Puff your way through the undulating Dorset hills in your favourite loco.

Passengers should note that the buffet car will be closing on arrival at Bournemouth Station. Passengers requiring luncheon should make their way to the buffet car now, where the final sitting is now being served.

Well, things certainly ain't what they used to be on the rail-roads. Exorbitant prices for a single ticket covering a distance you could walk if you had the energy, and you're lucky to see a crusty bap left in the buffet car at rush hour.

Bearing all of this in mind, it's nice to be reminded of a gentler time, when the old steam puffers ploughed their way majestically across England's unspoilt countyside.

Driving a diesel or electric could quite probably be handled by a trained antelope, provided it was told which buttons to push and when, but managing a steam monstrosity, now that's another matter entirely. As train driver of the Bath to Bournemouth run, you'll need to do a fair spot of cramming before you know exactly when to cut off, stoke the fire, dampen the fire and apply the vacuum brakes to give your passengers a smooth and serene ride through the Dorset and Somerset hills.

With the central graphics display being a view out of the driver's seat, you'll be able to see stations and signals as you approach them, and you'll also be able to blow that whistle to alert workers on the track before you.

With maximum speed limits on certain stretches of the track, you'll also need to manage your braking and cut off systems to perfection to avoid wheel skid on the track.

To start with, take a look through the demonstration run, which will give you hints from an expert on how to manage the route. Then, take your pick from six different levels of difficulty.

Try the training run first to get to grips with the controls, without the hassle of stopping at stations, then go onto the stopping trains with time limits, before going for the record non-stop run to Bournemouth.

As an added extra, the last option will enable you to try any option with added problems. On the training run, your performance will be assessed for safety, economy and timekeeping. If you completed the run without fatal mishaps, you may well be in for a glowing report from the inspector, so work hard at it if you don't want to be reprimanded for short or rough stopping in the error messages.

For train lovers, gentle simulation addicts and those who yearn after a forgotten time, this is a must, and to make things even better, Hewson are even throwing a copy of the original classic Southern Belle into this little package, so dig out your old Casey Jones cap and start puffing...!