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Mayflower steam train travels through Kent passing through Folkestone, Canterbury, Medway and Tonbridge on Steam Dreams trip

By: Joe Crossley jcrossley@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 15:37, 05 July 2023

A luxury steam train has been spotted on its tour of the Garden of England.

The B1 locomotive named the Mayflower was pictured as it traveled through Chatham railway station yesterday.

With 245 passengers on board the locomotive left London Victoria station at 10.02 am.

After circling around Kent the Mayflower returned to London shortly after 3pm.

On its journey the 75-year-old steam train has stopped for water at Canterbury East and Paddock Wood railway station in Tonbridge.

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The steam train also passed through Bromley, Faversham, Dover and Sevenoaks on its five-hour round trip.

Passengers could pay £79 for a “premium standard class” that came without dining.

The Mayflower spotted as she passed through Chatham station: Jason Arthur
A table for two in the Pullman-style dining carriage

£125 got you a “first class” ticket that came without dinning but these passengers were welcomed with sparkling wine and served a sweet and savoury snack box.

For “Pullman Style Dining” the fare was £195 that came with glass of champagne and a three course lunch with half a bottle of wine per person during the journey.

Kent Online went on Steam Dreams train journey across Kent on the Brauton last week.

The B1 Class was designed to carry freight traffic and express passenger services and worked across vast areas of the network.

The Mayflower, which can run at speeds of up to 75mph, was the final B1 in active service before steam engines were removed from active duty.

Reporter Rhys Griffiths joined The Steam Dreams Rail Co. lunchtime Garden of England rail tour from London Victoria

Her final trip saw her haul the Yorkshire Pullman from Leeds in September 1967.

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After leaving service, Mayflower was taken to Steamtown in Carnforth, Lancashire and was restored for rail tours in the late 1970s.

Mayflower underwent a major restoration in 2015 after being bought by Steam Tours the previous year and returned to service on the mainline in 2019.

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