Читать книгу Railway Day Trips: 160 classic train journeys around Britain - Julian Holland - Страница 25

A day trip to the seaside beckons and what better way to travel than by rail to Weymouth, on the Heart of Wessex Line. Our journey starts at Yeovil’s Pen Mill station, opened in 1854, which features an island platform, passing loop, signal box and semaphore signals. Heading south along the Yeo Valley, the single-track railway soon passes under the Waterloo to Exeter main line before starting its 10-mile climb to cross the South Dorset Downs through Evershot Tunnel, passing through the tiny rural request stop stations of Thornford, Yetminster and Chetnole en route. The last 2 miles up to the tunnel feature a 1-in-51 gradient which severely tests the steam-hauled excursion trains from Bristol that still run along this route on Sundays in the summer months.

Reaching the summit of the line, trains emerge from Evershot Tunnel and head downhill into the valley of the River Frome before halting at Maiden Newton station, which until 1975 was the junction for the branch line to Bridport. From here the railway continues its descent down the valley, criss-crossing the river, to the historic town of Dorchester. After pausing at Dorchester West station, trains soon join the Bournemouth to Weymouth electrified main line and head uphill for 2 miles, past the Iron Age hill fort of Maiden Castle to Bincombe Tunnel. Then it is downhill all the way, through Upwey Wishing Well, before trains terminate at Weymouth station. From here it is but a short walk to the town’s superb sandy beaches, Punch and Judy stall, renowned fish and chip shops and bustling harbour.

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

sandy beaches; water sports; Punch & Judy; busy harbour; sea-fishing trips; Rodwell Trail (railway walk to Isle of Portland)

FREQUENCY OF TRAINS

8 per day (Mon-Sat)

5 per day (Sun)

27½ MILES 50 MINUTES

NUMBER OF CHANGES: 0

Holidaymakers sit on the beach at Weymouth to enjoy a traditional Punch and Judy Show.