost of the carriage includes a Day Rover Ticket for all your guests, therefore no additional tickets need to be purchased.
- Everyone in your group must commence and end their journey at the same station.
- The cost of drinks is additional to the cost of the hire.
- The carriage seats up to 14 people
- Price includes a full day hire during the allotted timetable.
Prices for the ‘Old Gentleman’s Saloon’ hire is by quotation only. Please inquire via email, group.bookings@kwvr.co.uk, or telephone, 01535 645214, 09.30 – 16.30 Monday – Friday for more information on the hire of this carriage
L&YR no. 47, this Blackpool Club Car was built in 1912 for the exclusive use of businessmen commuting between Blackpool and Manchester. It ended its working life in 1951, being sold for use as a cricket pavilion and then brought to the Railway by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Trust in 1993 where a full restoration was completed in 2011. No. 47 is an excellent example of an executive saloon, complete with real leather seating and a handcrafted interior.
Like the Old gentleman’s Saloon, this coach displays the opulence of a bygone era in which to entertain your friends for that special occasion. Livered staff are on hand to look after your every need.
It is the perfect luxury venue for parties of 40 or less. Enjoy plush, luxurious surroundings on your special day as important executives and businessmen did many years ago.
- The cost of the carriage includes a Day Rover Ticket for all your guests, therefore no additional tickets need to be purchased.
- Everyone in your group must commence and end their journey at the same station.
- The cost of drinks is additional to the cost of the hire.
- The coach seats up to 40 people
- Price includes a full day hire during the allotted timetable.
Prices for the ‘Blackpool Club Car’ hire is by quotation only. Please inquire via email, group.bookings@kwvr.co.uk, for more information on the hire of this carriage.
The restaurant car is the perfect carriage for any occasion! This carriage was not originally built to be used as a restaurant car and in fact, started its life as a Mk 1 Open coach. It was then converted and is the oldest Mk. 1 coach in existence! With its red plush surroundings, extra comfortable seats, ruby carpets and cotton curtains it makes for a decadent venue for your special day.
Like the Old gentleman’s Saloon this coach displays the opulence of a bygone era in which to entertain your friends for that special occasion. However, this coach does have a connection through to the rest of the train, although livered staff are on hand to look after your every need.
A beautiful carriage with red plush interior from ruby carpets to curtains and comfortable seating it is sure to be the perfect venue for your special occasion.
- The cost of the carriage includes a Day Rover Ticket for all your guests, therefore no additional tickets need to be purchased.
- Everyone in your group must commence and end their journey at the same station.
- The cost of drinks is additional to the cost of the hire.
- Each carriage seats up to 62 people
- Price includes a full day hire during the allotted timetable
Bookings are charged per day plus any catering requirements requested.
- Weekends during off-peak periods: £900
- Weekends during peak periods: £1,100
- Weekdays: £700
When you travel on a normal service train on the KWVR it is likely you will travel in one of 2 types of British Railways Mark 1 coach. This type of Mk.1 coach, is probably the most used in preservation as it offers comfortable passenger accommodation for families. The seating is arranged in groups of 4 seats per bay at either side of an open gangway running through the centre of the coach. Access to other coaches is possible through connections at each end.
The railway has a working fleet of 6 open coaches, designated TSO by BR, but with the possibility that one or more may be in the Carriage & Wagon Workshop at Oxenhope for routine maintenance or overhaul. A seventh open coach, no.W1013, the oldest Mark 1 in preservation, was restored as a Restaurant Car (see separate page) for dining passengers and is sometimes used on service trains.
Bookings are charged per day plus any catering requirements requested.
- Weekends during off-peak periods: £800
- Weekends during peak periods: £1,000
- Weekdays: £600