AN HISTORIC railway carriage has been lovingly restored to working condition after 50 years and will run along tracks in south Devon this summer.

The Pullman Car No 246 Lydia has an extraordinary heritage which ties it to both Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower.

It was used during crucial wartime strategy meetings ahead of D-Day and later during Churchill’s state funeral in 1965.

Now, after 50 years out of action, it has been meticulously returned to its original specification by the skilled team at South Devon Railway.

Originally constructed in 1924 by the Midland Railway Carriage and Wagon Company, ‘Lydia’ embodies the golden age of luxury rail travel.

Built for the prestigious Pullman Company, known for iconic trains such as the Orient Express, the carriage is a rare and tangible link to Britain’s wartime past and

a symbol of craftsmanship.

From this summer, the carriage will operate on journeys through the South Devon countryside, available for private hire, events, and scheduled luxury dining experiences.

‘Lydia’ will now form the centrepiece of a series of curated heritage experiences on the South Devon Railway, along the scenic line between Buckfastleigh and Totnes.

With its art deco elegance and deep political and cultural resonance, the Pullman offers guests a journey into the heart of British history.

A South Devon Railway spokesman said: ‘The return of ‘Lydia’ to active service represents more than the restoration of a rail carriage; it is the revival of a legacy that shaped the course of the 20th century.

‘As the world continues to reflect on the meaning of leadership, resilience, and international cooperation, this iconic carriage offers a unique and moving way to connect with the past.

‘South Devon Railway’s recommissioning of ‘Lydia’ ensures that this unique piece of global history is not only preserved but reanimated for a new generation.’