The South Devon Explorer Railtour. Jubilee class 45596 "Bahamas" Bristol to Plymouth 27.5.23

On a beautiful sunny day the fully loaded train left Woking diesel hauled at 6.23 in the morning and on arrival at Bristol at 10.00 the diesel locomotive was replaced by Stanier Jubilee class locomotive number 45596 in gleaming British Railways green livery. The train kept good time and just beyond Exeter the coastal scenery along the Exe Estuary and along the seafront at Dawlish was at its best in the bright sunshine. The hard work for the engine (or the fireman to be precise) really started at Newton Abbott with the steep climb to Dainton Tunnel followed by the even steeper climb beyond Totnes to Rattery tunnel and then onwards to the highest point of the line at Wrangaton. All through this stretch the line weaves to the left and right to minimise the gradient. The fireman did an admirable job keeping up with the locomotive's demand for steam on these heavy gradients. Later in the day the job had to be repeated all over again in the Eastbound direction on the return journey from Plymouth. Congratulations to everyone involved organising and operating this memorable railtour.

[@philipmorgan3977]

Thanks for sharing this Andy. I was on this tour too and it was fabulous outing.

[@andybennett5570]

Thanks Philip. It was a really good trip and the footplate crew were real professionals. There's plenty of lineside video of the train turning up on RUclips if you haven't already seen it.