A sold-out luxury Christmas-themed steam train trip will be setting off from Shoebury next month before stopping at a number of stations in the borough.
Steam Dreams is hosting its last enchanting journey of the year from Shoebury with a magical trip to Winchester for its famous Christmas market - hailed as one of the best in Europe.
Steam train enthusiasts will be able to see the scheduled Sherwood Forester locomotive as it departs and returns to Shoebury, Southend Central and Leigh on Friday, December 8.
The enchanting locomotive will begin its journey at Shoebury, steam-hauled, at 8.45am, before stopping off at Southend Central at 9am and Leigh at 9.15am.
Since its construction nearly 90 years ago, 45231 Sherwood Forester has worked across the UK, from routes in Wales and Northern England during its "working life" prior to preservation, to the beautiful Mallaig line in Scotland, where Harry Potter was filmed.
It will make its way through Essex towards the outskirts of East London and crossing through the heart of the capital before emerging on the far side in Surrey.
After the break in Winchester, day-trippers will make their homeward journey once again hauled by the steam locomotive before it is switched to a diesel locomotive at West London for a swift run back to Shoebury.
The locomotive will return to Leigh at 9.25pm and Southend Central at 9.35pm, finally ending its journey at Shoebury for 9.50pm.
Steam Dreams will host Spirit of Christmas, its final steam train journey of the year altogether, from London Paddington on December 20.
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