Is someone in your family a steam train enthusiast? Thanks to Steam Dreams you can enjoy the nostalgic bliss of travel by steam train on a day-trip to one of England’s great cities or coastal towns.

The trips start from London but pick-ups are also available at some stations on the way. Cambridge, Ely, Dover, Exeter, Norwich, Oxford, Salisbury and York are among the destinations, with plenty of time for sightseeing, shopping and a leisurely tea.

Steam Dreams was founded by Marcus Robertson, son of the former BBC sports commentator Max Robertson and Elizabeth Beresford, creator of The Wombles.

“When I was a small child in the early 1960s, our family home in Wandsworth overlooked a railway line,” says Marcus. “I spent hours at my bedroom window watching the trains and dreaming of having a railway of my own.

“Today, it is possible to ride on a steam train on several preserved lines in Britain but their tracks are all quite short. I wanted to give people the chance to go on a real journey.”

When I went on the Steam Dreams “Cathedrals Express” trip to Sherborne Abbey shortly before Christmas for a specially arranged carol service in the abbey, we pulled slowly out of London’s Waterloo Station with great puffs of smoke and a mighty shriek on the whistle. At the front was Sir Lamiel, a majestic dark green 4-6-0 locomotive, built in Glasgow over 80 years ago. The company uses locomotives and veteran (but comfortable!) carriages owned by various groups of railway enthusiasts.

Passengers waiting on other platforms stared with delight, hardly able to believe their eyes.  Indeed, we soon felt like celebrities as people waved and smiled from every station, bridge and level crossing on the way. In one place, a group of elderly golfers, presumably too dignified to wave, clapped when our train went by. As we thundered along, the rail enthusiasts on board were obviously alert to every sound from the locomotive or change of speed. Some of them had even brought stopwatches to check our progress by the mileposts beside the track.

You choose whether you want to travel in a luxury wood-panelled Pullman car, restaurant car, firstclass compartment or standard open carriage. Refreshments on board range from a champagne brunch and four course dinner to picnic boxes or something to eat from the buffet car.

In the restaurant car, with its crisp linen tablecloths and napkins, I enjoyed champagne followed by a full English breakfast with croissants and muffins. Luxury indeed!

Arriving in Sherborne, we filled the beautiful old Abbey where we were joined by the choir of one of the local girls’ schools. It was the perfect setting for sharing the familiar words and music of the Christmas story.

On the return journey, I chose gazpacho, sea bass, a creamy fruit dessert and cheese – all delicious. Finally by 8.30pm, we were back at Waterloo and on the platform, everyone paused for a final look at the gleaming locomotive. Originally destined for the scrap yard, you could almost sense its pride at being back in business.

Further information:

Cathedrals Express return fares start at £59.50. Visit the Steam Dreams website www.steamdreams.com or tel: 01483 209888. Gift vouchers are available.