Bullied Pacifics blasting the Devon Banks! 08/09/14

Quite possibly one of the greatest and most memorable railtours of the modern era drew to a spectacular close today, as not only was there the double heading of Southern and Western Region steam locomotives, but for the first time in many years, a locomotive was banked up the incline between Exeter St David's and Exeter Central, these engines consisting of both the streamlined and rebuilt versions of the same West Country/Battle of Britain Class.

Starting off, and in the shadow of the former Pumping House that once powered the Atmospheric Railway along the Sea Wall, blasting north through Starcross on the return 'Atlantic Coast Express' from Penzance to Exeter St David's is rebuilt Southern Railway West Country Class number 34046 'Braunton' and Great Western Railway Castle Class number 5029 'Nunney Castle'.

In scenes all too familiar to locomotives of this class, the West Country and Battle of Britain Bullied Pacifics returned in force to Exeter Central, harking back to the days when these locomotives would work the Southern Railway's top expresses from London Waterloo and Victoria to Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, Bideford, Padstow and other destinations along the Atlantic coast.

Exeter Central was one of the two main stations opened in Exeter to serve the city, the other being the former Great Western Railway terminus at Exeter St David's, three quarters of a mile downhill from Central. Central's situation in comparison to the City Centre made it an ideal commuter centre, which it still boasts today as a majority of commuter trains stop, terminate or originate at this station. Probably the most notorious part of this section of the route between St David's and Central is the climb through St David's tunnel, a climb that regularly employed the assistance of several banking engines.

In spectacular fashion, preserved Southern Railway Battle of Britain Class number 34067 'Tangmere' provides a fine sentiment to those glory days, crawling up the 1-in-37 incline into Central station at barely a walking pace, even with the assistance of fellow Southern Railway Bullied Pacific, rebuilt West Country Class number 34046 'Braunton' on the rear.

After it's memorable assistance of fellow Southern Railway Bullied Pacific 34067 'Tangmere', 34046 'Braunton' runs light engine back towards Exeter Riverside to rejoin 5029 'Nunney Castle' on the run back to Bristol Barton Hill.

Enjoy!