British Rail Toast

To be honest, I missed BR toast even when I was living in London. Because for the last few year the only food available on trains has been an 'edamame granary bap with honey drenched quails eggs and steam fried rocket and parmesan dressing'.

That being said, my memories of the perfect round of toast still remain. The toast had become an integral part of the going to London ritual. If it was for a Chelsea game, we'd meet at Eastbourne station at ten to nine and have blagged the 'not really first class' single six-seater compartment, before making our way to the buffet car. For some reason, still unclear even after all this time, the buffet wouldn't open until we'd departed Polegate (waving to Roly the incredibly rotund guard as we departed).

The shutters would open up and we'd all proceed to order, "four cans of Special Brew and four rounds of toast please" much to the obvious annoyance of the buffet steward. You see the problem was that toast took a long time to serve and as soon as the smell wafted down the carriage everyone wanted it. In fact for the last few years they didn't even put it on the menu! It became even more of a secret ritual for the chosen ones.

Once the toast was ready, normally by about Lewes, it was served without a flourish but with the tiniest serviette and we'd return to our compartment and stare in wonder at the piping hot lakes of butter that sat bubbling on the perfectly toasted (and never, ever burnt) thick white slices. After taking the first sip of brew, we'd proceed to demolish the toast with unadulterated joy.

It was then and still remains the finest toast ever made.

When BR was broken up and sold off to Network SouthEast it was one of the first things to go. Sadly but unsurprisingly Roly was next to be shown the door - a rather wide door in his case actually! However, occasionally when boarding the late train from Victoria, we would wander into the buffet, recognise the older style compartment that had yet to be refitted and have the grill removed and nod to each other in complete agreement. Our eyes would meet the Steward's and he would acquiesce gracefully to our simple question:
"Don't suppose you still do Toast, do you?"
"Not really supposed to lads, but if you just give me 5 minutes..."