7029 'Clun Castle', 45596 'Bahamas', 37240 & 37418 work:
'The Mayflower' - 06.09.2025
Andrew Triggs, Jon Hird, David Tozer, Martin Scane, Trevor & Barbara Tremethick & Mark Lynam
GWR 'Castle' no.7029 'Clun Castle' with LMS 'Jubilee' no.45596 'Bahamas' clearing Cogload Junction working 1Z43 06.04 Birmingham New Street-Plymouth 'The Mayflower' charter. 06.09.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Veteran 'Tractors' 37418 'An Comunn Gaidhealach' with 37240 approaching and clearing Silk Mills Road overbridge working 0Z45 09.37 Bristol East Depot DGL-Plymouth Light Engine Vintage Trains support. 06.09.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Veteran 'Tractors' 37418 'An Comunn Gaidhealach' with 37240 approaching and clearing Silk Mills Road overbridge working 0Z45 09.37 Bristol East Depot DGL-Plymouth Light Engine Vintage Trains support. 06.09.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
Passing Exminster, 7029 Clun Castle + 45596 Bahamas 1Z43 06:04 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth "The Mayflower". 06.09.2025, copyright David Tozer.
Also at Exminster, 37418 & 37240 0Z45 09:37 Bristol East Yard to Plymouth. 06.09.2025, copyright David Tozer.
Clun Castle and Bahamas on 1Z43 Birmingham to Plymouth seen shortly after leaving Parsons Tunnel. 06.09.2025, copyright Martin Scane.
12-43 saw the supporting Class 37s with 0Z45 Bristol to Plymouth (37418 and 37240) seen between Sprey Point and Teignmouth. 06.09.2025, copyright Martin Scane.
Now approaching Teignmouth, 7029 and 45596, 1Z43 0604 Birmingham New Street to Plymouth, 06.09.2025 Copyright Barbara Tremethick
'The Mayflower' arrives at Plymouth. 06.09.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
37418 and 37240 arrive at Plymouth a short while afterwards. 06.09.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
The pair of 37s await departure from Plymouth with the two steam locos, heading to Laira for servicing and turning. 06.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
The convoy of locomotives heads to Laira. 06.09.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
Having been serviced at Laira, 37240 leads 37418 and the two steam locos out of Laira to Mount Gould Junction where it would reverse to use the Laira Triangle. 06.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
There's plenty of steam and smoke as 7029 gets the train of locomotives and support coaches rolling towards the Laira Triangle. 06.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
We pulled over with literally seconds to spare and just enough time to put the drone in the air for a shot of the convoy heading back to Plymouth after being turned at Laira. 06.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
After arrival at Plymouth North Road, the 37's were detached from the support coaches. 06.09.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
The steam locos wait permission to shunt onto their coaching stock prior to the return journey. 06.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
37240 and 37418 in the dock at Plymouth North Road. 06.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Intercity House towers over the scene at Plymouth as 37418 prepares to depart. 06.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
Classic traction at North Road with 37418/240 and GWR's 43186 on the rear of a Penzance service. 06.09.2025, copyright Jon Hird.
7029 and 45596 depart Plymouth with the returning railtour. 06.09.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
A short while later, 37418 and 37240 also depart to shadow the railtour. 06.09.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
The pair of 37's head away from Plymouth. 06.09.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
Many thanks to all for the superb coverage of this unique railtour.
47712/57311/5029 'Nunney Castle' work:
'The English Riviera Express' - 06.09.2025
Andrew Triggs, David Tozer, Martin Scane, Trevor & Barbara Tremethick & Kevin Jenkin
47712 'Lady Diana Spencer' (running as 47711 'Greyfriars Bobby/47709 'The Lord Provost) passing Charlton Road overbridge working 1Z49 05.44 High Wycombe-Kingswear (For Dartmouth) 'English Riviera Express' with 57311 at the rear. 06.09.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
LSL 57311 'The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' trailing 1Z49 clearing Charlton Road overbridge. 06.09.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
At Exminster, we see 5029 top and tail with 57311 with 1Z49 0544 High Wycombe to Kingswear (For Dartmouth). 06.09.2025, copyright David Tozer.
