Channel 5 Big Steam Adventure visits Swanage Railway

As reported, the Big Steam Adventure hit viewers screens on May 3 and now avid fans of the TV series can tune in for its Dorset episode from 8pm tonight (Friday, May 17).

Ahead of the episode, the railway team at Swanage has released some pictures of the show’s presenting trio - journalist John Sergeant, actor Peter Davison and steam aficionado Paul ‘Piglet’ Middleton - using its recently restored T3 steam engine train. 

The presenters visited the heritage attraction last October.

The show, now in its second series, sees the trio travel the UK using only steam powered engines, and of course, on their tour of Dorset they could not resist the pull of Swanage Railway.

T3 train on its maiden voyage from Swanage to Norden (Image: Andrew P.M Wright)

The pictures released ahead of tonight's episode sees them arrive at Swanage station being greeted by Matt McManus, a driver on the Swanage Railway and deputy chairman of the 563 Locomotive Group, restorers of the unique T3 which was built in 1893.

The T3 cost the Swanage Railway Trust £650,000 to restore in a six-year project and hauled its first train since 1945 in October 2023 as it took the trio from Swanage to Norden, near to Corfe Castle.

Here they stop off to eat some sweets before the the next leg of their trip across the countryside.

Peter, John and 'Piglet' eating sweets by Corfe Castle (Image: Paramount)

From Corfe Castle they climb aboard a steam powered Leyland Sherpa and drive over to Kimmeridge.

The next day the weather has changed, storm Babet has hit and the trio call in a favour from series one as they climb aboard Puffing Billy, a nine tonne bus with very little tyre grip for the roads.

Piglet John Peter at Dorset Coast (Image: Paramount)

With no grip, the Dorset hills pose a bit of a challenge and they burn through a lot of steam and look to top up with water – but things don’t go quite according to plan – and they take a walk along the world-famous UNESCO site, Chesil beach.

After their walk along the beach, they arrive at Portland Bill Lighthouse as darkness falls and look out over a rough sea as the lighthouse beam starts rotating behind them warning ships of the lurking dangers.

The next day the weather has calmed and they continue their journey on a ninety-five-year-old cider wagon.

Peter Piglet and John in front of Sir Lionel Foden Steam Lorry (Image: Paramount)

They stop off at the world-famous Abbotsbury Swannery where ‘Piglet’ is shocked to learn that the swans used to be a regular on the menu for the monks who lived nearby.

Finally, the trio make their way along the coast road to West Bay.

The episode will air at 8pm on Friday, May 17 on Channel 5.