Bulleid WC/BB 'West Country' and
'Battle of Britain' class 4-6-2
| 34027 Tangmere storming through Clapham Junction with
Wessex Trains' "Excalibur Express".
photograph by Dick Morant |
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| On 4th October 2003 'Battle of Britain' locomotive 34067 Tangmere worked the "Atlantic Coast Express" railtour from Waterloo to Okehampton, with return to Paddington - a route that avoids the need to turn the engine, although it required a diesel to haul the train from Okehampton back to Exeter. |
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| Above and right:
Tangmere is seen on the climb from Stoford to Sutton Bingham. Shame about the colour of the coaches! photograph by Mike Morant |
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Tangmere entering the site of the former station at North
Tawton. The platforms here extended some way beyond the road bridge, seen by
the first coach in this photograph.
photograph by Peter Richards |
| Tangmere captured about halfway through North Tawton
station area. The trackbed has been raised considerably with the rails now a
good foot above the level of the platforms, the edges of which are still
visible in places.
This railtour saw a 'Spamcan' on Southern metals west of Exeter for the first time since Wadebridge took a brake van tour from Exeter to Meldon Quarry and back on 11th December 1964. photograph by Peter Richards |
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Note the shield under the locomotive's number which is, of
course, that of "Royal Air Force Station, Tangmere" and carries the
base's motto "Attack to Defend". These shields were presented
by the sergeants' mess before the RAF station closed in the early sixties.
Tangmere was unique amongst the Battle of Britain locomotives in having
this feature.
photograph by Marion Richards |
| Tangmere just outside Okehampton platforms. The big
advantage of the 'head on' shots is that you don't see the motley
collection of coaches that formed the train!
photograph by Peter Richards |
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One of the big headaches for an organiser of a steam railtour is
the supply of water for the locomotive. Here Tangmere is having her
tender filled from a fire hydrant way below the railway line. As can be seen
from the road surface, no sooner did the train arrive at Okehampton than the
heavens opened though fortunately it was just a short downpour. Pity about all
the horrible orange jackets - a sorry sympton of today's railway!
This photo could be subtitled "Time to stand around with hands in pockets"! photograph by Peter Richards |
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About those fires...
This page was last updated 3 December 2003
