The Royal Wessex leaves Three Bridges early on Saturday morning hauled by steam locomotive No. 34046 Braunton. The train stops at Haywards Heath to pick up more passengers, and at Preston Park, where passengers from the Brighton area can join the train. Our train by-passes Brighton, taking the West Coastway Line, with stops at Hove and Worthing for further passengers. The route follows the south coast of England with brief glimpses of the sea at Shoreham and between Chichester and Havant.
We pass through Fareham and Southampton before entering the New Forest, the picturesque area of heathland and forest, famous for its ponies. We stop at Bournemouth to set down those passengers who have chosen to visit this famous seaside resort, with its beautiful gardens, pine walks and sandy beaches. We continue westwards to Poole where there are spectacular views across the harbour. We stop at Wareham where passengers can choose to alight to visit the town, or maybe nearby Corfe Castle and the Swanage Railway. We travel through classic Dorset countryside and delightful scenery between Wareham and Dorchester, and then descend steeply to the coast at Weymouth. There will be over three hours in Weymouth for those who choose this option. This provides ample time to visit the beach and shops, which are close to the railway station, or to venture further a field to the Old Harbour or Nothe Fort.
Our train leaves Weymouth for the return journey diesel hauled at around 16:30. We call at Wareham and Bournemouth to collect those passengers who left the train at these stations on the outward journey. We continue to stop for setting down passengers at Worthing, Hove, Preston Park, Haywards Heath and Three Bridges.
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