Railway Herald
SR Battle of Britain class Pacific No. 34067 'Tangmere' climbs Honiton bank (with rear-end assistance from Class 47/0 No. 47237), passing the railway cottages near Kilmington, working the first leg of Steam Dreams' 'The Atlantic Coast Express' charter, from London Victoria to Exeter St. Davids, on 5th September 2014. The eventual destination was Penzance, as the majority of its original destinations are now unreachable by rail, with the charter being run to commemorate the anniversary of the last run of the most multi-portioned train to operate in Britain exactly 50 years ago to the day. Between 19th July 1926 and 5th September 1964, the 11am departure from London Waterloo ran to five separate locations, Bude, Padstow, Great Torrington, Ilfracombe and Plymouth. At the height of the trains popularity, especially during the summer months of the 1930's and 1950's, the train also included coaches for Seaton, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis and Exmouth. The train was so popular, during certain periods of operation, that up to five relief trains would depart from London Waterloo between 10am and 11am on a summer Saturday. The original train was introduced by the Southern Railway as a competitor to the Great Western Railways 'The Cornish Riviera', but never competed on times from London to Plymouth. It was a successor to the LSWR's 'North Cornwall and Bude Express', which ran from London Waterloo to Bude and Padstow from the early 1900's to 1914, ending with the outbreak of World War I.
Neil Prior
