The Weymouth Seaside Express

Sunday 30th June, all in July and August and 1st September 2013

A trip down memory lane awaits those who join this special train which recreates the days of seaside excursions run by British Railways in the 1950’s. The train will be hauled by a steam locomotive that will evoke the past and complete this nostalgic experience. Our destination is the attractive seaside town of Weymouth – a traditional English seaside resort that has managed to preserve much of its charm. This is a lovely outing for a summer day.

Our special train leaves Bristol Temple Meads at around 08:50, hauled by our steam locomotive, and heads eastwards. We stop to pick up passengers at Keynsham and Bath. We take the route up the picturesque Avon Valley, travelling southwards to Trowbridge and Westbury, where we make stops to pick up more passengers.

We head westwards from Westbury along the West of England main line and take the loop line to Frome, where we make our final stop to pick up passengers. We continue to Bruton and Castle Cary, where we leave the main line and head south on the Weymouth Branch. We pass through Yeovil Pen Mill and then there follows a long steep climb through the Dorset Hills up to the summit at Evershot Tunnel. Our steam locomotive will be working flat out on this exhilarating climb. It is mainly downhill from Evershot Summit through Maiden Newton, and the picturesque town of Dorchester, to Weymouth.

There will be around five hours in Weymouth to soak up the atmosphere, and hopefully the sun, at this much loved south coast seaside resort.

We leave Weymouth at around 18:10 for our return journey and head north up the steep Bincombe Bank (1 in 50) to Dorchester. Later we climb up to Evershot Summit from the south side before the descent to Yeovil Pen Mill. We stop at Frome, Westbury, Trowbridge, Bath and Keynsham to set down passengers. Finally we arrive at Bristol Temple Meads where we say goodbye to our steam locomotive.

One of the following two steam locomotives will be used on this day trip:
No. 5029 “Nunney Castle”, Castle class 4-6-0, built at Swindon in 1934 by the Great Western Railway (GWR), for use on express passenger trains. No. 34046 “Braunton”, West Country class ‘Pacific’ 4-6-2, built at Brighton in 1946 for the Southern Railway and rebuilt in 1959, for use on express passenger trains.

Train Timings

Approximate timings shown

Train Fares

First Class includes morning coffee with a Danish pastry and afternoon tea with scones, jam and cream, along with a selection of finger sandwiches.
As there is no kitchen car on this service, disposable plates and cups will be used.

Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments. Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £20 per person. (subject to availability)