6233 Slogs Up Hemerdon Bank

Saturday 28th May 2022 once again saw 6233 'Duchess of Sutherland' at the head of a train over the South Devon Banks, as she worked The Railway Touring Company's 'South Devon Explorer' to Plymouth. The tour originated from Woking behind Class 47 traction, with the Duchess taking over at Bristol and back as far as Taunton.

Wall to wall sunshine was the order of the day and made for a splendid sight as the big red beast tackled the steep Devonshire climbs with a full 10 coach train, the maximum permitted load for a Class 8 locomotive over the South Devon Banks.

We begin the video at Beambridge, in Somerset, where 6233 is seen in fine voice onto the latter 1 in 80 gradient of Wellington Bank. Moving into Devon, she is next seen from afar as she tackles Rattery Bank. Having done the hard work over the 1 in 50 sections earlier on up the climb, we see her sauntering over the lesser 1 in 90 gradients west of Tigley, with the titular "squeak" sounding very prominent as she echoes across the valley. The real meat and potatoes were yet to come, as we later see the 'Lady in Red', as she is affectionately known, making quite a slog up the final half mile of Hemerdon Bank, itself consisting of 2 miles of 1 in 42. In total contrast, the last shot sees the Duchess flying along at Pugham Farm, as she charges up the eastbound climb to Whiteball Tunnel in glorious evening light.

A cracking end, to a rather cracking day.

Timestamps:

00:00 Beambridge
01:57 Rattery
04:28 Hemerdon
08:37 Pugham Farm

Filmed on a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an Audio-Technica BP4025 microphone.

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