60163 Tornado Struggles to Deliver the Last Torbay Express 10Sep17

The last of this season's Torbay Express tours started almost too well for 60163, catching me out at Charlton Road Bridge as she passes Cogload Junction, half a mile up the line, 16 minutes early and causing me to knock the tripod whilst running between two cameras! Whiteball was taken with consumate ease. Returning to Torbay, I realised I just had time for a grab shot which I took at Aller just as 60163 emerged from the new "tunnel", created by the South Devon Link Road and Kingskerswell turn-off. I then managed to get set up overlooking Waterside Park as "mizzle" (fine misty, warm drizzle) descended over Torbay and the effects of this immediately became apparent as Tornado is heard slipping just out of shot. Another couple of slips reduces speed to a walking pace and as the train eventually disappeared I realised that even with heavy traffic it was worth trying higher up the climb at Bascombe Road. Huge credit must be given to the crew for coaxing such a heavy load to the summit in such extreme track conditions. It was a lucky day for both me and Tornado as she just about gets her heavy load to the summit at Churston Station. Unfortunately my luck did not hold for the return as my "perfect" glinting shot was foiled at the critical moment by a brief but fatal downpour. You can't win them all !