Proposed Trips

We are looking at a number of possible trips for 2025:

  • Crossness Sir Joseph Bazalgette's Victorian sewage pumping station at Abbey Wood, containing the four largest remaining rotative beam engines in the world, and featuring the most astonishingly elaborate decorative ironwork.
    Travel is planned by rail, using the Elizabeth Line, Slough to Abbey Wood return.
    The trip very much depends on whether the steam engine 'Prince Consort' is back in service.
  • London Postal Museum A visit to the British Postal Museum, featuring a ride on the underground 2-foot gauge Post Office Railway.
    Travel is planned by rail, using the Elizabeth Line, Slough to Farringdon return.
  • Gloucester and Warwickshire Railway Travel is planned by coach. We are looking for an event rather than a normal running day
  • Severn Valley Railway Travel is planned by train: i.e. Slough to Kidderminster, via Worcester Foregate Street; or Gerrards Cross to Kidderminster, via High Wycombe and Birmingham Moor Street.
  • Windsor Arches Walk A guided walk led by local historian Malcolm Lock.
    Starting from the Manor, we will follow the route of the Windsor branch line, from Slough railway station to Windsor and Eton Central station, counting the two hundred (or so) arches of the brick viaduct as we go.
    Details are yet to be confirmed but we expect to include a lunch stop at a pub, possibly the Waterman's Arms.
    Date to be confirmed, currently pencilled-in for the morning of Saturday, 12th July.
    Return journey by train from Windsor.
  • Pendon Museum Pendon Museum preserves the idyllic rural scene and transport of the 1920s and 30s in a miniature form for future generations to enjoy. It recaptures scenes from the English countryside using exquisite models to explain a past era and a different way of life. [Pendon Museum website]
    Visit date to be confirmed, expected end of August or early September.
    Travel by car-sharing.
  • Middleton Railway, Leeds Visit to see our steam locomotive, Slough Estates No.3, after its current boiler overhaul is complete. It is hoped to take place during September or October this year, once the locomotive is available for hauling trains.
    Travel for SWRS members will be by coach, paid from Society funds.

The listed trips are all at the advanced planning stage, and depend on sufficient interest being shown. (So do let us know which you would be interested in attending.)

Offers from members willing to organise trips would also be most welcome, as finding someone to do this is a bigger hurdle than finding participants.

Previous Trips

  • 17th May 2015 – Brecon Mountain Railway and Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway – Trip Advert
  • 8th September 2012 – The Bristol Docker: Bristol Industrial Museum and Bristol Harbour Railway – Trip Advert
  • (More trips to be added in due course. SWRS have run many other trips over the years, but building decent webpages to describe them takes time, and is a low priority, sorry. Any volunteers willing to help out?)