Last Steam To Exeter

Just going through my old notes and have come across the 8th Jan 1966 Exeter Flyer, the "last Steam To Exeter". Not sure it was in those days, (there have of course been some in the preservation era), but it may have been the last "fast steam".

Well fastish via Guildford, Fareham and Eastliegh to Salisbury behind 34001 on just 9 cars.

34015 took over for the non stop 87 mins for 88 miles to Exeter. An absolute doddle for a WC on 9. But no. I think what caused the problems that day was a row over which depot worked which section. I won't print crew names but we dawdled over those 88 miles, taking 96 mins 28 secs with one slight check. Dreadful stuff. Just managed 80 through Axminster and crawled over Honiton at 22 mph! 80 minutes would have been a reasonable time for that loco and load.

The return from Exeter to Salisbury was even worse. 98 mins 30 secs unchecked on an 86 min schedule. 75 mph max. On that route! There was one hell of a row at Salisbury. One of the nicest guys you could ever meet, (he visits here), really exploded at Salisbury and ripped into the loco crew and the Inspector with them. Deservedly so. Nothing rude, just some home truths. Very sad. A lot of us paid a lot to have one last fast return Salisbury to Exeter. On what was then a full double track main line. And some local dispute or whatever it was ruined it. In October 1965 Gordon Hooper, (still with us and still fit when we met at the Nine Elms re-union in August), had shown what could be done with a MN and 8 on. 78mins 51 secs Exeter to passing Salisbury after a severe signal check at Sidmouth Junction. And he been called down to the Divisional Office at Wimbledon before the trip and warned not to exceed the 85 mph limit, (he had designs on a three figure maximum).

Back to January 1966, we had a non stop run onto Waterloo behind 34001. But an 88 minute schedule as we were booked to cross to and from the local line at Hook/Brookwood. We took 89 mins with a signal check as well. Net time just under the 80 minutes of the old ACE with no special running anywhere. Max 79 mph.

A sad ending to a route that had seen some of the very best every day steam running on the old Southen Region.

 

Wasn' there a later Southern Counties Touring Society Waterloo - Exeter special on 26 June 1966 hauled by 34002 / 35023?

 

I think there was one in March 66, the June one mentioned, 60532 in October, an MN in October, which nearly got the ton at Andover and, the last last, in November, which returned via Westbury and Reading with a Std 5, possibly 73065