The revelation that a gentleman of a certain age ‘collects trains’ conjures up images of a well-appointed study containing much loved scale models in polished glass cases but, when the man in question is Jeremy Hosking, Chairman of the Locomotive Services Group, the picture becomes more than a little different.
A successful career in international finance now funds Jeremy’s life-long passion for the golden age of rail travel and his company is currently the proud owner of over fifty steam, diesel and electric locomotives.
Ownership however is only part of the story since 2017 when the Office of Rail & Road granted an operating licence to Locomotive Services Limited so the rolling stock could actually run on the UK rail network and, in May 2026, the company launched Britain’s first fully private heritage train available for exclusive hire.
The Chairman’s Train is a meticulously restored set of carriages hauled by a selection of vintage locomotives and aimed squarely at travellers who demand the ultimate in discretion, distinction and beauty.
In July the train’s inaugural season will be a five-day curated West Highland experience travelling through one of the most cinematic routes in Europe. From 2027, its offering will include completely bespoke itineraries and private charters the length and breadth of the UK tailored around intimate groups of two to sixteen travellers and ranging from single day excursions to multiple overnight stays.
Left: Reserved for First Class passengers, the Hipoccrene Bar features a specially curated cocktail menu where guests can mingle and watch the British countryside pass enlivened with music from a baby grand piano.
Centre: The Ardnamurchan Emperor Suite is the crowning jewel of Jeremy Hosking’s ultra-luxury The Chairman’s Train.
Right: Mount Mgahinga (Drawing Room) has been restored under the direction of luxury interior designer Sara Oliver. It features expansive panoramic windows specifically framed to turn the moving British countryside into cinematic views.
Stepping onboard, as I did at London Euston, is like entering a bygone era of refinement and sophistication. A pianist at a baby grand piano accompanies your cocktails in the Hippocrene Bar while the bedroom suites – finished with exquisite marquetry, fine linen and spacious walk-in showers – evoke the ambience of a fin de siècle grand hotel.
Add to this sumptuously upholstered drawings rooms featuring polished brass and soft lighting as well as panoramic observation cars, and the services of a dedicated chef and the picture is complete – literally a moving luxury residence entirely at the service of its guests.
The Chairman’s Train and other magnificent examples of Britain’s railway history are expertly maintained at a dedicated facility in Crewe where a team of engineers bring these sleeping giants back to life in a process which can take months of intensive effort.
Apprentices are actively recruited and trained providing valued employment opportunities in the local community. The length of service of many of the recruits I spoke to was testament not just to an excellent working environment but also to the acquisition of unique skills in what would have been considered a dying industry a few short years ago.
As far from a rich man’s folly as it’s possible to imagine, the philosophy of the company is neatly summed up by Tony Bush, the group’s Managing Director, “We have taken immense pride in restoring these remarkable carriages with absolute respect for their history while reimagining them for a new generation of travellers who value privacy, craftsmanship and authenticity.”
At a time when even high-end international travel can feel a little lacking in variety, here is a genuinely distinctive proposition that celebrates the singular art of travelling in style.
For more information, visit www.thechairmanstrain.com
Author: Maurice Mullen
If you like slow travel, you may want to read our culinary exploration of Grenada or about the Lighthouse at the End of the World.
Lead image: The Chairman’s Train, pulled by Blue Peter.
Show Comments +