Eurotunnel eat your heart out! Vintage photos reveal how the night train from London to Paris used to be loaded on to a FERRY to get it across the Channel
- The black and white images show the London to Paris night train as it is loaded on a large ferry boat at Dover
- In other pictures passengers are seen settling down for bed and having a meal in the dining carriage of train
- Night ferry operated by Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits until it was taken over by British Rail
Recently unearthed vintage photographs from more than 50 years ago reveal how the night train from London to Paris operated in order to move across the Channel.
The black and white images show a passenger hanging his coat up in a compartment on the train, another settling down in her bed for the night and passengers waiting at Dover before taking the night train back to London Victoria.
Also among the collection are images showing the ferry boat from Dover to Dunkirk being loaded with passengers from the night train carriages, chefs in the kitchen serving a dining car on the London-Paris night train and passengers disembarking at the Gare du Nord in Paris.
The remarkable photographs that have now been brought back to life were taken aboard the London-Paris train service in 1952.
The London to Paris night train waits at the train platform in Dover before travelling back to London Victoria in 1952. The train service was introduced in 1936 and was operated by Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) until January 1977
The night train is loaded on a large ferry boat at Dover as it continues its journey to the coastal city of Dunkirk in France. The seaport town lies along the Strait of Dover and was largely rebuilt after 1945. When the train was loaded onto the ferry it was split into sections and loaded equally on tracks on the port and starboard sides of the ship, to maintain its balance
In another incredible black and white photograph, a group of commuters in coats and hats wait for their luggage to be loaded before boarding the London-Paris night train in 1952
Passengers disembark the London-Paris night train carriages at the Gare du Nord. The Gare du Nord, officially know as Paris-Nord, is one of six large railway stations in the city of Paris
Commuters onboard the London-Paris night train settle down for an evening meal before arriving at their destination. The incredible images show those inside the Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits carriages in 1952
A porter dressed in a coast and hat stands on the train platform and assists a passenger before he boards the Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits carriages
The night ferry was introduced on the night of October 14, 1936 and was operated by Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) until January 1, 1977, when it was taken over by British Rail.
Motive power was provided by the Southern Railway and later British Railways in England, SNCF in France and from 1957, by SNCB in Belgium.
When loaded onto the train ferry the train was split into sections and loaded equally on tracks on the port and starboard sides of the ship, to maintain its balance. It normally departed from and arrived at platform 2 at London Victoria where customs checks were performed.
The journey was split into two routes, one from London Victoria to Dover and the other from Dunkirk to Paris Gare du Nord, and first class sleeping cars and the baggage vans travelled the entire journey.
Train workers load post bags on the London to Paris night train carriages. Southern Railway and later British Railways provided power for the train in England
A passenger stretches his legs and settles down in his bed for a spot of light reading in a compartment on the London-Paris Night Train in 1952. The journey was split into two sections, one from London Victoria to Dover and the other from Dunkirk to the Gare du Nord in Paris
A waiter onboard the London to Paris night train train serves meals to a passenger in 1952. The picture is one of many showing how the incredible night train operated and how passengers were looked after by staff more than 50 years ago
A chef gets to work in the busy kitchen of the London-Paris night train before serving the food in the dining carriage of the locomotive
A woman peacefully rests in bed with a book while onboard the London to Paris Night Train operated by Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) until 1 January 1977
A tired passenger falls asleep in his bed as the night train he is on continues along its journey. The remarkable black and white photograph is among many that have recently been unearthed showing the inner workings of the London-Paris train service in 1952
Two members of staff conduct the final checks and secure the chains on the ferry boat before the train crosses the Channel in 1952
A man sits by the window to enjoy a cup of tea along his journey onboard the London-Paris night train. The train was taken over by British rail in 1977
A passenger sits down for a drink and pays her bill while on her journey inside the night train. Until the Eurostar service began in 1994, the night ferry was the only passenger train between the United Kingdom and Europe
Crew on the ferry boat from Dover to Dunkirk look at the map and the route ahead for the night train. The route was split into two routes, one from London Victoria to Dover and the other from Dunkirk to the Gare du Nord
Rail staff secure the carriage with chains after it is loaded onto the ferry boat in 1952. The service was the only passenger train between the United Kingdom and Europe
The English train conveyed one of a pair of standard Mark 1 Brake Composite carriages, which had been modified with a French-style gangway connection at one end. This provided the guard’s compartment in England and enabled the guard to walk through the train.
Until the Eurostar service began on November 14, 1994, the night ferry had been the only passenger train between the United Kingdom and Europe.
When plans to build the Channel Tunnel were scrapped in the 1970s on cost grounds this gave the night ferry a short reprieve; a tunnel would have inevitably led to the end of conveying passenger carriages by train ferry.
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