The Bath & Bristol Steam Express

The Bath & Bristol Steam Express offers the opportunity for passengers from the South Coast to visit either Bath or Bristol. There will be ample time to sample the sights of Bath such as the stunning Bath Abbey and the internationally famous Roman Baths, or choose to stay on board and spend the afternoon visiting Bristol. Join us as we travel steam hauled by a vintage locomotive through some superb countryside.

We leave from Swanage at around 07:00 and travel via Wareham to Poole hauled by Jubilee class locomotive No.45596 Bahamas. From Poole our steam locomotive will be working hard, as our train climbs Parkstone Bank. We stop to pick up further passengers at Bournemouth and Southampton.

We follow the main line towards London as far as Eastleigh where we take the single-track line to Romsey. Here we join the Southampton to Salisbury direct line and then travel up the valley of the river Test. We stop at Salisbury, for the loco to take on water, and then continue along the ‘South West’ main line to Wilton. Here we turn northwards and cross the edge of Salisbury Plain en route to Warminster. We descend steeply to Westbury, with its famous hillside white horse, and then follow the scenic Avon Valley.

We shall soon catch sight of the Georgian city of Bath as we approach the well-kept Bath Spa station which is close to the city centre. The afternoon is free to explore the city which has gained a reputation for its quality retail independents and favourite high street stores, as well as the many attractions available to visit within the city centre.

Meanwhile our train continues to Bristol, another fascinating destination for those who wish to explore this fine city instead.
It has several world class attractions including Britain’s most acclaimed historic ship, the S.S. “Great Britain”; Brunel’s iconic Clifton suspension bridge; and an historic harbour-side, the location of the M Shed, an exciting new innovative museum.
The city is a shopper’s haven with all the major retail outlets in the Broadmead and Cabot Circus shopping centres.

Our steam locomotive is turned and serviced at Bristol prior to departing with our train at around 17:30 for the return journey. We stop to pick up those passengers who stayed in Bath for the day. We return by the route of our outward journey, stopping at the same stations for passengers to alight.

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