Chiltern Hills Steam, Rail & Ale Trail

DAY 1

Arrive in High Wycombe, the chair making town and after depositing luggage at the Travelodge we travel by train to Beaconsfield where we have a private evening visit to Bekonscot Model Village which has recently been extended. We will have a welcome talk on the history of this the world's oldest model village. After which you'll be free to explore 1930s England in miniature at your leisure including a tour of the replica Great Western Railway Signal Box which oversees the running of the extensive Gauge 1 Model Railway using an ex Southern Region Lever Frame. During the visit we will have a light buffet dinner with a drink included and take a ride on the short but unique 7 ¼" gauge Bekonscot Light Railway.

DAY 2

This morning we travel by coach to the Leighton Buzzard Railway where we have arranged a private steam hauled charter on this delightful, recently extended, narrow-gauge line which was originally built to carry sand from the quarries. We'll visit the sheds at both ends of the line to view the extensive collection of ex industrial railway locomotives and rolling stock. We have a sandwich lunch at the railway before our coach then takes us to The Fancott pub which has its own miniature railway where we sample the local ale along with a buffet meal.

DAY 3

Today we have a very Great Western Day! Our coach takes us to Didcot Railway Centre home of the Great Western Society to enjoy GWR steam plus photo opportunities. We also have ample time to view their fine collection of other Great Western Steam Locomotives, carriages, wagons, and architecture. We then take a short journey to Pendon Museum to view their model railway layouts before continuing to Cholsey for our private steam charter on the Cholsey & Wallingford Railway where we've requested an unusual Sentinel Steam locomotive for our charter. We return to our hotel for an evening of leisure.

DAY 4

Another day in Great Western territory taking the branch line train from High Wycombe to Princes Risborough and changing here for a steam train on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway which runs along the base of Bledlow Ridge. After arrival at Chinnor, we take two round trips of the line. The round trips are expected to be shared between steam and heritage diesel haulage. We then travel by train to West Ruislip for a transfer to the Ruislip Lido Railway for a journey on this mile long 12" gauge line which is the only one in the country.

DAY 5

After breakfast it's time to bid farewell and make our way homeward.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner