2 minute read
The Portsmouth Flyer
Saturday 17th June 2023
Join us on this special steam hauled train that will leave London Victoria early on Saturday morning for the scenic journey, with a nostalgic steam hauled train, to the attractive city of Portsmouth. You can chose to alight at Portsmouth & Southsea or continue to the end of the line at Portsmouth Harbour.
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We depart from London Victoria behind the world famous Flying Scotsman steam locomotive which is celebrating its centenary this year. We make our way out of the Capital and run through Clapham Junction to make our way via Barnes and the bridge over the Thames towards Staines, our next pickup point. We thread our way through Virginia Water and Chertsey and join the LSWR main line at Byfleet. After a fast run along the South Western main line towards Woking, our final stop for passengers, we leave the Basingstoke line here and make our way towards Guildford. We now take the Portsmouth Direct line away from Guildford which is renowned for its pleasant scenery and undulating gradients which include a 4 mile climb at 1 in 80 up to Haslemere. Running across country via Godalming to Haslemere, we will pause here to water Flying Scotsman. We will climb hard to Buriton Summit before descending through Rowlands Castle towards the coastline at Havant, where the main south coast line is joined. The Portsmouth Flyer now leaves the main line to Fareham and Southampton at Farlington Junction un as we make our way towards Portsmouth and Southsea station, where you will have the option of alighting here to visit this historic city. Apart from the shops and museums, the city has a navel feel about it. Continue to the end of the line at Portsmouth Harbour and experience its true naval heritage. Portsmouth is a port city and naval base on the south coast, mostly spread across Portsea Island. It is known for its maritime heritage and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The dockyard is home to the interactive National Museum of the Royal Navy, the wooden warship HMS Victory, where Nelson died in the Battle of Trafalgar, and HMS Warrior 1860. The Tudor ship Mary Rose is also conserved in a dockyard museum. The harbour is a busy place and you can take a trip up the Spinnaker Tower for the best view over the Solent. After time in Portsmouth, we return to London via Fareham and Southampton with Flying Scotsman at the head of our special train, calling at our outward pick up stations to set down before arriving back into London Victoria. Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria 08:45 20:40 Staines 09:30 20:05 Woking 10:05 19:30 Portsmouth/Southsea 12:10 16:05 Portsmouth Harbour 12:15 16:00
There are three classes available:
Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner freshly prepared on board and silver served at your seat. First Class includes morning tea or coffee with a bacon/breakfast roll and a muffin and an afternoon service of tea or coffee with a savoury of the day followed by a scone with butter and jam. Standard Class includes a reserved seat usually at a table for four. Tables for two can be guaranteed in Premier Dining and First Class for a supplement of £30 per person (subject to availability). A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.
