East Anglian Steam Railway Holiday

The East Anglian

A truly rustic treat

Holiday date: Friday, 13th September 2024

England

4 days for £729 per person

£1458 for two people sharing

Single supplement £90

Tour reference: EA4/1

Come and join us for a rural meander around the East of England. This holiday is designed to be at a relaxed pace as life is out here in East Anglia. Our “angle” is that we know the best for 4 days of country delights…we’ll even take you to the sea-side. Well, estuary-side really!

Holiday Highlights

Private cruise aboard the Orwell Lady on the river… Orwell!

Friendly fun awaits at the Colne Valley railway

Trains and old buses in Epping Forest

To the end of the pier and back by train at…Sowfend!

Branch line and steam combine at Chapel & Wakes Colne

A jolly time on the farm at Mangapps

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 - Friday

We meet at Colchester Station around lunchtime, and step back to Norman times at Colchester Castle. Our afternoon takes us north to the excellent Ipswich Transport Museum, opening especially for us. What a collection they have here and all is presented immaculately. Our return to Colchester is by rail from Ipswich.

Meals: Dinner

By The original uploader was Sannse at English Wikipedia. - Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Kurpfalzbilder.de using CommonsHelper., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5974855

Day 2 - Saturday

A big southern circular is in store today. This morning we are heading for trains and heritage buses in the forest...Epping Forest that is. The Epping Ongar Railway is possibly unique in that there is a timetabled bus service integrated with the trains. Then we sidle across to Southend for a 1.33 miles long ride on the modern pier railway. On we go, and our afternoon destination is the Mangapps Farm Railway and Museum at Burnham on Crouch.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

By (Mick Baker)rooster. CC BY-ND 2.0

Day 3 - Sunday

A circular tour of local railway attractions starts at the Colne Valley Railway. Here are model, miniature and standard gauge railways. We then loop around to Clare, a lovely Suffolk town complete with ruined castle and restored ex- railway station. On then to Sudbury, to catch the branch line train to Chappel & Wakes Colne. Here we find the East Anglian Railway Museum. An extensive, and refurbished, site with much to see and a steam train ride to enjoy. Time aplenty is allowed before catching a train back via Marks Tey.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

By Ashley Dace, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15131045

Day 4 - Monday

We start the day off with a branch line rail journey to Harwich. Here it’s time to find our sea legs (well, river legs really!!) as a two-hour boat trip on the Orwell Lady awaits. Lunch is included as we make our way up the river into Ipswich. Homeward bound trains leave Ipswich Station early afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast

By Bob Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14335264

Railways

Colne Valley Railway

A varied selection of deisel & steam engines running on a mile the former Colne Valley & Halstead Railway.

East Anglian Railway Museum

Steam trains every 30 minutes across the famous Chappel Viaduct, which has 32 arches and is 23m tall.

Epping Ongar Railway

A mixture of steam and diesel traction cleverly combined with a vintage bus service.

Our Hotel(s)

4 Star

The George Hotel, Colchester

This fine hotel has graced the centre of England’s oldest recorded town for over 500 years. It boasts a stylish bar, lounge and restaurant where all our meals will be taken. Accommodation is split between the main hotel building and the sister hotel, over the road, which is purely bedrooms, and both are of an equal standard in that respect.

Special note: The original building does not have a lift. If you have any mobility issues you should request accommodation in the sister hotel.

Features and Facilities

Private ensuite bathroom

Room Service available

Flat screen television

Working desk

Complimentary toiletries

Direct dial telephone

Iron and Ironing board on request

Free Wi-Fi

Hair Dryer

What's included

Transport

All heritage railway rides

All public transport journeys, in standard class accommodation

Private coach transfers throughout the holiday

Entertainment

All entrances

Detailed itinerary/information pack

Services of courier throughout

Accommodation

Hotel accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis

What's not included

Travel to/from the holiday start point

Personal holiday insurance

Porterage

Lunches