Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th May 2017
Note: SR re-built Westcountry Class 34046 Braunton dressed as re-built Battle of Britain Class 34052 Lord Dowding.
A unique pairing of LMS Royal Scot and SR Westcountry classes (is this a first?) hauled the last two legs of this year’s Railway Touring Company, Great Britain tour from Bristol to Plymouth, then as a grand finale: Penzance to Paddington via Bristol…what a journey! In the hands of doubled-headed classification 7 locomotives, 11 coaches was never going to prove a challenge even over the Westcountry Banks, but they still put on a spectacular show with 6 cylinders purring all the way. Restricted to a local location on Saturday, I chose Tigley Bank, newly cleared of line-side vegetation with views re-opened after many years. In steady rain and a brisk North-East wind the pair assault the climb (feared more than Dainton by past crews). Look out for the “Little Pigs” scared out of their sty at the sound of “huffing and puffing” outside (you might recall the tale!). The return leg on Sunday is captured looking across the Tamar as the pair leave Cornwall and cross Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge, looking splendid in its new coat of paint even in the dull flat light, then the climb towards Plymouth North Road through Dockyard Halt. As the bridge at Hemerdon was rammed we went to Ivybridge, not so spectacular but fairly exclusive as the train speeds around the foot of Dartmoor. During the 2hr 20min layover at Exeter, we passed the time watching the locos being serviced before a final shot in a rare bit of sunshine at Stoke Canon. The pink effect opening the last shot is red earth dust blown across from a neighbouring field which is being harrowed. Congratulations to the organisers, customers and crews for a splendid finale to what must have been a wonderful tour.