Plymouth - Exeter
Plymouth North Road East
DRS Class 66s 66301 + 66424 pass Plymouth working the return 5Z36 1314 Penzance - Exeter Riverside Yard route learner on 9th March 2017 consisting of two DRS Mk 2 coaches.
Making a relatively rare appearance in the South West, DBS Class 59/2 59202 passes Plymouth with the 1800 ton 7Z27 1113 Burngullow - Exeter Riverside Yard sand working on 19th August 2013.
EWS Class 66/0 66060 is seen leaving Plymouth Station with the 6C53 1506 St Blazey Yard - Exeter Riverside China Clay freight on 21st June 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXTZ8qnJ9v8
Plymouth East Departures
LMS Class 7P 4-6-0 46100 Royal Scot makes an impressive departure as she leaves Plymouth North Road with the 1Z39 1740 Par - Bristol Temple Meads 'Royal Duchy' on 6th August 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2xISW-F2pg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2xISW-F2pg
Celebrity Class 43 HST power cars 43002 Sir Kenneth Grange / 43185 Great Western leave Plymouth North Road with the 1A94 1550 Penzance - Paddington on 6th August 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF-XXjtEw6w
DBS Class 66/0 66041 leaves Plymouth Station with the first half of the 6C53 1506 St Blazey Yard - Exeter Riverside Yard China Clay freight (1000 tons) on 18th October 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96J8pV-cLZ8
Mutley Tunnel
GBRf Class 66/7 66775 passes the Royal Eye Infirmiary at Plymouth as she heads to Devonport Naval Base running as the 0Z31 1130 Westbury - Devonport Royal Dockyard 'light engine' move on 10th July 2017. 66775 was heading to Devonport Naval Base to be named 'HMS Argyll F231,' after one of the Royal Navy's Type 23 'Duke' Class Frigates based at Devonport.
Deputizing for the NMT HST, Colas Class 67s 67027 Charlotte TnT 67023 Stella enter Plymouth with stock 977969 + 977997 + 72631 + 975091 working the 1Q18 0425 Reading Triangle Sidings - Paignton via Paddington & Penzance NMT test train on 30th June 2017.
GWR Class 57/6 57605 Totnes Castle is seen approaching Plymouth North Road working the 2C51 1750 Exeter St Davids - Penzance local on 3rd June 2017.
WCRC Class 47/8s 47854 Diamond Jubilee TnT 47851 leave Plymouth with the return 1Z70 1707 Plymouth - Norwich 'Plymouth Invader' charter on 20th August 2016. How many times has a Class 47 departed Plymouth on Mk 2 stock and we never battered an eyelid! Lovely to see a Brush Type 4 back in the far west again!
Inter-City 125 liveried Class 253 253001 / Class 43 W43002 Sir Kenneth Grange & 43018 leaves Mutley Tunnel and enters Plymouth working the 1C86 1506 Paddington - Plymouth on 10th June 2016.
Colas Class 70 70802 enters Plymouth with the 6C97 1652 Westbury Down TC-Truro via Penzance rail train on 5th June 2016.
Class 68 history is made in the west as the first 3800hp Class 68 Vossloh reaches Plymouth as DRS 68017 Hornet reaches Plymouth with the 0Z68 1022 Exeter St Davids - Penzance DRS route learner on 27th May 2016. www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXBjH712rh4
Mutley Tunnel (East Portal)
EWS Class 66/0 66037 leaves Mutley Tunnel working the 6C53 1506 St Blazey - Exeter Riverside Yard China Clay freight on 5th July 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfk61M3GnHc
Laira Junction
LMS Class 7P 4-6-0 46100 Royal Scot passes Laira Junction working the 1Z37 0852 Bristol Temple Meads - Par 'Royal Duchy' on 6th August 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfoeEm30meo
In the iconic 1980s Inter-City 'Swallow' livery which first appeared in this guise in 1987, some 30 years ago, 43185 Great Western with W43002 Sir Kenneth Grange (in original 'Inter-City 125' livery on the rear) pass Laira Junction working the 1C76 0851 Paddington - Penzance on 6th August 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cZoDZQdBdY
