Passengers can celebrate Afternoon Tea Week this August by enjoying the classic British tradition behind a steam locomotive. On these Steam Dreams Rail Co departures this summer, guests will savour delicious Cream Tea whilst they sit back and relax to enjoy stunning views of the British countryside, without even having to get off the train.

The journeys will be powered by 34046 Braunton, a 'Bulleid Light Pacific' express passenger engine designed by Oliver Bulleid. Braunton is currently operating under the guise of 34052 Lord Dowding. It was renamed to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

White Cliffs Tour from Canterbury

Departing Thursday, 11th August 2022

This wonderful journey from Canterbury West Station travels around the Kent coast and tackles challenging gradients as it approaches Dover, offering stunning views of the town and castle, and even Cap Gris Nez, 17 miles away in France. The train departs Canterbury West at 15.00 and arrives back at 17.00. Champagne Cream Tea will be served en route for dining passengers.

Priced from £149 per person travelling Pullman Style Dining, Premier Dining from £119pp, whilst a Premium Standard ticket at £59pp offers seating at tables where complimentary tea and coffee is served, snacks can be purchased and picnics welcomed.

South Coast Tour from Portsmouth

Departing Saturday, 20th August 2022

Chugging out of Portsmouth & Southsea Station, the train will traverse along the south coast through rural Hampshire and Sussex to Littlehamption and Brighton, with beautiful bays and colourful beach huts along the way. The train departs at 14.00 and returns into Portsmouth & Southsea at 17.30. Cream Tea with scones, cream and jam will be served to dining passengers.

Priced from £149 per person travelling Pullman Style Dining, Premier Dining from £119pp, whilst a Premium Standard ticket at £59pp offers seating at tables where complimentary tea and coffee is served, snacks can be purchased and picnics welcomed

For further information and to book, visit www.steamdreams.co.uk

To book please call 01483 209888 between 9:30am – 5pm on weekdays.

-ENDS-

For further information contact WixHill PR:

Tim Fordham-Moss / Jo White

tim@wixhill.co.uk / jo@wixhill.co.uk

+44 (0) 771 491788 / + 44 (0) 7545 522292

Editor's Notes: 

Gift Vouchers

Valid for a full year from date of purchase, gift vouchers must be booked before the voucher expires but travel can take place after this date. Gift vouchers start at £50.

Gift tickets can also be purchased which summarize the trip itinerary purchased without prices and come in a special presentation wallet.

34046 Braunton is a 'Bulleid Light Pacific' express passenger engine designed by Oliver Bulleid.

The locomotives were so named after towns on or near the Southern Railway system in the west of England, with the town of Braunton situated in North Devon.

In the post war years of skills shortages and declining maintenance standards, British Railways embarked on a rebuilding programme of the ?Light Pacifics? in an attempt to improve reliability. In 1959 the air-smoothed casing and the internal chain drive were removed. By 1965 after accumulating 779,210 miles in service, Braunton was retired from service and sold to Barry Scrapyard. By 1988 the locomotive had moved from Barry but serious restoration did not begin until 1996 and was completed by 2008.

Over the winter of 2011 the locomotive was fitted with all the modern equipment to allow it to be used on the mainline railway network. Although restricted to 75mph, Braunton is capable of speeds in excess of 100mph.

Braunton is currently operating under the guise of 34052 Lord Dowding. It was renamed to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Carbon Offset

The Steam Dreams Rail Co., was the first rail charter to be carbon neutral. For the last ten years the company has offset annually the carbon footprint of its operation.

About The Steam Dreams Rail Co.

• The first tour left London for Salisbury in December 1999
• 22 years later, the company is proud to be offering day trips to more than 35 destinations, picking up passengers at over 100 stations across the UK every year
• The Steam Dreams Rail Co. is now delighted to offer a number of multi-day tours around the British Isles as well as overseas tours including New Zealand in 2024.
• The company has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence every year since 2015, and was short-listed for Best Rail Holiday Provider in the inaugural Silver Travel Awards