Staffordshire couple reignited their love on this one-departure only dining train experience. On the 14th August, Staffordshire’s best-loved heritage railway put love back into the Staffordshire air as couples enjoyed belated valentine dates aboard a steam train.
Childhood sweethearts Shirley (64) and Russell (63) celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary this weekend, with a steamy belated Valentine’s date. The couple who met after starring in their school production of A Christmas Carol in 1973, and marrying a few years later, said they wanted to do something extra special this year and booked a romantic meal on The Valentine’s Express at the Churnet Valley Railway.
riginally scheduled for departure on 14th February, the themed dining train has been delayed due to lockdown restrictions. But the late departure of the Valentine’s Express was one train delay passengers were not complaining about! 6 months after the event was to have taken place, first dates and long-standing lovers boarded the steam-hauled heritage train for a date to remember.
“Our anniversary celebration for the last two years has been a complete flop,” said Shirley, who was excited to dress up for a dinner date at long last. Shirley and her husband Russell were married on 26th March 1977 and so when their 2019 celebration was kiboshed due to the shocking announcement about the global pandemic and lockdown of the nation, the couple vowed the next year would be better. “It was beans on toast that night,” said Shirley.
Hubby Russell remarked that the celebration in 2020 was only marginally better. “We were in yet another lockdown, but we were thankful that by then the country had measures in place for us to at least order a takeaway”.
The Cheddleton couple couldn’t think of a better place to rekindle their love this year than a steam-hauled train ride through the Churnet Valley. The couple has been volunteering at the railway since 2008 and has over the years, fallen in love with the railway nearly as much as each other.
Shirley spent her early volunteering years in the shop and now the railway is back in operation has been fulfilling a Customer Host role. Hubby Russell started as a Crossing Keeper but also trained as a Signal Man.
Jack Ilczyszyn, event manager at Churnet Valley Railway said
“Wasn’t it Shakespeare that said, ‘The course of true love never did run smooth’?
“We have had to completely revise our schedule this year and people wanting to celebrate Valentine’s in August just goes to show that love conquers all.”
