Enjoy the views of Oxfordshire and Wiltshire from Didcot Parkway this October on board the Legendary Journeys with Flying Scotsman.

Experience restored vintage coaches travelling at main line speeds behind the world famous Flying Scotsman locomotive on a tour of over 130 miles around Oxfordshire and Wiltshire from Didcot. Pass through the market town of Chippenham before arriving at Newbury Racecourse Station, where there will be a pause to stretch your legs and see the magnificent locomotive. The route will take in views of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal before returning to Didcot via Swindon.

There is a morning journey departing at 11.00 and an afternoon trip at departing at 15.25.

Each booking is helping to keep this national icon of steam heritage operating.

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th October 2026

Flying Scotsman is steaming through the North Wessex Downs National Landcape this October, with mainline railtours departing from Didcot Parkway, a town which has become synonymous with railway preservation, to Newbury Racecourse Station.

Embark upon a 133 mile return journey through Oxfordshire and Wiltshire hauled by the legendary Flying Scotsman locomotive. We'll travel via the outskirts of Reading, a town rich in railway history from the opening of the Great Western line to London in 1840 right through to the modern Elizabeth Line which opened in 2022,

We'll then arrive at Newbury Racecourse Station, a town famous for it's adjacent racecourse. The train will stop here for 30 minutes allowing a leg stretch and to view the famous locomotive.

Finally, we'll embark on the main leg of our journey. Our route will take us through the lovely landscape of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, running alongside the pretty Kennet & Avon Canal for some distance and the nearby Westbury white horse.  We'll pass through Chippenham and Swindon, another town steeped in railway history through its railway works which once employed 14,000 people before heading back to Didcot Parkway.

Each booking is helping to keep this national icon of steam heritage operating.

Approximate Itinerary

Departs Didcot at approx 11:00, arriving at Newbury Racecourse approx 11:45. Departing Newbury Racecourse at 12:15, arriving back at Didcot approx 15:05
Departs Didcot at approx 15:25, arriving at Newbury Racecourse approx 16:30. Departing Newbury Racecourse at 16:40, arriving back at Didcot approx 19:20
Tour distance: approximately 133 miles return.

From the amount of track/buildings there I'm guessing that wasn't recently

The Flying Scotsman passed through Melksham on a special excursion train in 1964, roughly two years before Melksham station closed in 1966

And only 10min break at Newbury in the afternoon?!