Train Spotting

Is it just me or do the small, two carriage trains on the GWR Reading to Basingstoke line look a lot like Colin The Caterpillar cakes?! This thought has probably never occurred to you, but now that the idea has been planted, you will find it difficult to not see Colin chugging up and down the track every 30 mins! On the plus side, any child who loves trains is sure to enjoy this walk. Not only can they sit and watch trains stopping and going through Mortimer station, but the walk route follows the line all the way to the ‘Pier Road’ railway bridge vantage point. For rail enthusiasts, these bridges are apparently quite unique as they were built to once take Brunel’s GWR broad gauge track. Although this was later replaced by first adding a third rail and then by laying the standard gauge track we see today, the extra wide bridges remained. The flat countryside is perfect for little legs, and the variety of trains using the line a real bonus. In addition to the GWR trains, this route is the main artery for freight in and out of Southampton port. You can also occasionally see specially adapted wagons carrying Range Rovers from Solihull destined for export as well as the odd heritage train going past.