The fame of a Carnforth-based luxury train is spreading across the Baltic Sea – thanks to a best-selling novelist.

Milly Johnson’s latest block-busting book, Let The Bells Ring Out, which she based on the 1930s Pullman-style Northern Belle, has just been published in Latvia and Finland.

And Spring will see it go on sale in Sweden too.

Already several foreign readers have inquired about travelling on one of the slap-up trips the Belle makes around Britain.

The train’s owner David Pitts with author Milly Johnson.

placeholder image — The train’s owner David Pitts with author Milly Johnson.

“It’s Finn-tastic news,” said a spokesman for the train. “Let’s hope Milly’s book gets published in many more countries.

“It’s a novel way of making our lovely train famous all round the world.

“Perhaps we will have to start issuing our wonderful onboard staff with Finnish and Latvian dictionaries!”

Milly, one of Britain’s best-selling authors, got the inspiration for her story after making a trip on the Northern Belle 18 months ago.

The Northern Belle thunders over the Settle-Carlisle line. Picture: CHANNEL 5

Published in the UK just before Christmas, it tells how seven passengers are trapped on a luxury train for several days after it gets stuck in a snowdrift.

One British reviewer said: “This beautifully written festive tale captures the true meaning of connection, kindness and finding light when the world feels dark.”

Milly paid tribute to the Northern Belle in the ‘Acknowledgments’ at the end of her novel, saying: “This beautiful train was on my doorstep.

“A special thank you to owner David Pitts, who is rightly proud of his gorgeous train, and Howard Barclay, who has been a wonderful fount of knowledge.

“Dining on the Northern Belle is one of the loveliest experiences – it’s like stepping back in time. It’s the closest I’ve ever felt to being a queen. You should treat yourself."

The Northern Belle, which is based at West Coast Railways in Carnforth, even has its own band to serenade passengers.

And to add an extra touch of magic, an onboard conjuror gets up to his tricks as he wanders from table to table.

Last year it was voted into the top five of the world’s most luxurious trains by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine, while top actor Bill Nighy once described it as the ‘Grand Dame of luxury travel’.