The lure of high tea, served on board a heritage railway carriage on Speyside, is part of a new venture to transport diners back to the 1950s.
Pictures from the era have been hung on the walls of the restaurant car housed at Dufftown railway station, alongside period table decorations and fine china.
Every year, thousands of passengers have their tickets stamped to travel back in time on the journey between Keith and the town on the heritage railway line.
And now, Karen Vidler is hoping to add to the atmosphere by serving tea and cakes in the cafe, which has been christened The Sidings.
Although the carriage can’t be conveyed through the Banffshire countryside by a steam train, Mrs Vidler is still hoping to take the guests on a journey.
She said: “We were really keen to take everyone back to the 1950s, that’s what we have themed this on.
“Instead of putting up modern pictures, we have been trying to look for things from that time to keep it in the right period – there are old tins of Marmite and HP sauce, things like that.
“There are a few modern pictures included, but the best way to describe it is the 1950s but with a twist.”
Mrs Vidler, who is the proprietor of the restaurant car, has been hard at work ensuring the two old diesel carriages are fitted with all the facilities needed for a 21st-century eatery.
Crews have spent the winter getting the kitchen ready for its first customers as well as finishing the decorations.
Private parties of up to 20 people, eager to sample a taste of the 1950s, will be able to be catered for on board.
And Mrs Vidler is hoping to organise fun evenings on board by forging links with the Keith and Dufftown Railway Association’s functions.
She added: “One of the biggest events they do is the World War II weekend – that’s very popular and fits in very well with the theme.
“Another thing I’m looking to do is murder mystery events. They would be quite an experience on a railway carriage.”
The Sidings cafe opens today at Dufftown train station and is open seven days a week.
