'Torbay Express' 2014

Very dry in mid Kent.

Gardens are desperate for some decent rain.

 

For passengers and photographers alike, high tide at Teignmouth is at 11:24, roughly the same time as the Torbay Express passes through. <BJ>

 

But doesn't the fireman's strike throw a spanner in the works for this?

 

Unless I have completely lost the plot I understood latest FBU strikes were 9-16 Aug?

 

Sorry, thought they started this Sunday. Seems I've got it wrong.

 

Heavier rain in Bristol this morning.

 

Not a bad weather forecast for the support crews, staff and passengers of the Torbay Express tomorrow. <BJ>
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/sw/dartmouth_forecast_weather.html

 

Anyone seen it yet? 5029? Any DL? A friend is on his way to Dawlish to see it...

 

No diesel at all, just a Castle with Chocolate and Cream Coaches.

 

• Excellent. Just as it should be. Nice drop of rain yesterday and again today. The hot weather of July has now gone and reverted to a more normal English summer.
• 
  
• Don

 

My first mainline steam trip in GB for many a year, and what a cracker! Thanks to all involved.

Dick

​

 

A few video stills from me of the return run yesterday. Taken at Britannia Crossing (a shot that's been on my Torbay Express to-do list for quite a while!), Pugham Farm and Yatton. I'll have the actual video going live on YouTube at 5 o'clock this afternoon.

 

It was a classic Great Western scene at Dawlish. A Great Western Castle with full chocolate and cream stock.
After standing in glorious sunshine for an hour, it was a case of sods law as the largest cloud in Devon
appeared some 10 mins before the train appeared. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

For our video folk, I found a superb location high above Dartmouth for the evening departure from Kingswear.
It's roughly on the opposite side of the river to the station but way up near to the top of the hill. You can include
the town, the river and Dartmouth naval college and then zoom into the train departing from Kingswear until it
passes Britannia crossing. The sequence is nearly three minutes long. I'm very pleased with it. <BJ>

 

And here is said video. With Nunney looking superb, all decked out with Great Western headboard and reporting numbers

 

I really think that the Castle is in a groove right now. Definitely one of the highlights this summer that people are being treated to.

 

I must say the shots from yesterday look fantastic - a timeless combination of loco, carriages and locations.

Steven

 

Brilliant! Loved the first shot at Kingswear.

 

Not a bad sight.

I hope this trend continues with chocolate and cream stock being used for the Torbays. Would love to see a couple rakes of WCRC mark1s painted into southern region green for used out of Southall and around the proper side of the Thames.

 

Some great shots and video clips guys, I had a Fantastic first trip on it. The crew, journey, catering, stewards, Loco all were great.
Plus living in Yorkshire I got behind STEAM ? (with some fast runs) and no box in sight.
I snapped a shot below of the return under the Bridge into Temple Meads from the next but last coach in soft evening light, not sharp but not too bad.