With her twin 65 litre Maybach V12s working hard, Class 52 'Western' D1015 Western Champion passes Laira Junction working the 1Z21 0745 Bristol Temple Meads - Penzance 'Great Britain II' charter on 7th April 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTSZAcHotO8
Sckew Bridge, Plympton
Having split her train in Tavistock Junction Yard, Class 59/2 59202 heads away from Tavistock Junction and approaches Plympton at Sckew Bridge with approximately 900 tons of sand as she heads the 7Z27 1113 Burngullow ECC - Exeter Riverside Yard on 19th August 2013. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aorQ-wKXqjk
Hemerdon Bank
LMS Pacific action in the West! Making only her second visit to the West Country in recent years, LMS Class 8P Duchess 4-6-2 46233 Duchess of Sutherland made only her second visit to Plymouth in about 15 years as she headed the 'Royal Duchy' from Bristol to Plymouth, and we see her storming Dainton and Hemerdon Banks. The 'Duchy' was then taken on to Par by 47580 County of Essex, after the 'Duchess' had only just managed to squeeze onto the St Blazey turntable three weeks ago! www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlTB44rwxCo
In a curious combination, we see GWR 'Castle' 4-6-0 5029 Nunney Castle + LNER A4 Pacific 60019 Bittern double-head as they climb Hemerdon Bank working the 1Z30 1615 Plymouth - Paddington 'Mayflower' charter on 11th September 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDIcto3Q8gM
Filmed when the banks were alot clearer than they are today, we see a traditional GWR 'King' and 'Castle' pairing as 5029 Nunney Castle & 6024 King Edward I climb the 1 in 42 gradient of Hemerdon Bank as they work the 0907 Penzance - Paddington 'Cornish Riviera' charter on 28th June 2010. A classic GWR pairing, it is hard to believe that this was filmed almost 7 years ago! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydV3Aoj1u1U
LNER A1 Peppercorn 4-6-2 Pacific 60163 Tornado climbs the 1 in 42 gradient of Hemerdon Bank on 8th August 2009 with the 1Z63 1607 Plymouth - Birmingham International 'Tamar Tornado.'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-aoKEgpxoc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-aoKEgpxoc
Hemerdon Summit Bridge
A very unusual combination, and possibly the first time ever an A4 and 'Brit' have double-headed, well certainly in the far west anyway! LNER A4 Pacific 4464 Bittern + BR Standard 7MT 4-6-2 'Britannia' Pacific 70000 Britannia absolutely storm Hemerdon Bank with the 1Z28 1611 Plymouth - Paddington 'Mayflower' on 15th September 2012. This was definitely one of the fastest ascents of Hemerdon Incline I have witnessed to date with a 7MT & 8P/6F combination, making the power equilivent to a Class 15! Wow!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRdUXaPnm8g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRdUXaPnm8g
A rare occasion of a GWR 'Castle' conquering the South Devon banks single-handed as 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe climbs the 1 in 42 gradient of Hemerdon Bank with the 1Z48 1510 Plymouth - Oxford 'Zulu 48' railtour on 10th May 2014. This tour commemorated the 50th anniversary of the original '1Z48' railtour of 9th May 1964, which commemorated the withdrawal of the 'Castle' class in 1964.
GWR Class 57 57605 Totnes Castle passes Hemerdon Summit working the 2E75 1335 Plymouth - Exeter St Davids summer local working on 28th May 2016. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNVoMKkFQC4
In one of the fastest ascents of Hemerdon Bank I have witnessed with steam, SR Battle of Britain 7P5F 4-6-2 34052 Lord Dowding (34046 Braunton) and LMS Class 6P 'Royal Scot' 4-6-0 46100 Royal Scot absolutely flatten the
1 in 42 gradient of Hemerdon Incline as they reach Hemerdon Summit working the 1Z46 0853 Penzance - Paddington via Bristol Temple Meads 'Great Britain X' on 7th May 2017.
1 in 42 gradient of Hemerdon Incline as they reach Hemerdon Summit working the 1Z46 0853 Penzance - Paddington via Bristol Temple Meads 'Great Britain X' on 7th May 2017.
