The South Western Express

This tour promises to be an interesting and varied day out behind steam traction over a number of main and secondary routes in the south of England, including the Portsmouth Direct line, with an opportunity to visit London. Our locomotive for the day will be Ex Southern Railway 4-6-0 No. 850 Lord Nelson.

Our tour today commences at Portsmouth Harbour, famed for its naval heritage, with Lord Nelson’s flag ship, HMS Victory, from the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, taking pride of place in the docks, overlooked by the modern Spinnaker Tower. Appropriately, our locomotive for the day is named after this famous naval commander. Lord Nelson, built in 1926 at Eastleigh Works, was Maunsell’s first completely new design for the Southern Railway and was designed to work heavy continental boat trains from Waterloo to the ports. Lord Nelson is a National Railway Museum locomotive currently being looked after by the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society.
 

Picking up passengers at Fratton, we pass through Hilsea and curve to the left to pick up at Cosham before heading west towards Fareham and Eastleigh. A fast run along the main line through Winchester will allow Lord Nelson to recreate the days of fast boat trains expresses before we pause at Basingstoke. We follow the former London & South Western Railway’s main line through to Woking, with more fast running expected before we leave the main line and divert via Virginia Water to reach Staines. We cross the River Thames and head for Clapham Junction, one of the busiest railway stations in the country, and thread our way past the shell of Battersea power station and enter London Waterloo.
 

There will be time to visit the Capital, with all of its famous sights within easy reach of Waterloo, whilst Lord Nelson is being serviced. Head for Oxford Street for some shopping, or take the Tour Bus for an afternoon of visiting London’s many landmarks; the choice is yours.
 

Suitably laden up with shopping, or fresh from the sights of London, Lord Nelson will be waiting to take you back to Portsmouth. Our route back will be via the main line out of Waterloo to Woking and to our outward pick up points via Eastleigh. Lord Nelson will conclude its tour of duty on arrival at Portsmouth Harbour, marking the end of our journey on ‘The South Western Express’.

• 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)