‘Railway Holidays in the West Country – Devon & Somerset’ with Stuart Warr.

For our final meeting before the summer break, it was appropriate that Stuart Warr returned to present ‘Railway Holidays in the West Country’ featuring images taken in Devon & Somerset between 1971 and 2023.
Stuart started his journey at Bere Alston in 2003 with a ‘150’ unit from Plymouth to Gunnislake.
From there he proceeded to Plymouth with a ‘Colas’ class 70 on Moorswater to Aberthaw empties. He then moved on to Laira where he had an image of Warship Class D806 ‘Cambrian’ which was taken in 1971.
At Totnes, a class 67 on the Plymouth – Temple Meads mail Train was spotted, also noted was a Class 50 hauling a failed DMU to Laira. At an earlier year, a GWR liveried 47 on a Paddington-Penzance with 2 Motorail car carriers in the consist. Stuart then made a small detour to the South Devon Railway where he captured GWR small prairie No:5526 at Buckfastleigh and he captured GWR Hall ‘Dumbleton Hall’ prior to being overhauled. With a visit to Dartmouth, he recorded a sighting of GWR Manor ‘Lydham Manor leaving Kingswear.
At Torquay West Country Pacific ‘Braunton’ was spotted on the ‘Torbay Express’.
At Dawlish in 2010 GWR Hall No 4965 ‘Rood Ashton Hall’ and GWR Clastle No 5043 ‘Earl of Mount Edgecombe’ working ‘The Cornishman’. Following, was a LMS Black Five No 45212 on a ‘Railway Touring Company’ special to Kingswear. On another day new build A1 pacific No 60163 ‘Tornado’ in blue livery was on ‘Stream Dreams’ Cathedral Express Staines to Kingswear. At Exeter St Davids Colas liveried 37219 worked the RTC test train. At an earlier time (1978) Class 25 No 25223 was waiting for the off to Barnstaple.
On the LSWR line at Axminster Class 50 No 50042 on a Plymouth to Brighton train. Further up the line at Crewkerne there were two Class 50s doubleheading a service from Exeter St Davids to Waterloo. At Yeovil Junction preserved class 50 No D400 was spotted at the railway centre. At Yeovil Penn Mill a ‘Saturdays only’ HST service from Temple Meads to Weymouth was observed. At Templecombe Std Class 7 ‘Britannia’ was spotted with the ‘The South Western Ltd’ from Eastleigh to Templecombe.
Travelling up the Meldon Quarry branch Class 50 No 50020 ‘Revenge’ was observed at Okehampton on a special – ‘The Taw & Tor Tourer’. Also, at a different time 20169 and Class 33 No 33114 on another special. At Tiverton Parkway Class 60 No 60034 with a northbound china clay slurry train.
Observed from the ‘40 steps’ bridge (west of station) at Taunton, Class 47 No 47854 on a north cross country working Also observed from the bridge was Class 37 No 37 222 with an engineers train. On another occasion GWR ‘City of Truro’ passed through on the Temple Meads to Plymouth special. On another occasion Western Class 52 No D1015 running as D1005 passed through with the ‘Dartmouth Arrow’ from Temple Meads to Kingswear.
A short visit to Woody Bay (Lynton & Barnstaple Railway) where a small well tank loco was observed together with ‘Lyn’ which was built in 2017, the original having been scrapped.
At Blue Anchor Class 37 No 37699 on a train from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead. At Washford ‘merlin’ liveried HST on an excursion from Peterborough to Minehead was observed. At Crowcombe Heathfield BR Class 37 No 37375 Merehead to Minehead with a stone train for the sea defences. Various locos such as GWR Manor No 7827 ‘Lydham Manor’, GWR No 6024 ‘King Edward 1’, Hymek D7017, GWR Hall ‘Witherslack Hall, S&DJR No 53808, GWR Manor ‘Foxcote Manor’ BR No 9526, LMS Black 8 No 48773, Craven built Class 105, and GWR small prairie No 4561 were all spotted at various locations on the West Somerset Railway.
The audience of over 30 much enjoyed Stuart’s excellent presentation.