For a steamy dinner date, try the Wessex Belle on-board bistro in Swanage. By the end of the evening you will hopefully be more in the mood for Some Like It Hot than Murder on the Orient Express.

Arriving at Swanage station early we got out first glimpse of a stream train for years. It was fascinating standing on the platform watching the volunteers manoeuvring engines and carriages ready for our trip, like watching a classic romance movie. All it needed was Tony Curtis, or a sultry Lauren Bacall to complete the scene!

When the time came for us to board, the restaurant manager welcomed each party on board, then, with one loud whistle, we were off, chugging along the track towards the beautiful Corfe Castle. For the first course, my partner had delicious smoked salmon with water cress and black pepper crème fraiche and I had a meaty smoked ham hock terrine. Enjoying our food, we gazed out into the passing scenery, waving back at the campers who excitedly acknowledged our passing train.

The train looped back round to Swanage station for our main courses, wild mushroom risotto, with a plentiful variety of moist mushrooms for me, and tender lamb shank with a very fruity blackberry sauce for my dinner date, all accompanied by a selection of freshly cooked vegetables.

Fresh Fruit Salad accompanied by cream and tiramisu cake were delicious for dessert, with cheese and biscuits to follow.

We enjoyed ourselves immensely on this unusual evening out and would highly recommend it. With the delicious food, the stunning Purbeck countryside rolling by, all accompanied by the reassuring sounds of the steam train clattering along, we knew we were on the right tracks!

The Wessex Belle & Bistro is located at the Swanage Railway, Station House, Swanage, Dorset BH19 1HB. For more information, call 01929 425800 or visit www.swanagerailway.co.uk