A nursing home in the United Kingdom has created replica train passenger car in the hopes of giving its residents the excitement of a countryside ride, without leaving the premises.
The Gateway Care Home in the city of Bradford, England, spent about three months constructing its own dining car, complete with scenic views and its own ticket office. Residents riding the Gateway Express are treated to a first-class meal on a table decorated with linen napkins and cherry blossoms, Aleteia.org reported.
Arthur Gallagher, part of the team that created the train, said the idea came after residents made recent trips to the Keighley Worth Valley Railway.
“This is something they really enjoy and look forward to every time we visit, so we decided we wanted to bring the railway here and build our own life-size carriage so they can enjoy trips all-year round,” he told the Telegraph & Argus.
The whole setup also has a station platform and dining booths are perched next to TV screens with real countryside footage that give the appearance of a real train trip. It’s also handicap accessible for disabled residents with mobility challenges. In the past, some residents could not participate in Keighley Worth Valley Railway trips because of those limitations, said Nikki Bryar, administrator at the Gateway Care Home. One couple even celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on the train last month, and was brought to tears by the experience after being unable to ride a train for more than a decade.
“It’s so important for our residents, they can sit there and reminisce while having a chat and a bite to eat. It’s been like a new lease of life for some,” Bryar said.
