'THE DEVON BELLE' - A wonderful spring trip to Exeter
On Saturday 2nd April 2016 No. 60163 Tornado will set out from London Waterloo station and head for Devon and the historic city of Exeter. With the assistance of our friends at South West Trains we will be making a fast turn from London to Woking via Surbiton and on through Surrey and Hampshire to pick up more passengers at Basingstoke. We then head via Andover to Salisbury where the locomotive will take water. Our route is then via the former LSWR route via Yeovil including the steep climb to Honiton Tunnel, a real test for Tornado.
After a break in Exeter our return route starts with the climb to Whiteball tunnel which marks the border between Devon and Somerset. Heading back towards the capital we take the former GWR route via Castle Cary, Westbury and Newbury, a beautiful scenic route as well as one that will challenge Tornado with its fast running and long climbs. At Reading passengers who joined us at Basingstoke leave us for a short trip by service train to Basingstoke. Tornado steams on taking us back to London Victoria station via Ascot and Twickenham.
Tornado in the West Country, seen at Beam Bridge in 2009 - Jack Boskett
First Class Dining: Seats at a table for two* or four in a First Class carriage. Includes a silver service full English breakfast and a light lunch on the outward journey and a four course dinner on the return leg from Exeter.
First Class Non-Dining: Seats at a table for two* or four in a First Class carriage. Includes complimentary teas and coffees, as well as afternoon tea during the return journey.
Standard Class: Seats at a table for four in a heritage carriage. An on-board buffet serving snacks and hot & cold beverages will be available.
* Guaranteed 'tables for two' in First Class Dining and First Class Non-Dining are available for a supplement of £25.00 per person.
Provisional Timings for 'The Devon Belle' on Saturday 2nd April 2016 are as follows:
| STATION | OUTWARD | RETURN |
| London Waterloo | 07:55hrs | *** |
| Basingstoke | 08:45hrs | *** |
| Exeter | 13:30rs | 16:30hrs |
| Reading | *** | 20:45hrs |
| London Victoria | *** | 22:00hrs |
| PRICES | |
| Standard Class | £95.00 |
| First Class Non-Dining | £149.00 |
| First Class Dining | £225.00 |
Terms and conditions are available on request. All profits from this tour go towards keeping Tornado on the main line in future years.
Online and telephone bookings are handled by our booking agents UK Railtours. Go to www.a1steam.com or to make an online booking, or call 01438 715050 to book over the phone. In the event of cancellation or haulage problems please see our full terms and conditions of carriage.