Welcome to Railtrail Tours
A family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years.
Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care
01538 382323
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm
Full steam ahead on this action-packed tour to Kent featuring the magnificent "Giants of Steam" event at Bluebell Railway. Steam nostalgia on four historic steam lines including an exclusive charter, a depot visit, narrow-gauge railways, run-bys, and fantastic photo opportunities. Explore heritage and beauty on this fantastic celebration of steam.
View Dates & Book5 days from £849
DEPARTS
Thursday 9 October 2025
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Experience the incredible "Giants of Steam" event at Bluebell Railway
Tickets allowing unlimited rides on the intensive service
Steam on the narrow-gauge Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
Exclusive steam charter and depot visit at the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway
Journey through the High Weald countryside on the Spa Valley Railway
Steam nostalgia on the historic Kent & East Sussex Railway
Enjoy free time in the delightful town of Tenterden
Also included in your Tour Fare:
4 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 1 evening meal
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
DAY 1
Journey from your home station to Ashford and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Hampton by Hilton Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together at the Curious Brewery.
DDAY 2
After breakfast this morning, we travel by coach to East Grinstead for the Bluebell Railway's incredible "Giants of Steam" event. With five steam locomotives in action, unlimited travel on the intensive train service throughout the day, brilliant photographic opportunities, and lineside entertainment, this is a fantastic celebration of steam.
BDAY 3
Today, our coach will take us to the narrow-gauge Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway for the morning steam journey through some of Kent's most picturesque countryside to Dungeness. On our return, we alight at New Romney Station, the headquarters of the railway, where we can take time for lunch and explore the local history before continuing our journey to Hythe. This afternoon, we visit the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway for an exclusive steam charter on this historic railway including a run-by and a depot visit.
BDAY 4
After breakfast today, we travel by road to the Spa Valley Railway for a return journey through the beautiful High Weald countryside, riding behind steam to Eridge and returning behind diesel. We continue by road to Tenterden, home to the Kent & East Sussex Railway, where we enjoy a return steam journey through areas of outstanding natural beauty, following the unspoilt Rother Valley to Bodiam. On our return, we enjoy free time in the delightful town on Tenterden with its many independent shops or you can watch the later steam departure before returning to the hotel.
BDAY 5
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Ashford and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.
*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.
B=Breakfast, D=Dinner
HOTEL
Hampton by Hilton, Ashford
Ideally located close to the railway station, the Hampton by Hilton offers a modern, informal dining service with seasonal dishes, a stylish lounge area, and a fitness centre. The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.
FARES
| Fare Region | First* | Standard |
| London: Charing Cross | £939 | £909 |
| Greater London | £925 | £899 |
| South of England | £1,025 | £939 |
| East Anglia | £979 | £929 |
| South West | £1,025 | £959 |
| Heart of England | £1,005 | £935 |
| Midlands | £1,189 | £1,015 |
| Yorkshire | £1,135 | £999 |
| North East | £1,169 | £1,019 |
| North West | £1,275 | £1,065 |
| South Wales | £1,105 | £1,005 |
| North Wales | £1,229 | £1,045 |
| Scotland | £1,189 | £1,029 |
*Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey.
Join & Leave at Hotel £849
Single Room Supplement £275
4 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 1 evening meal
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
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