Bristol to Weymouth by steam train

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

The Railway Touring Company have announced dates for these day trips for 2012. They are Sundays from 1 July to 23 September, with breaks for the Olympic events.
 http://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/weymouth-seaside-express

[JayMac]

I've taken the liberty, Four Track Now! of adding the dates of the 'Weymouth Seaside Express' to the forum calendar. It is for that reason that you see an edit of your post by me.

[TonyK]

Excellent!  Got my ticket booked, and Mrs Four Track Now! is coming as well.

[bobm]

Seems the last planned trip on the 23rd has been cancelled due to engineering work (as was the previous week's).

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs12.htm#twk

[TonyK]

Seems the last planned trip on the 23rd has been cancelled due to engineering work (as was the previous week's).

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs12.htm#twk

A shame, and a doubtless major expense for the operator.

Our own trip was a little shambolic, although as a result of adverse weather, rather than engineering. We set off, a bit late, for Weymuff, with little idea as to whether we would see it. We stopped first at Yeovil Junction, where the loco was turned around on the turntable then refuelled:


_{34067 Tangmere, being turned at Yeovil Junction}

By the time all that was done, word reached us that Weymuff remained closed off by floodwater. So off we went to Salisbury:


_{Weymuff Cathedral, Salisbury}

Mrs FTN wasn't impressed, as we spent most of the day travelling, under blue skies. Mr FTN, however, didn't mind so much.

[John R]

Both last week and this week have been scheduled for some time to run to Par (with optional coach trips to Charlestown or Fowey), as were the days when the Games ban meant Weymouth was out of bounds.  Whether they have been as popular as the Weymouth trips I don't know, but the route and destinations makes for an attractive day out. So we've had the delight of two steam trains down the main line to Exeter in quick succession (within about 5 mins at some points) some Sundays when the Torbay Express has also been running.

[bobm]

Hadn't realised the ones I saw at Teignmouth had been diverted - I must admit I was almost caught out having seen one go past I was walking away when I heard the whistle of another!

[TonyK]

Both last week and this week have been scheduled for some time to run to Par (with optional coach trips to Charlestown or Fowey), as were the days when the Games ban meant Weymouth was out of bounds.  Whether they have been as popular as the Weymouth trips I don't know, but the route and destinations makes for an attractive day out. So we've had the delight of two steam trains down the main line to Exeter in quick succession (within about 5 mins at some points) some Sundays when the Torbay Express has also been running.

Stayed overnight in Charleston last year, business related. Lovely place!