Great Western Coffee Shop

Hello, some advice please, people. We have some American friends visiting in a couple of weeks who will be travelling around southern and western England by public transport. They wish to take in a heritage railway while they are here. On a weekday, preferably

Can anyone think of one other than Didcot which is accessible by mainline train? (that's only open in school holidays from what I remember). I considered Cholsey-Wallingford but that only tends to be open very occasionally.

Getting to Swanage means getting a Cross Country service to Bournemouth or Poole, a local from there to Wareham, and an irregular Wilts & Dorset bus to Swanage. Similarly you can get to the Mid Hants Railway by making for Winchester, down the hill through the city centre, on to the bus station and getting a bus to Alresford. There is a bus link between Taunton and Bishops Lydiard for the West Somerset Railway, but I'm not sure how to direct my friends out of Taunton station for the bus.

Is there an easier one than that? I have a feeling I'm missing the blindingly obvious here somewhere.

Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway - next door to Paignton
South Devon Railway - a short walk from Totnes
Bodmin & Wenford - cross the platform at Bodmin Parkway

Phil, I'm a great fan of the West Somerset Railway - easily accessible from Taunton station: see http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/where_to_find_us.html


C.  ;)

The Mid Hants is better approached via Alton surely, depending on where else they might be in 'southern England' of course.

IIRC SWT at Alton sell MHR tickets...

Paul

Mid Hants connection at Alton

I'd recommend the South Devon Railway. You'd be forgiven for thinking you'd gone back in time.

dont forget the dartmoor railway! mind you have to say i have had some good days down the south devon railway

Great stuff, thanks guys. Gotta confess I completely forgot Paignton - nice one.

This sort of information needs to be on the web somewhere really. I'm sure I remember there being directions to heritage rail locations on the National Rail site at one time (probably when it was still Railtrack), but nowadays National Rail directs one towards the, forgive me, but rather amateurish Heritage Railway Association site - which doesn't feature even something as simple as an overlay map.

Fair comment, devon_metro - the South Devon Railway would be my second choice, certainly (if only because it's further from my home station, and the preserved line is shorter).  ;)

i do want to talk you into the dartmoor railway, but saying that if you go to the one at paignton you will get to see tornado! if you get down early enough there is no reason you cant fit in both :-)

I imagine they'd rather a steam train. Paignton is easy to get to, and they'd probably enjoy an afternoon in Dartmouth which is day tripper paradise.

i do agree on that mate however if you do have time oke is worth a trip

Severn Valley Railway also has a main line connection at Kidderminster.

And on Saturday, 15th August, the SVR will have a direct train to London Marylebone courtesy of Chiltern Railways!

Indeed it will. Another good example of Chiltern's postiive attitude is their running of a steam excursion from Marylebone to Stratford in July.

have you tried the Barnstable - Exmouth line?? The trains that run on that are practically heritage!  ;D

fit for purpose!

I take for granted I live on the doorstep of SVR - so many American friends I've taken on that!

I would definitely recommend the SVR for visitors wanting a true heritage route.

I have been on many heritage lines, (but not all the aforementioned) and it is the only one where I feel they run it 100% heritage.

i.e. no modern tickets, signalling, on train announcements, etc.

I was at the WSR last month for the mixed traffic gala to relive the hydraulic era of my youth and had a fantastic time. I can't recommend it highly enough - friendly and helpful staff, loads of atmosphere and lots to see. Tornado was there, too. Have also visited the SDR and P&DR,  and while the former is definitely the better choice for the purists, the latter has a very scenic route and a great holiday-line feel. Am hoping to get to the Bodmin & Wenford and Dartmoor Railways later on in the year.