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The Shakespearean Sonnet


Saturday 22nd February 2025

Routing Update - Due to faulty infrastructure we have been asked not to visit the Round Oak branch on this occasion. We have therefore incorporated two MOD branches - Long Marston and Kineton - both equally unusual for class 20 hauled passenger trains.

The term ‘Sonnet’ refers to a fixed verse poetic form typically consisting of fourteen lines. Today our special train to Shakespeare’s birth town will consist of fourteen vehicles and enthusiasts may well consider that it will be the four class 20 locomotives overcoming some severe gradients we have planned that will provide the poetic soundtrack.

Our journey starts at London Paddington and we have further pick ups at Slough, Reading and Didcot Parkway before we head towards the university City of Oxford, long argued by conspirators to be the real origin of Shakespeare’s work. It’s an argument we will not settle today so we move briskly on heading into the heart of the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty, as we pass through the quintessential English market town of Moreton in Marsh.

We pause at Honeybourne for our first non-passenger track of the day – the three mile branch line to the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre. This line once continued through to today’s destination Stratford upon Avon which is only seven miles away – remarkable given the circuitous route we will follow to reach Shakespeare’s birthplace. Today we reverse at the gates and retrace our steps to Honeybourne so as to resume our journey north west. Our routing now takes us via Worcester, Kidderminster and Stourbridge Junction where we begin the attack of the 1 in 51 incline at Old Hill.

We subsequently negotiate the suburbs of Birmingham and the tunnels that separate Birmingham Snow Hill and Moor Street stations before proceeding via Tyseley and Henley in Arden to our destination of Stratford upon Avon. Our arrival at Shakespeare’s birth town is expected to be in time for a late lunch and we will enjoy at least a two-hour break affording plenty of time to explore the market town.

Our route home sees us depart towards Leamington Spa and onward to Fenny Compton. Here we deviate to the goods loop in order to negotiate our second non passenger branch of the day – the three mile branch line to the Ministry of Defense facility at Kineton – and the remains of the former Stratford upon Avon and Midland Junction railway built originally to carry iron ore between South Wales and the Midlands. Once again, we expect to proceed to the gates of the MOD site before returning to Fenny Compton.

We now continue our journey towards our first set down station, Oxford where we pause to reverse and join the western extremity of the soon to be re-opened ‘East-West line’. Of course, the section we take to Bicester South Junction has been open since 2015. We continue south through the Chilterns, setting down at High Wycombe before our journey through the leafy towns of Buckinghamshire and our journeys end at London Paddington.

Today’s train, operated by Rail Adventure, will operate in top and tail formation throughout with our locomotives kindly provided by Michael Owen. The train is subject to various limitations in its consist as well as overall length, and therefore First Class Dining capacity is limited to one carriage only and expected to sell out quickly.

Please note that due to our intended route the train does not set passengers down at Slough, Reading or Didcot Parkway on the return journey. There are connecting trains to these stations from Oxford and London Paddington.

First Class Dining includes The Great British Breakfast and a four course dinner. Dining is not available for those wishing to leave the train at Oxford due to timing constraints. A buffet car is available for those in First Class Non Dining and Standard Class.

ClassFareAvailability
Standard Adult£149Good
Standard Junior£129Good
First Class Non Dining£219Good
First Class Dining£329Good

All timings are provisional and intended only as a guide.

StationDepartArrive
Paddington07.0021.30
Slough07.30n/a
Reading08.00n/a
Didcot Parkway08.20n/a
High Wycomben/a20.00
Oxfordn/a19.00

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