Nunney Castle working 1Z49 from High Wycombe to Kingswear with the usual Class 47 bringing up the rear seen just after exiting Parsons Tunnel. 06.09.2025, copyright Martin Scane.
57311 on the rear. 06.09.2025, copyright Martin Scane.
5029, Teignmouth, 1Z49 0544 High Wycombe to Kingswear 06.09.2025 Copyright Barbara Tremethick.
'Nunney Castle' at Paignton, viewed from the window of the adjacent train. 06.09.2025, copyright Kevin Jenkin.
Many thanks all. Two trains headed by ex-GWR 4-6-0's following each other through Devon in 2025 - who'd have thought it?
Devon Diesels
Andrew Triggs, Martin Scane & Mark Lynam
DBC 66054 approaching Silk Mills Road overbridge working 6V76 10.35 Westbury Down T.C-Goonbarrow Junction DBC load 11 JIAs. 06.09.2025, copyright Andrew Triggs.
The down clay empties - 66054 with 6V76 Westbury to Goonbarrow passing through Teignmouth station at 13-14. 06.09.2025, copyright Martin Scane.
66054 with 6V76 passing through Plymouth. 06.09.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
A pair of Class 150s at Teignmouth with up and down Paignton to Exmouth services at 13-06. 06.09.2025, copyright Martin Scane.
A GWR 'Castle Class' HST rolls into Plymouth with a service for Penzance. 06.09.2025, copyright Mark Lynam.
Thanks all - a busy day in Devon indeed!
Re: Launceston
Roy Hart
I enjoyed Mike Roach's piece on this! But must correct him on one point: the steam special was not the last passenger train to Launceston.
On 31/12/62 Marsh Mills to Tavistock and Lifton to Launceston closed to all traffic. Lydford to Tavistock and Lydford to Lifton remained open for freight (e.g. the creamery traffic from Lifton). These services were operated by Ivatt 2-6-2s from Okehampton. The considerable freight traffic at Launceston was now served by the Southern North Cornwall line. In September 1964, freight on the NC line ceased, along with Lydford to Tavistock. At the same time, the abandoned Lifton to Launceston section was reopened, to serve the Launceston freight.
The line from Lydford to Launceston was worked as a long (very long!) siding and, to give the Launceston signalman warning of the arrival of a train, a STOP board, together with a telephone was erected 600 yards out from the station.
This whole arrangement was temporary, of course, as total closure was the aim.
All traffic was due to end in March 1966 and the Great Western Society arranged a DMU special, which ran in February 1966. I rode on it.
We started at Plymouth and ran up the SR main line to Lydford, where the Launceston branch was reached by means of the wartime emergency junction. We proceeded to Launceston with stops at Coryton, Lifton and the wreckage that remained of Littadon Halt.
The line closed a few days later.
On 31/12/62 Marsh Mills to Tavistock and Lifton to Launceston closed to all traffic. Lydford to Tavistock and Lydford to Lifton remained open for freight (e.g. the creamery traffic from Lifton). These services were operated by Ivatt 2-6-2s from Okehampton. The considerable freight traffic at Launceston was now served by the Southern North Cornwall line. In September 1964, freight on the NC line ceased, along with Lydford to Tavistock. At the same time, the abandoned Lifton to Launceston section was reopened, to serve the Launceston freight.
The line from Lydford to Launceston was worked as a long (very long!) siding and, to give the Launceston signalman warning of the arrival of a train, a STOP board, together with a telephone was erected 600 yards out from the station.
This whole arrangement was temporary, of course, as total closure was the aim.
All traffic was due to end in March 1966 and the Great Western Society arranged a DMU special, which ran in February 1966. I rode on it.
We started at Plymouth and ran up the SR main line to Lydford, where the Launceston branch was reached by means of the wartime emergency junction. We proceeded to Launceston with stops at Coryton, Lifton and the wreckage that remained of Littadon Halt.
The line closed a few days later.
Many thanks Roy, glad you enjoyed Mikes article.