2 minute read
The Salisbury Flyer
Wednesday 6th September 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. At Reading we join the Berks and Hants line which runs through picturesque rural countryside. We pass the celebrated Newbury Racecourse and then Newbury and 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. From Westbury we continue our tour along the edge of Salisbury Plain through Warminster to Salisbury, our destination for the day. You will have around three and a half hours in Salisbury to explore this historic city, while our steam locomotive is turned and serviced. Why not take a trip around the Cathedral to view the Magna Carta or visit the old town, with its many shops and museums.
We leave Salisbury steam hauled and will follow our outward route back to Southall, calling at Reading and Slough to set down. We say goodbye to our steam locomotive at Southall and continue from there to Shoeburyness diesel hauled, stopping to drop off passengers at their outward joining stations. 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 Salisbury 13:00 16:30
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.
