2 minute read
The Worcester Christmas Fayre
Thursday 1st December 2022
Join us on this scenic rail tour by steam train through the beautiful Cotswold Hills. Our destination is the cathedral city of Worcester, located on the banks of the river Severn and internationally famous as the home of Worcestershire Sauce. We travel outward via Staines and then from Reading via the Great Western Main Line to Didcot and Swindon. We then run via the Golden Valley line through Kemble and Stroud, which will include the steep climb up to Sapperton tunnel.
Advertisement
Our steam train leaves London Victoria at around 07.15 hauled by a Black 5 steam locomotive and head through the west London suburbs via Hounslow towards Staines, where we pause to pick up passengers. We make our way via Ascot to Reading and via the Great Western Main Line towards Didcot to pick up more passengers. We follow the GWR main line through the Vale of White House to Swindon where we branch off to take the Golden Valley route towards Cheltenham. After Kemble, the line starts to climb steeply towards the summit at Sapperton Tunnel. The pleasant Golden Valley scenery, with its steep sided leafy valley walls, runs down the gradient through to Stroud. At Standish Junction we join the Midland Railway’s Bristol to Birmingham line and head for Cheltenham Spa. Here, we will call to set down passengers who may wish to visit this attractive Regency spa town, noted for its Pump Rooms, many museums and the nearby famous racecourse. We continue northwards through to Worcester Shrub Hill station, where there will be time to visit the Christmas Fayre in the city centre. With over 200 stalls, the Fayre will have a Victorian theme, with traders in period costume. Apart from the locally made produce and craft, there will be the traditional food markets where you can sample home made cooking, along with the many bars and food stalls. Street entertainment will also feature throughout the day, which will complement the historic nature of the city of Worcester, with the Cathedral as its centre point. Our steam train leaves Worcester Shrub Hill in the late afternoon and returns by the same route through Cheltenham, by-pass Gloucester, and then join the Golden Valley route at Standish Junction. We pass through Stroud and climb up through the picturesque Stroud Valley to Sapperton Tunnel where the gradients increase dramatically to 1 in 74 at Chalford. We continue through Kemble and on to Swindon where we join the ex-Great Western Main Line. We call at Didcot, Reading and Staines to set down passengers, before arriving at London Victoria station. Approximate Timings Outward Return London Victoria 07:45 21:35 Staines 08:40 20:45 Reading 10:00 19:26 Didcot 10:20 19:00 Worcester Shrub Hill 13:15 16:30
There are three classes available:
Premier Dining includes a full English breakfast and four course dinner 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.
