The Royal Duchy
Saturday 28th June 2008
Join us on this very special tour from London, Slough, Reading and Newbury to the Royal Duchy of Cornwall. We will be steam hauled from Penzance to Westbury by 6024 King Edward 1st and 71000 Duke of Gloucester. This superb combination should ensure an impressive pace over the South Devon and Cornish Banks.
Our train departs London Paddington at 07:00 hauled by a modern diesel locomotive. We will call to pick up further customers at Ealing Broadway, Slough, Reading, Newbury and Westbury.
On leaving Reading you can sit back and enjoy the lovely scenery of the Berkshire and Hampshire route.
At Exeter we will head south and enjoy the vast and inspiring vista from the sea wall as we speed through Dawlish. After leaving Plymouth and entering Cornwall we will arrive at Penzance where we will stop for over an hour to allow you to explore this attractive Cornish town.
We will depart Penzance at 14:30 steam hauled by 71000 Duke of Gloucester and 6024 King Edward 1st, a really impressive combination. After we have passed through the tin mines area of Redruth and Camborne, we will curve round Mounts Bay where there will be good views of St Michael’s Mount, with its island castle rising out of the sea. Then we will enter Cornwall’s county town of Truro where you should be able look down from the train onto the town’s historical buildings.
We will enjoy the lovely Cornish countryside as we pass over tall slender viaducts, through short tunnels and over high embankments. We will cross the River Tamar on Brunel’s classic Royal Albert Bridge high above the Estuary, which will give more fine views before entering Plymouth, where our locomotives will enjoy a well-earned drink!
On leaving Plymouth our steam locomotives will have to tackle the long steep climb of Hemerdon Bank, the most difficult gradient on the whole trip. This will be followed by another steep climb up to Dainton Summit before we drop down to Newton Abbott.
Our train will now race through rock cuttings keeping the sea in sight all the way to Dawlish Warren. From here we will follow the Exe Estuary and enjoy views of fishing boats in the foreground and Exmouth in the distance. Soon we will arrive at Exeter where you will have ample time to stretch your legs and breathe in the sea air, while the locomotives again take on water.
On leaving Exeter we continue our climb up to Whiteball Summit. After Taunton we pick up the Berks and Hants route again and climb Brewham Bank before arriving in Westbury, where a modern diesel locomotive takes over for the run back to London, setting down at all the outward station stops.
On leaving Reading you can sit back and enjoy the lovely scenery of the Berkshire and Hampshire route.
At Exeter we will head south and enjoy the vast and inspiring vista from the sea wall as we speed through Dawlish. After leaving Plymouth and entering Cornwall we will arrive at Penzance where we will stop for over an hour to allow you to explore this attractive Cornish town.
We will depart Penzance at 14:30 steam hauled by 71000 Duke of Gloucester and 6024 King Edward 1st, a really impressive combination. After we have passed through the tin mines area of Redruth and Camborne, we will curve round Mounts Bay where there will be good views of St Michael’s Mount, with its island castle rising out of the sea. Then we will enter Cornwall’s county town of Truro where you should be able look down from the train onto the town’s historical buildings.
We will enjoy the lovely Cornish countryside as we pass over tall slender viaducts, through short tunnels and over high embankments. We will cross the River Tamar on Brunel’s classic Royal Albert Bridge high above the Estuary, which will give more fine views before entering Plymouth, where our locomotives will enjoy a well-earned drink!
On leaving Plymouth our steam locomotives will have to tackle the long steep climb of Hemerdon Bank, the most difficult gradient on the whole trip. This will be followed by another steep climb up to Dainton Summit before we drop down to Newton Abbott.
Our train will now race through rock cuttings keeping the sea in sight all the way to Dawlish Warren. From here we will follow the Exe Estuary and enjoy views of fishing boats in the foreground and Exmouth in the distance. Soon we will arrive at Exeter where you will have ample time to stretch your legs and breathe in the sea air, while the locomotives again take on water.
On leaving Exeter we continue our climb up to Whiteball Summit. After Taunton we pick up the Berks and Hants route again and climb Brewham Bank before arriving in Westbury, where a modern diesel locomotive takes over for the run back to London, setting down at all the outward station stops.
Approximate Timings
| Station | Depart | Return |
|---|---|---|
| London Paddington | 07:00 | 23:10 |
| Ealing Broadway | 07:10 | 23:00 |
| Slough | 07:20 | 22:45 |
| Reading | 07:40 | 22:20 |
| Newbury | 08:05 | 22:00 |
| Westbury | 08:55 | 20:45 |
| Penzance | 13:20 | 14:30 |
Fares
| Fares | Adult | Junior | Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier | £179 | £122 | £525 |
| First | £118 | £60 | £350 |
| Standard | £88 | £49 | £250 |
• 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.
Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £15 per person.
(subject to availability)
• 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.
Tables for two can be guaranteed in first class and premier dining for a supplement of £15 per person.
(subject to availability)