The Royal Duchy

Sunday 30th July 2023

This day trip provides an opportunity to visit the famed Royal Duchy of Cornwall by steam train. Highlights of the day will be the steam hauled journey from Bristol along the famous Dawlish sea wall and over the south Devon banks to Plymouth. We cross the river Tamar and enter Cornwall and continue to Par diesel hauled, where there will be a number of off-train options for you to join. We return from Plymouth to Bristol steam hauled and then return to Slough by diesel.

We leave Slough in the morning, diesel hauled, and stop at Reading to pick up more passengers. After Reading, we join the Berks and Hants line which runs through picturesque rural countryside. We pass the celebrated Newbury Racecourse before making a stop for passengers at Newbury station. We continue westwards, travelling beside the tranquil Kennet & Avon Canal, and climbing steadily to Savernake Summit. We pass through the Vale of Pewsey, with views of one of the famous Wiltshire White Horses as we approach Westbury. We now continue through undulating agricultural countryside to Bristol, where our steam locomotive for the day will be attached. We leave Bristol steam hauled by 46233 Duchess of Sutherland and head for Taunton, from where we commence the steep climb of Wellington bank as we leave Somerset behind and head for Devon. After Exeter, we will follow the Exe estuary through Starcross and meet up with the ocean at Dawlish Warren for the run along the spectacular Dawlish sea wall. The railway continues along the shoreline through Dawlish and several tunnels before we head inland at Teignmouth. After Newton Abbot, there is a very steep climb to Dainton tunnel that will require some hard work from our steam locomotive. Another severe gradient follows Totnes before we skirt the edge of Dartmoor and descend to Plymouth. Our steam locomotive will service at Plymouth while we continue westwards diesel hauled and cross the Royal Albert Bridge, designed by Brunel and opened in 1859, and enter Cornwall. We now make our way towards Par, where there will be included transfers to either Fowey or Charlestown, both set in idyllic settings. The latter is a working port and home to the Shipwreck, Rescue & Heritage Centre. Time will be available to explore these interesting and typical Cornish villages, complete with their pretty houses and fishing harbours. For our return we leave Par steam hauled to Bristol. After a locomotive change over, we continue diesel hauled back to Slough, setting down at our earlier pick up stations, and ending a wonderfully varied day out by steam train. Approximate Timings Outward Return Slough 07:20 23:45 Reading 07:40 23:20 Newbury 08:05 23:00 Bristol Temple Meads 09:00 21:50 Taunton 10:00 21:20 Plymouth 12:00 18:55 Par 13:55 17:45

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.

Fares Adult Junior Family Premier £309 £234 £969