The very first VTEC / Virgin Trains liveried HST in the Far West! (albeit one power car!). Deputizing for a failed XC power car, VTEC Class 43 43305 and XC 43207 climb Hemerdon Bank at Hemerdon Summit working the 1S51 1225 Plymouth - Glasgow Central on 13th August 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9VEEevsz_Y
Celebrity Class 43 HST power cars W43002 Sir Kenneth Grange & 43185 Great Western climb Hemerdon Bank at Hemerdon Summit with the 1A28 1512 Plymouth - Paddington on 13th August 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2u6V5YRN0s
A pair of GWR 'Castles' - diesel style! GWR Class 57/6s 57604 Pendennis Castle + 57602 Restormel Castle (having earlier failed) climb Hemerdon Bank working the 5Z70 1011 Penzance - Paddington sleeper ECS working on 17th December 2017. This working was required following the failure of the 'up' train on Friday night (15/12/17) resulting in Penzance having both sets of sleeper stock and three Class 57s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTaKq8hAQeY
Taking 1000 tons of clay in one train load, EWS Class 66/0 66037 climbs the tortous 1 in 42 gradient of Hemerdon Bank at Hemerdon Summit with the 6C53 1506 St Blazey - Exeter Riverside Yard freight of china clay on 19th April 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdMigd1fJB8
Two of Scotrail's newly refurbished HST power cars, 43140 + 43149 pass Hemerdon Summit with the 0V84 1230 Loughborough Brush Works - Laira Depot 'light engine' move on 10th August 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXl-0GzI7kA
Hemerdon Summit
DBS Class 66/0 66115 tops the 1 in 42 gradient of Hemerdon Bank at Hemerdon Summit working the 6C53 1506 St Blazey - Exeter Riverside Yard China Clay freight on 7th June 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubHPZdx0-54
LMS Class 8P 'Duchess' 4-6-2 6233 Duchess of Sutherland slips, stalls and finally slogs up Hemerdon Bank taking around 10 minutes to finally clear the summit as she worked the 1Z25 0945 Plymouth-Minehead 'Great Britain XII' railtour on 29th April 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGuW9ff17o8
Midland Glint! LMS Class 8P 'Duchess' 4-6-2 6233 Duchess of Sutherland storms Hemerdon Bank with the return 1Z85 1740 Par - Bristol TM 'Royal Duchy' on 1st September 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cAl_TFGEjc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cAl_TFGEjc
Hemerdon Loops
Filmed from the 'forbidden bridge' at Hemerdon, LMS Class 7P 4-6-0 46100 Royal Scot passes Hemerdon Loops with the 1Z37 0852 Bristol Temple Meads - Par 'Royal Duchy' on 30th July 2017.
Filmed from the 'Forbidden Bridge' at Hemerdon, 37558 Avro Vulcan XH558 (aka 37424) + 975025 Caroline pass Hemerdon Loops working the 2Z02 0759 Exeter St Davids - Exeter St Davids via Penzance Inspection circular on 25th July 2018. This view has recently seen much vegetation clearance resulting in views that have not been possible since the early 1990s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4zEIWDM27A
Hemerdon Signal Box
A view long since gone! (at least the signal box and 'down' loop), we see Hemerdon Signal Box and loops during July 1973. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjX1pYCzgBc
Hemerdon Loops (east) / Lower Venton Curve
GBRf 50049 Defiance passes Hemerdon Loop and rounds Venton Curve working the retimed 5Z50 1400 Laira T&RSMD - Long Marston withdrawn HST trailer ECS move on 3rd December 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdCXU2G5f2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdCXU2G5f2g
Lower Venton
EWS Class 66/0 66120 rounds the curve at Lower Venton working the 6S53 1506 St Blazey - Exeter Riverside Yard on 1st February 2018. This stretch of lineside has been recently dramatically cleared, allowing views that have not been available so clearly for at least 20-30 years! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijJXaDyGmzs
Rattery Summit
In what is most probably the first Bulleid Pacific & Royal Scot pairing over the South Devon Banks, we see SR 'West Country' 7P5F 4-6-2 34052 Lord Dowding (aka 34046 Braunton) + LMS Class 6P 'Royal Scot' 4-6-0 46100 Royal Scot as they climb Rattery Bank and near Rattery Summit with the 1Z46 0808 Bristol Temple Meads - Penzance 'Great Britain X' on 6th May 2017.
Tigley
Making a welcome return to the west, LNER Class A1 4-6-2 Peppercorn Pacific 60163 Tornado climbs Rattery Bank at Tigley with the 1Z63 0803 Paddington - Penzance 'Cornishman' on 29th May 2017.
A GWR HST piebald hybrid rake mixture of GWR Green power cars & FGW coaches as recently repainted GWR liveried 43005 / 43041 Meningitis Trust Support for Life climb Rattery Bank at the site of the now demolished Tigley Signal Box as they work the 1C86 1457 Paddington - Penzance on 26th March 2017.
An unidentified XC Cross-Country Class 221 Super-Voyager DEMU passes the site of the old Tigley Signal Box as she climbs Rattery Bank working the 1V56 0900 Edinburgh Waverley - Penzance on 26th March 2017.
