Swanage Railway volunteers and an enterprising Dorset man are soon to make a special piece of county history - by running the first mainline steam train from Wareham to London since the summer of 1967.

Thirty-six years on from the end of steam traction in the south of England - and with the locomotive carrying a special headboard - the train called the Royal Wessex makes its historic return run from Wareham to the capital via Poole and Bournemouth on Saturday, December 6.

The Swanage Railway's catering department will be providing breakfasts on the special fund-raising train as well as a three course evening meal.

A share of profits from the train trip will be going to the Swanage Railway, which is run by volunteers and is a registered charity.

The special train will also give passengers the chance to spend five hours in London.

"It's a very exciting partnership with the Swanage Railway that offers the public the chance to turn back the clock and travel in style behind an ex-British Rail-ways main line steam locomotive from Wareham to London and back," explained Roger Harding-ham of Kingfisher Railtours and Kingfisher Publishing, which are both based at his home in Osmington Mills, near Weymouth.

Tickets are £59 for a standard return and £149 to include a full dining service with breakfast and three-course dinner. They are available from 0870 747 2983 or visit: www.railwayvideo.com