Railtrail 2026 Main Brochure

6 Days from £995

DEPARTS Thursday 2 April 2026

ACTIVITY LEVEL

HIGHLIGHTS ★ Enjoy a special evening opening at Bekonscot Model Village ★ Steam on the standard-gauge Swindon & Cricklade Railway ★ Visit Didcot Railway Centre and its extensive locomotive collection ★ Ride behind steam on the Watercress Line through beautiful countryside ★ Discover the impressive engineering sheds at Ropley Station ★ Explore the historic buildings at the Rural Life Centre ★ Steam nostalgia on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway ★ Visit Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, a working steam museum ★ Journey on the delightful, narrow-gauge Leighton Buzzard Railway ★ Enjoy unlimited miniature steam rides at The Fancott Arms ★ Steam on the charming Ruislip Lido Railway Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ 5 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 1 evening meal ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

© Shutterstock

C hiltern H ills & T hames V alley S team

NEW TOUR

Full steam ahead on this action-packed tour in the beautiful Chiltern Hills featuring no less than ten heritage railways including steam, narrow-gauge, and miniature railways. Steam nostalgia on unique and charming lines, explore locomotive collections at fascinating museums, and visit the quirky Fancott Arms.

DAY 1 Journey from your home station to Gerrards Cross and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Ethorpe Hotel, our hotel for the next five nights. After checking in, we transfer the short distance by rail to Beaconsfield for a private evening visit to Bekonscot Model Village , the world’s oldest model village, including a tour of the extensive Gauge 1 Model Railway, rides on the unique 7¼" narrow gauge light railway, and an evening buffet meal. (D) DAY 2 After breakfast this morning, our coach takes us to the Swindon & Cricklade Railway for a scenic steam hauled journey on Wiltshire’s only standard-gauge heritage railway. We continue to Didcot Railway Centre where we explore their large collection of Great Western Railway locomotives, carriages, wagons, and artefacts plus steam action over their short line with brilliant photo opportunities. (B) DAY 3 Today, we visit the Mid-Hants Railway for a ride behind two different steam locomotives along the Watercress Line through beautiful Hampshire countryside to Alresford. We return as far as Ropley Station for a behind the scenes look at their restoration programme in the impressive engineering sheds plus time to explore the miniature railway. After our visit, we continue to the Rural Life Centre at nearby Tilford with time for lunch before looking around their re-located historic building and enjoying steam-hauled journeys on the Old Kiln Light Railway . (B) DAY 4 This morning, we travel by road to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway for a nostalgic ride behind steam through beautiful scenery along the base of Bledlow Ridge. On our return, we transfer to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre , a working

steam museum and heritage railway, where we enjoy a steam-hauled journey and take time to explore the collection of locomotives, ride the miniature railway, and watch the model trains. (B) DAY 5 After breakfast this morning, we travel by coach to the Leighton Buzzard Railway for a ride behind steam on the delightful, narrow-gauge line featuring sharp curves, steep gradients, and a long stretch of roadside running. We continue our day at The Fancott Arms which, unusually, has its own steam worked miniature railway in the grounds and we can enjoy unlimited rides between a pint! (B) DAY 6 Today, our coach transfers us to the charming Ruislip Lido Railway where we have a special opening for our group, and we enjoy a steam-hauled journey around the lake and through the ancient Ruislip Woods on Britain’s longest 12" gauge railway. After our visit, we make our way to the station in time for our homeward journeys. (B) *Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

FARE REGION FARES

FIRST* N/A £1029 £1105 £1099 £1235 £1109 £1255 £1215 £1259 £1305 £1205 £1305 £1289

STANDARD

London: Marylebone Greater London South of England East Anglia South West Midlands Yorkshire North East North West South Wales North Wales Heart of England

£1025 £1025 £1069 £1059 £1149 £1055 £1109 £1115 £1139 £1145 £1129 £1145 £1155 £995 £340

Scotland

Join & Leave at Hotel

Single Traveller Supplement

Deposit £100 *Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey

HOTEL Ethorpe Hotel, Gerrards Cross

For further information and to book your place... Visit: www.railtrail.co.uk Call: 01538 382323 Email: enquiry@railtrail.co.uk

© Henry Allum

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