Steam Dreams 2026

A couple of shots of Wednesday's run to Bath, filmed at Savernake and Greenbridge (Swindon). If you give it a watch, I hope you enjoy it

 

Steam Dreams have confirmed their Christmas tours for the year, all locos TBC but a few notable ones include a Kings Cross to York steam hauled throughout, and a return of the "White Cliffs Christmas Lunch" which hasn't been seen since 2018! Full list below:

17th Nov - London to York
19th Nov - Southend to Chester
2nd Dec - East Anglia to Winchester
15th Dec - White Cliffs Circular

 

Times below for Steam Dreams Kent to Bath tour for 16 May 2026.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...6/0000-2359?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt&toc=LS

 

Pity the Duke isn't actually visiting Kent- steam comes on and off in London

 

Saturday 16th Timings:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U83659/2026-05-16/detailed
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U84161/2026-05-16/detailed

 

71000 at Corston with the empty stock.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/16582147@N07/918Z0j9Pz5

 

Here's my video of an extremely rare event featuring the Duke and a GWR Class 800 at Brunel's iconic Sydney Gardens. They were running side by side with the Duke on the right road and the Class 800 on the left road. I can't remember seeing an occasion like this ever at Sydney Gardens. I hope you enjoy it.

 

I had thought about going there this afternoon but decided to watch the FA Cup Final, you made a better choice. Thanks for filming and sharing that super clip.

 

My offering from Saturday's tour to Bath. Filmed at Wolfhall and Greenbridge (Swindon). If you give it a watch, I hope you enjoy it

 

Had a enjoyable memorable day out on 71000 Duke of Gloucester to Bath boarding at Maidenhead. Some nice fast timely running despite arriving into Bath 10 mins late. Here's a pic of the duke at Bath Spa.



Davo 56F

 

I notice the 20 June 'Waterloo to Paignton' run (actually Kingswear) has the Waterloo to Taunton section (and return) diesel-hauled - stretching the name 'Steam Dreams' to the limit!

 

It's quite rare outside the circular trips (which they don't do as many of in recent years) that the Steam Dream trips are Steam hauled throughout these days. Most of them are probably only hauled by Steam for either half or less of the journey.

 

Just the regular Saturday Saphos trip under the SD brand is it not where steam comes on & off at Taunton.

 

Perhaps edging towards the situation where patrons can only dream of steam!

 

65 miles of steam each way roughly depending on where at Taunton the loco change is done. But on the modern railway realistically what can you do.
At best you could perhaps go one way with steam, but would you have long enough at the destination to make it worthwhile?. Especially when you have the ferry issue.
Other than the hardcore enthusiast I suspect 130 mile of steam that may hit 75mph once or twice and a run along the sea wall will seem like a fine day out. Estimated timings has it at 07:00 to 22:15 how much earlier do you expect people to try to get to Waterloo for, and many will be fretting about connections with a 22:15 arrival I suspect.

 

I'm not sure how bookings are for this one but all the Saphos trains to Kingswear seem to be fully booked so people must be happy with what they're getting. It's a model that seems to work well for LSL from an operational point of view. They can keep the loco based at Bishops Lydeard, run to Kingswear and back using well tried and tested timings and no need for water stops en-route. I'm guessing that they can do the whole trip with a single steam loco crew as well although I'm not sure about that.

I must say I preferred the old Torbay Express model that gave you steam from Bristol, either via Weston Super Mare or Westbury.

 

I'm sure there will be healthy bookings, but runs with steam all the way from London to various destinations are still quite frequently done, so it is not necessarily the "modern railway" that is preventing it. I'm sure the passengers will enjoy the day nevertheless. BTW, my "dream of steam" comment was only tongue-in-cheek...

 

I looked at doing the SD Kingswear trip last year (but was unable to do it in the end) and that was diesel hauled from Paddington to Taunton and back. Plus most of SD trips going via London are diesel hauled to Hanwell, where Steam is attached.

 

Should be glad there's still steam out there

 

Screen grab of 71000 near Baldock at lunchtime today. 3 seconds after the class 47 went by, a pair of class 379s came the other way - phew!