27th May then 10th June 2023 - Summer Saturday Swindon to Weymouth trains

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Go by train to Weymouth - through services this summer from Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham. Weymouth Station is just 100 yards from the front and in easy reach of:
* Beautiful golden beaches and attractions
* Pretty harbour
* Shopping and eating out
* Sealife adventure park
* RSPB reserve, Radipole Lake
* Nothe Fort and Sandsfoot Castle
* Sculpture and Heritage Trails
* Rodwell Trail and much more
https://www.visit-dorset.com/explore/areas-to-visit/weymouth/

[grahame]

Weymouth partly owed the revival in its fortunes in the late 19th century to ‘Swindon Weeks’ – the annual July closure of the Great Western Railway works in Swindon. By the mid-1880s, and on one day alone, 6,000 workers and their families disembarked at Weymouth Station on special ‘Trip Day’ trains. Some stayed for a week in the hundreds of family run ‘B&B’s that sprang up to cater to their needs. 

Until the arrival of the railway in 1857 Weymouth’s reputation rested on its fame as ‘Royal Weymouth’, the fashionable resort where George III had spent his summers. The lack of a railway had led to a decline in both visitors and trade. Its population was under 10,000, most of whom lived in the narrow-crowded streets either side of the harbour and to the rear of the Esplanade. The coming of the railway (which in 1865 was extended to Portland) led to a gradual expansion which saw the population double by 1914. The first area to be developed was roads of terraces near the station. Beyond St John’s Church, large villas for the well to do sprang up along the Dorchester road, their generous gardens with views over Lodmoors marshes. By the end of the century, apart from the new Football Ground, any lingering green spaces were built over. The elegant Georgian buildings forming the Esplanade were remodelled or replaced, trading old-fashioned comfort for ornate splendour.

From Great British Life

In 1865 the railway had been extended to Custom House Quay, leading to a revival in trade, mainly of coal, timber and cement. Facing the main shipping quay was the Nothe headland, where a great fort had been built to guard the entrance to Portland Harbour. The arrival of soldiers, and then the thousands of sailors manning the ships based in nearby Portland had a substantial impact on life in the town. 

The Esplanade and the long curve Weymouth sands formed the heart of the holiday town. All life was here, from the Punch & Judy shows to the carefully segregated bathing machines on the beach. For children there were donkey rides, and wide flat sands for building sandcastles. Indeed, it was the hustle and bustle of the summer season that breathed new life into Weymouth.

[MVR S&T]

 Being run with sutable rolling stock and diesel locomotive?

[grahame]

Being run with sutable rolling stock and diesel locomitive?

It's pathed as  Class 158/168/170/175 DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit)"

[infoman]

and if you know or think you know persons are going to travel on the service,get your sandwiches crisps and drinks BEFORE  you get to your stations

[grahame]

and if you know or think you know persons are going to travel on the service,get your sandwiches crisps and drinks BEFORE  you get to your stations

It's under 2 hours (from Melksham, anyway!) mind you.  But, yes, no catering there at the station or on the train.   For the return I would suggest you get fed up in Weymouth prior to joining the train home.

[JayMac]

I would suggest you get fed up in Weymouth prior to joining the train home.

I've been fed up in Weymouth more than once waiting for a train home.

[grahame]

Two days to go ... and I admit to being slightly nervous because a Facebook post of mine from Monday has been shared many times.   Past experience suggested that promoting day trips like this, where there is no payment needed prior to the day, tends not to have people commit to coming along but never the less I am going easy on further promotion just at the moment, and my promotion has been limited to Melksham.   I must remember we nearly filled an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) on this run a few years back, and we probably only have a three carriage train this Saturday.

[Mark A]

 I must remember we nearly filled an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) on this run a few years back, and we probably only have a three carriage train this Saturday.

Just thinking of a day trip to Weymouth as recently as the early nineties.

Lovely spell of weather in the height of summer.

The back of the queue of cars was at Dorchester, a complete crawl from there over the hill and then the descent via Upwey preceded by that hairpin bend... must have been particularly galling for people on that road as they had a very good view of the continuing ordeal ahead.

As did ourselves and the other passengers in the cheerfully full... was it nine carriage... loco hauled train originating in Cardiff in those days and descending into Weymouth at line speed.

I'm also thinking of a return start at the end of a summer afternoon around six, a few years later, and Weymouth sending away two, or was it three(?) loco-hauled trains in quick succession. The train to Bristol, and another which was a crosscountry service to Manchester. It's really not that long ago.

Mark

[Timmer]

With a really good weather forecast for Saturday, I have a feeling this will be popular, as will other trains heading to Weymouth this weekend.

[grahame]

With a really good weather forecast for Saturday, I have a feeling this will be popular, as will other trains heading to Weymouth this weekend.

It's ideal ...about 150 on the (three car) train as we approach Trowbridge. Pictures to follow!

[grahame]

It's ideal ...about 150 on the (three car) train as we approach Trowbridge. Pictures to follow!

[grahame]

Event report at http://grahamellis.uk/blog877.html ...

A wonderful seaside trip (27.5.2023) - on the direct Saturday train from Swindon, Chippenham and Melksham to Weymouth. I joined the train with 50 other people at Melksham, on time at 09:10, and we picked up more along the way - train was pretty well full but not uncomfortable by the time we reached Weymouth at 11:10 - a few people choosing to stand, but then a few open seats too - so 300 people all of whom melted into the vast enjoyment that is Weymouth.

Note to "rail types" - pretty well perfect in terms of loading; pity about the trespasser on the line the put around 40 minutes late on what's a long day out for the kids anyway.  Excellent passenger work by the train manager in those circumstances.  I knew a lot of people on the train - to my knowledge, whilst some were frustrated by the delay especially while it was of indeterminate length, only one group had a major problem with it as they were supposed to connect into the last x31 bus off Chippenham Station.