In his quest to spread the DoodleLand phenomenon across the globe, the celebrated millennial artist Mr Doodle has covered everything from a Formula One racing car to his entire home in his instantly recognisable signature doodles.
Now, as part of its 50th Anniversary celebrations, the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) has handed Mr Doodle a major new doodling challenge – one that he just couldn’t resist taking up and also generously agreed to fund1.
In a first for the Kent-based artist, the K&ESR and passenger railways – either heritage or mainline – at 11am on 26th July Mr Doodle will doodle the outside of an entire railway carriage, live at the platform of his hometown station in Tenterden, to create the world’s first Doodle Train.
The doodles will be drawn directly onto a special protective wrap covering the carriage sides – a technique more often used to apply pre-printed designs to cars and other vehicles.
The Doodle Train will then join the railway’s regular passenger fleet on a selected number of its scheduled heritage services over the weekend and throughout August2. The first two services will depart Tenterden at 11:25am on both Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th July. Mr Doodle will also be on the platform for the Saturday morning train to wave everyone off.
As Tenterden Town Station becomes DoodleTown Station for the weekend, children can enjoy special Mr Doodle activities on both days including doodling their own cardboard train and taking part in a treasure hunt to spot a series of Mr Doodle signature doodles placed around the station. A selection of Mr Doodle merchandise will also be on sale in the station shop from the weekend until the end of August.
A ‘golden ticket’ will also be randomly issued to one Doodle Train passenger on both the Saturday and the Sunday entitling them to a Family Ticket (two adults plus up to two children) for a future trip on the K&ESR.
The added good news for families is that the Doodle Train is included in the railway’s Summer ‘Kids Go FREE’ offer2, running throughout July and August. Any child aged under 16 can travel for free with any fare-paying adult. This ticket allows unlimited trips up and down the line throughout the day of travel.
Speaking about the project, Mr Doodle said:
“I am very happy to be doodling a train! It’s the first time my drawings have appeared on a vehicle this size. It’s going to be so fun! It’s especially nice that it’s all happening in my hometown. I hope the people here will enjoy it!”
Robin Coombes, K&ESR General Manager, said:
“As a local artist and frequent visitor to the K&ESR, we were delighted that Mr Doodle agreed to literally ‘make his mark’ on our 50th Anniversary celebrations. We’d also like to extend our thanks to Mr Doodle for funding the project and giving his time to help support the local community.
“Some heritage rail enthusiasts might raise their eyebrows at this initiative, but I believe such innovations and experiments are very much in the spirit that Col Stephens himself demonstrated in bringing the light railway to the Weald more than 120 years ago.
“For our 50th Anniversary we committed to not only celebrating the achievements of the past five decades but also to looking to the future and how we can continue to thrive – not just survive – bringing new audiences to our railway and to the area, as the opening of the re-connection to Robertsbridge gets ever closer.”
There are a limited number of seats available on each Doodle Train3 which can’t be reserved so, to avoid disappointment, both advance online booking at www.kesr.org.uk to save and early arrival at the station are strongly recommended for 27th and 28th July and for its scheduled August services. Terms and conditions apply, please visit the website for more details.
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Photo Credit: Morgan Davies @morgan-the-moon