60007 Sir Nigel Gresley takes the English Riviera Express through the Storm 5th Aug. 2023

As "Antoni", the first of the seasons Atlantic storms, hits the U.K., many outdoor events in the country were cancelled due to up to 65 m.p.h. winds and rain and I was having doubts about the possibility of getting decent footage in such conditions as the wind began to pick up in Torbay through the morning. However, taking advantage of the kind and much appreciated permission from my neighbouring farmer that I could film in a field which is closed to the public (many thanks Dan) I decided to give it a try.

We start as the train rounds the headland at Waterside and climbs above Broadsands Bay. As we pick up the action higher up I am in the teeth of 40+ m.p.h. winds with stronger gusts blowing through all the time and straight into the camera as 60007 passes looking radiant in the bright conditions.

The wind strengthened through the day and by the time of departure from Kingswear, things had (almost) got out of hand. The wind here has now reached at least 50 m.p.h. straight down the Dart with regular gusts much stronger and threatening to knock me and the equipment over at any moment! The wind gags on the microphones do a good job which reduces the unimaginable noise at the time as the A4 leaves on time and heads up the estuary to the higher ferry when I am hit by sudden huge gusts, putting the tripod up onto two legs a number of times, hence the edits as the train disappears on the climb to Churston.

Finally to Paignton Station, thanks to a fast motorcycle through all the downed tree branches and foliage on the road over Hillhead, in time for the departure in calmer but still very windy conditions. As a final farewell 60007 tops the days natural events as she leaves with the loudest clearance of cylinders I have ever heard! Thank goodness for the limiter on the microphone but my unprotected ears are still ringing!

WHAT A DAY!!

Chapters:

0:00 Titles and Broadsands
2:26 Kingswear
7:01 Paignton