SLL Main Line
The first main line train run by 34010 Eddystone was on Wednesday 10th September 2025, followed by a series of runs up to Christmas. A more ambitious range of trips has been planned for 2026.
Planned 2026 main line operations
In all cases contact Rail Touring Company for tickets and full pick-up and drop-off points.
Wednesday 15th April. The Sussex Belle Victoria to Eastbourne.
Saturday 18th April. Great Britain XVIII Paddington to Penzance.
Sunday 19th April. Great Britain XVIII Penzance to Chester.
Saturday 25th April. great Britain XVIII York to Euston.
Wednesday 20th May. The Swanage Belle Victoria to Swanage
Sunday 31st May. Royal Duchy 1. Bristol to Par.
Saturday 11th July The White Rose Kings Cross to York.
Wednesday 22nd July Dorset Coast Express. Victoria to Weymouth.
Saturday 8th August West Somerset Express. Paddington to Minehead.
Saturday 5th September The Wensum & Thames Explorer. Norwich to Reading.
Wednesday 23rd September The Dorset Coast Express. Victoria to Weymouth.
Sunday 27th September. Royal Duchy IV Bristol to Par.
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There's a new photo gallery for SLL main line workings here.
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past main line service and support runs
2025
Saturday 13th December
The Bath and Bristol Christmas Express. 34028 Eddystone hauled the train from Three Bridges to Bath amd Bristol for the Christmas markets. The train started at
Three Bridges, headed south and along the coast to Southampton and then to Westbury, Bath and Bristol.
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Saturday 6th November
The Rochester Dickensian Christmas Express. 34028 Eddystone hauled the train to Rochester for the Christmas market. The train started at Newbury and picked up passengers at Reading,
Maidenhead, Slough, and West Brompton. Notably it crossed the Thames in west London by the Battersea railway bridge.
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Saturday 29th November
34028 hauled the Railway Touring Company's Armistice Steam Express from Paddington to Bath and Bristol. Paddington via Reading and Westbury to Bath and Bristol, returning via Didcot.
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Steam schedules:
Paddington to Bristol
Bristol to Paddington
Tuesday 11th November
34028 hauled the Railway Touring Company's Armistice Steam Express from Victoria to Sheerness, and thence returning to Victoria via Canterbury, Dover, and Folkestone.
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Steam schedules:
Victoria to Sheerness
Sheerness to Victoria.
Saturday 1st November
34028 hauled the Railway Touring Company's Chiltern Explorer from Manchester Piccadilly to Reading. Eddystone's day started at 03:47 a.m. to pick up its train in Manchester which left at 07:39.
Arrival at Reading was at 14:39 almost 11 hours after it set off. The return leg was diesel hauled.
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Steam schedules:
Eddystone Carnforth to Manchester
Manchester to Reading.
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Saturday 25th October 2025
34028 hauled the Railway Touring Company's Varsity Explorer from Slough to Chester. On-time arrival at Chester, with plenty of 75mph running.
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Full schedules outbound and return:
Slough to Chester – Hauled by 34028 Eddystone
Chester to Slough – Hauled by Diesel
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Wednesday 10th September 2025
34028 hauls the Swanage Belle from Victoria to Swanage. On the return leg the loco developed a hot box and the trip was terminated at Basingstoke.
Passengers completed their journey by South Western Railway.
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Loaded test run, 34028 Southall to Didcot and return.
Monday 1st September 2025
34028 runs from Swanage to Southall.