Inside Thailand's incredible railway-themed hotel that time-warps guests to the golden era of rail travel, with vintage train carriages upcycled into luxury bedrooms and a 'Poirot bar'

When I get astatine InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, I’m instructed to ringing a golden bell.

The doorbell isn’t expected to summon anyone.

Rather, it mimics nan level doorbell rung earlier trains depart from railway stations successful Thailand, wherever nan edifice is located.

It’s a clever measurement to propulsion maine into nan conception down nan retreat - recreating nan 'golden age' of obstruction recreation successful Thailand, a play opening successful nan precocious 1800s erstwhile nan country’s first railway strategy was established nether King Rama V’s reign. 

It’s a taxable bound to nan resort's mounting successful Nakhon Ratchasima, a state that flourished arsenic a railway hub successful that era. To realise this vision, vintage train carriages person been recast arsenic sumptuous edifice suites and eating areas. Separate guesthouses, pinch 45 retro rooms betwixt them, are named aft section railway stations.

It's each nan invention of Bangkok-based designer Bill Bensley, who says it's 'a clip warp into different era, filled pinch train memorabilia I collected myself'.

After my bell-ringing session, a waistcoat-wearing unit personnel escorts maine to 'Khao Yai Station' (the reception) to cheque in.

Beneath its gable tile is simply a train departures committee and a summons window. A cart piled pinch ancient trunks is parked outside. A nook holds a train conductor’s bunk furniture pinch vintage Playboy magazines hidden underneath nan mattress. 

A motion supra nan toilets reads: 'Do not flush erstwhile nan train is successful nan station.'

I'm getting a footwear from nan theatre of it all.

I'm chauffeured by a play buggy astir nan grounds, a erstwhile cornfield that, pinch zealous landscaping, has been turned into a verdant 19-hectare (47-acre) expanse surrounding a immense artificial lake.

Scanning nan property, I spot railway paraphernalia resourcefully put to use; luggage racks shop cocktail glasses and railway sleepers people retired pathways.

The thought for nan hotel, which opened 2 years agone nether IHG, first came to Bensley erstwhile he saw a Bangkok trainyard afloat of derelict train carriages. So began his daydreams of bringing them backmost to life.

In a process he describes arsenic a 'scavenger hunt', he tracked down carriages each complete Thailand - immoderate were agelong abandoned and clotted pinch character roots. 

Radical upcycling of these carriages, which mean 80 years old, followed. A crane planted them connected nan edifice grounds.

Nineteen suites are housed successful these 2.5m- (8ft) wide carriages, nan sanction of nan fictional train statement 'Khao Yai Express' embellished connected their sides successful looping lettering.

Each 1 is simply a canvas for Bensley’s wonderfully far-reaching imagination, designed to correspond a make-believe train travel to a existent destination.

My 'Heritage Railcar Pool Villa' revolves astir an odyssey to Cambodia, manifesting successful richly patterned ceilings, aureate bath fixtures and an angular headboard shaped for illustration nan towers of Angkor Wat.

Inside this opulent compartment, I tin kid myself into reasoning I’m rattling on connected a supremely luxurious train journey.

Stepping extracurricular brings maine backmost to my stationary reality; connected my patio, a excavation and curtained outdoor tub fixedly place immoderate of nan 30,000-plus trees connected site.

Khao Yai National Park, Thailand’s oldest nationalist park, lies a short region away.

A neighbouring carriage holds nan 'Back On Track' spa. 'A caller experience… a spa connected a train!' my massage therapist Pim warmly announces up of my treatment. 

Nearby train cars clasp a kids' club, an day beverage venue and a sultry cocktail bar, each a playful study of play glamour.

Parallels pinch nan Orient Express are addressed astatine nan moodily-lit brasserie edifice 'Poirot', named aft nan prima detective from Agatha Christie’s 1934 best-seller Murder connected nan Orient Express. 

Murder enigma parties are often hosted here, I learn complete an elegant repast of mushroom-truffle tart and Chenin blanc vino from nan adjacent GranMonte vineyard.

Breakfast nan adjacent greeting is had astatine Somying's Kitchen. 

Though nan edifice specialises successful Thai cuisine, it’s axenic Americana successful design, imitating an old-time diner pinch babe bluish leatherette booths and vintage posters advertizing nan Pennsylvania Railroad.

Before I leave, I enquire astir taking a rotation connected nan resort’s mini woody train car, which volleys on a 500m (1,640ft) way line. 

I’m told I must prime up a summons for it astatine 'Khao Yai Station'. Of course! 

The gaffe I’m handed reads: 'Khao Yai to Bangkok, typical express, first class.'

These replicas of genuine Thai train tickets were nan thought of Resort Manager Danuphol Thawachoo. 

He tells maine they’re a reminder of his childhood, erstwhile his family would recreation from confederate Thailand to Bangkok by train.

Nostalgia has a location here. 

Through a winning blend of retro whimsy and good, old-fashioned luxury, nan edifice manufactures a imagination of Thai railway history. 

A enactment present is an definitive statement to a bygone era.