The Bath & Gloucester Steam Express

Join us on this train that will leave London Paddington early on Saturday morning for the scenic journey, with a nostalgic steam hauled train, to the attractive cities of Bath and Gloucester. You can chose to alight at Bath or carry on to Gloucester.

We depart from London Paddington steam hauled by a Black 5 steam locomotive, and make our way out of the Capital along the Great Western Railway main line. We pick up at Slough and then make our way to Reading where we pick up further passengers.

Taking the Berks & Hants line after Reading, we follow the valley of the river Kennet through to Newbury, our final pick up station, where we will pass the Racecourse. At Hungerford, we leave the Kennet behind and follow the Kennet & Avon canal through the Savernake Forest. The gradient steepens for the long climb to Savernake Summit before we enter the attractive Vale of Pewsey and head for Westbury. Approaching Westbury, we pass the famous White Horse carved in the chalk of the hillside.

We shall soon catch sight of the Georgian city of Bath as we approach the well-kept Bath Spa station, which is conveniently close to the city centre. The afternoon is free to explore the city, which is noted for its splendid Georgian buildings, attractive riverside setting and its fine Abbey. Also, take time to explore the Roman Baths and its warm waters in the Pump House buildings. Bath has many shops around its central location to tempt shoppers, along with restaurants catering for all tastes.

Meanwhile our train continues to Gloucester via Bristol Parkway and the scenic run close to the Severn estuary, another fascinating destination for those who wish to explore this fine city instead. The 11th century cathedral, noted for its Romanesque and Gothic architecture, is located in the centre of the city. It historic maritime connections are centred around the Gloucester Docks, with the National Waterways Museum celebrating the city’s industrial past with canal boats and waterway life. The city is also a fine destination for shopping and eating out.

Our steam locomotive will be serviced at Gloucester before we return to Bath and London Paddington steam hauled. We stop to pick up those passengers who opted to visit the city of Bath. We return by the route of our outward journey, stopping at the same stations for passengers to alight.  Our arrival back in London’s Paddington station will signal the conclusion of a varied and interesting day out.

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Destinations Route