3 minute read
The Essex Avon Express
Wednesday 23rd August 2023
Join us on this special steam hauled train from Essex to the World Heritage site of Bath. This will be a rare opportunity for travel by steam from the east coast and Southend area to Somerset, with an interesting route taken cross country with varied and contrasting scenery all the way.
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Our journey to Bath commences at Shoeburyness, the eastern terminus of the former London, Tilbury and Southend Railway, whose London terminus was at Fenchurch Street. We will head westwards, steam hauled, along the Thames Estuary towards Southend Central, where we will pause to pick up passengers. This popular seaside town also boasts a 7,080 ft long pier with a 3 foot gauge railway. We continue to follow the LT&S line through Basildon and Upminster towards our next pick up point at Barking, passing through many residential commuter areas as we near London.
We will wend our way through the North London suburbs and reach Acton in west London where we will join the Great Western main line out of Paddington. A stop will be made at Slough to pick up passengers before we get up speed once again and follow Brunel’s superbly engineered main line through Maidenhead to Reading, our final pick up point. Following the Thames Valley away from Reading, we will pass through Didcot, where the Didcot Railway Centre is nearby the main line, and head westwards through the Vale of White Horse towards the railway town of Swindon. Swindon was the location of the Great Western Railway’s main works and was responsible for the growth of Swindon as a major industrial Wiltshire town.
From Swindon, we will pass through Brunel’s Box Tunnel and reach Bath, one of our destinations for the afternoon. Bath has many famous visitor attractions including its architecturally significant Abbey, Roman Baths, Pump Room, Pulteney Bridge and many historic listed buildings. Modern Bath has a substantial shopping centre along with many restaurants and pubs. Passengers have the option to continue 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 major haven for shoppers with all the major retail outlets in the Broadmead and Cabot Circus shopping centres. Our return journey from Bristol will follow our outward route back to Shoeburyness, calling at our earlier pick up points to set down. We say goodbye to our steam locomotive at Southall and continue our journey diesel hauled. A varied and interesting scenic trip with an internationally famous city to visit. Approximate Timings Outward Return Shoeburyness 06:45 22:50 Southend Central 07:00 22:35 Barking 08:00 21:50 Slough 10:30 19:40 Reading 10:50 19:15 Bath Spa 13:00 16:55 Bristol 13:25 16:35
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.