In the days when there was a daily diagrammed Midland Mainline HST to Plymouth, with her Paxman Valenta units screaming, we see MML Class 43 43074 climbing Rattery Bank at Tigley whilst working the 1V29 0705 Leeds - Plymouth on 20th January 2006.
Totnes
Returning from Exeter, we see GWR liveried 57605 Totnes Castle power away from Totnes and begin to climb Rattery Bank with the 2C51 Exeter St Davids - Penzance summer loco hauled. 28-5-16.
Totnes Station
A real blast from the past and how quickly we forget what a Paxman Valenta HST screaming sounded like! Pausing at Totnes Station, we see Midland Main Line HST 43061 call with the 1V29 0705 Leeds - Plymouth, before starting the ascent of Rattery bank on 10th February 2006. At the time, this was a daily MML HST working returning as the 1E53 1625 Plymouth - York.
DRS Class 57/3 57303 Pride of Carlisle + Class 37/0 37059 pass through Totnes working the 0Z63 0935 Crewe Gresty Bridge - Plymouth 'light engine' move as they are passed by a FGW HST heading to Paddington. 28th December 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dD3yH4EdDI
Dainton Tunnel
Climbing the severe and tortous 1 in 36 / 1 in 44 gradient of Dainton Bank, LNER Class A1 Peppercorn Pacific 60163 Tornado nears Dainton Tunnel working the 1Z63 0803 Paddington - Penzance 'Cornishman' on 29th May 2017.
Kerswell Bridge, Stoneycombe
There can be no finer sight and sound for diesel fans than a Class 52 'Western' in full cry over the South Devon banks! With her twin 65 litre Maybach MD655 V12s in full cry, D1015 Western Champion, masquarading as long scrapped sister diesel-hydraulic D1017 Western Warrior, passes Kerswell near Stoneycombe Quarry as she climbs Dainton Bank with the 1Z52 0700 Solihull - Plymouth 'Zulu 48' railtour on 10th May 2014.
Shaldon Bridge
Running almost 3 hours late, (167 minutes to be precise at this point!), Freightliner Class 66/5 66525 pilots DRS Class 37/0 37059 at Shaldon Bridge, Teignmouth working the 1Z37 0540 Worcester Shrub Hill - Penzance 'Mazey Day Cornishman' railtour on 24th June 2017. 66525 was added at Bristol and was deputising for failed DRS 37069, which had earlier failed at Worcester.
Parsons Tunnel
On 7th August 2016 the Dawlish Sea Wall witnessed two steam specials in close succession as LNER A1 Peppercorn Pacific 60163 Tornado headed the 'Torbay Express' to Kingswear, followed by LMS 'Duchess' 46233 Duchess of Sutherland heading the 'Royal Duchy' to Par.
Day 1 of THE GREAT BRITAIN IX - 26th April 2016, and we see LMS 6P 'Royal Scot' 4-6-0 46100 Royal Scot as it heads the 'Great Britain IX' tour from Victoria to Plymouth, where WCRC 57316 took over for the run to Penzance. We see the tour bursting out of Parsons Tunnel, before crossing the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash as it heads to Penzance with its support coach.
Dawlish
SR Class 8P 'Merchant Navy' 4-6-2 35028 Clan Line passes Dawlish working the 1Z27 0800 Bristol Temple Meads - Kingswear 'Torbay Express' on 3rd June 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxngR0PZaC0
An LNER A4 far away from home territory! LNER A4 4-6-2 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley passes through Dawlish working the 1Z32 0751 Guildford - Kingswear 'Dartmouth Express' on 19th April 2014. Currently undergoing her 10 year overhaul, hopefully it wont be too long before we see the BR Blue A4 back on the main line again!
Cockwood Harbour
A review of some action at the classic location of Cockwod Harbour near Starcross & Dawlish Warren. We see a procession of trains including FGW / GWR & XC High Speed Trains, Class 220 & 221 Voyager & Super-Voyager DEMUs, as well as FGW Class 143 Pacers & Class 150 Sprinter DMUs.
Powderham
Filmed over a 2 hour period at the relatively new location of Powderham Bridge, between Exeter and Newton Abbot, we see plenty of action including FGW & XC High Speed Trains, GWR Class 150s, FGW Class 143, 150, 153 and XC Class 220 Voyager & Class 221 Super-Voyager DEMUs.
Exminster
In an unusual Pacific pairing, LNER A4 4-6-2 4464 Bittern pilots BR Standard 7MT 4-6-2 70000 Britannia at Exminster with the 1Z28 1611 Plymouth - Paddington 'Mayflower' on 16th September 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPpbXcn47H8