The Dartmouth Express

 

The Railway Touring Company invites you to join us for a very special day aboard a very special train. 

We have a marvelous tour arranged from Dorset and Hampshire to beautiful Dartmouth in South Devon hauled by 60019 'Bittern'. 

Our journey parallels the lovely Exe Estuary, steaming across the famously spectacular sea wall near Dawlish and ventures deep into the beautiful, mysterious West Country.

We depart Poole diesel-hauled, calling to collect more passengers at Bournemouth, Christchurch, Southampton, Eastleigh, Salisbury and Westbury where we change from diesel to steam.

From Westbury 60019 'Bittern' begins by steam hauling us up the steep climb at Brewham Bank and on through Somerset’s gentle, undulating countryside. Stopping briefly at Taunton to take on water, we then climb to lovely Whiteball Summit on the border of Somerset and Devon. We continue through Exeter, following the Exe Estuary with its picturesque fishing boat views, to run along the famous sea wall near Dawlish, one of Britain’s most scenic stretches of railway. We race through tunnels and rock cuttings right on the edge of the sea all the way to Newton Abbot.

At Newton Abbot we leave the Plymouth main line for the pretty holiday resorts of Torquay and Paignton, crossing the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway. ‘Bittern’ rises to the challenge of steep gradients with aplomb, conquering 1 in 60 at Churston before running fast downhill to Kingswear.

The Dartmouth Express tour includes a return journey on the ferry to picture-postcard Dartmouth, complete with its castle and winding narrow streets set in a deep, secluded, wooded river valley. 

 

You’ll have time to enjoy this historic town which is packed with good bistros and restaurants, individual boutiques and specialist shops. Our return journey begins with ‘Bittern’ taking us back to Westbuury to join our diesel locomotive back to Poole. We drop passengers off at the stations where they first joined us.

*Christchurch passengers: Unfortunately, our train can not stop at Christchurch on the outward journey. Passengers from Christchurch should travel by a service train to Bournemouth to join our train there. A price for a day single ticket is £2.60 and will be reimbursed to you in cash on board our train.

Service train timings:
Christchurch - Depart 06:34 and 07:02
Bournemouth - Arrive  06:42 and 07:10

• Premier Dining includes full English breakfast, light lunch and four course dinner silver served at your seat.
• First Class includes morning coffee and Danish pastries and tea and biscuits in the afternoon.
• Standard Class includes a reserved seat at a table for four.

A buffet car is available and serves tea, coffee, snacks and light refreshments.
Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £15 per person.
(subject to availability)