2. Railways

Whiteball to Exeter

The former Great Western Railway route to Plymouth is both scenic and challenging. Several daunting banks feature along this route and Whiteball is one. Ross and I started near Whiteball Summit and headed west to Exeter. 31/7/2001
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  • Burlescombe is located on Whiteball Bank on the climb from north of Exeter to Whiteball Summit a short distance away. 43009 leads 1A36 0622 Penzance to Paddington up the 1 in 115 gradient of Whiteball Bank.

    Burlescombe is located on Whiteball Bank on the climb from north of Exeter to Whiteball Summit a short distance away. 43009 leads 1A36 0622 Penzance to Paddington up the 1 in 115 gradient of Whiteball Bank.

  • Turning around on the overbridge at Burlescombe looking up hill towards the summit and Whiteball Tunnel. 47854 brings a rake of InterCity mkII coaches down grade with 1V35 0605 Derby to Plymouth service.

    Turning around on the overbridge at Burlescombe looking up hill towards the summit and Whiteball Tunnel. 47854 brings a rake of InterCity mkII coaches down grade with 1V35 0605 Derby to Plymouth service.

  • A class 153 and 158 combination come up the 1 in 115 pull with 0905 Exeter St Davids to Bristol Temple Meads. The units are 153305 and 158836.

    A class 153 and 158 combination come up the 1 in 115 pull with 0905 Exeter St Davids to Bristol Temple Meads. The units are 153305 and 158836.

  • Turning around again and the northbound working passes a southbound one. 158867 heads south with the 0800 Cardiff Central to Exeter St Davids Wales and West service.

    Turning around again and the northbound working passes a southbound one. 158867 heads south with the 0800 Cardiff Central to Exeter St Davids Wales and West service.

  • Another northbound HST approaches with a Virgin working that could be heard for a couple of minutes before it appeared. 43087 and 43194 work hard against the gradient and will feel it. The train is 1S71 0719 Penzance to Glasgow Central, the "Cornish Scot".

    Another northbound HST approaches with a Virgin working that could be heard for a couple of minutes before it appeared. 43087 and 43194 work hard against the gradient and will feel it. The train is 1S71 0719 Penzance to Glasgow Central, the "Cornish Scot".

  • For trains coming south it is a different story with very little effort being required to maintain line speed. 43021 and 43010 will be running on less than full power with 1C09 0745 Paddington to Penzance via Bristol. The summit and tunnel entrance is just beyond the bridge seen behind the train.

    For trains coming south it is a different story with very little effort being required to maintain line speed. 43021 and 43010 will be running on less than full power with 1C09 0745 Paddington to Penzance via Bristol. The summit and tunnel entrance is just beyond the bridge seen behind the train.

  • In steam days the fireman would now be refilling his boiler and having a short breather after the gruelling climb of Wellington Bank on the other side of the tunnel. Today the driver of 43185 and 43152 on the rear has no such thoughts, he will just notch back on his control handle without a thought of breaking sweat!!

    In steam days the fireman would now be refilling his boiler and having a short breather after the gruelling climb of Wellington Bank on the other side of the tunnel. Today the driver of 43185 and 43152 on the rear has no such thoughts, he will just notch back on his control handle without a thought of breaking sweat!!

  • A different sound heralds the approach of unique (at the time) 57601 on its regular diagram of 1A43 0920 Plymouth to Paddington with six mkII coaches on the drawbar.

    A different sound heralds the approach of unique (at the time) 57601 on its regular diagram of 1A43 0920 Plymouth to Paddington with six mkII coaches on the drawbar.

  • A pair of type 5 class 67 locos come down the bank with a rake of mail vans in tow. 67028 and 67026 form 5Z74 1012 Bristol Barton Hill to Exeter Riverside empty vans.

    A pair of type 5 class 67 locos come down the bank with a rake of mail vans in tow. 67028 and 67026 form 5Z74 1012 Bristol Barton Hill to Exeter Riverside empty vans.

  • Moving slightly west to Tiverton Junction and 47832 approaches heading for London Paddington with 1A45 0820 off Penzance. The line is falling at 1 in 324 at this point.

    Moving slightly west to Tiverton Junction and 47832 approaches heading for London Paddington with 1A45 0820 off Penzance. The line is falling at 1 in 324 at this point.

  • 43035 leads a down FGW set past the up and down loops at Tiverton Junction. The former branches to both Hemyock and Tiverton diverged from here. The up platform of the old station can be seen in the distance.

    43035 leads a down FGW set past the up and down loops at Tiverton Junction. The former branches to both Hemyock and Tiverton diverged from here. The up platform of the old station can be seen in the distance.

  • Moving again further towards Exeter and the railway passes near to the village of Silverton. A pairing of a class 153 and 150 sprinter units approach climbing at 1 in 243 with 1B32 1012 Penzance to Cardiff Central. The sets are 153373 and 150266.

    Moving again further towards Exeter and the railway passes near to the village of Silverton. A pairing of a class 153 and 150 sprinter units approach climbing at 1 in 243 with 1B32 1012 Penzance to Cardiff Central. The sets are 153373 and 150266.

  • A London bound FGW working powers by against the easier grades of the lower reaches of the climb to Whiteball Summit some 13 miles away. 43152 leads with 43182 on the rear of 1A56 1235 Plymouth to Paddington.

    A London bound FGW working powers by against the easier grades of the lower reaches of the climb to Whiteball Summit some 13 miles away. 43152 leads with 43182 on the rear of 1A56 1235 Plymouth to Paddington.

  • This is a good location for up trains but poor for down ones. Virgin Cross Country service 1E36 1300 Plymouth to Newcastle approach with 43006 and 43198 providing some 4500hp for its seven mkIII coaches. The former Silverton station was located on the on the other side of the road bridge behind me, it closed on 5/10/1964.

    This is a good location for up trains but poor for down ones. Virgin Cross Country service 1E36 1300 Plymouth to Newcastle approach with 43006 and 43198 providing some 4500hp for its seven mkIII coaches. The former Silverton station was located on the on the other side of the road bridge behind me, it closed on 5/10/1964.

  • Moving on again and Rewe is reached, just a few miles from Exeter. Here 43152 and 43179 power an up working climbing at 1 in 271 with 1A65 1416 Paignton to Paddington, the "Torbay Express".

    Moving on again and Rewe is reached, just a few miles from Exeter. Here 43152 and 43179 power an up working climbing at 1 in 271 with 1A65 1416 Paignton to Paddington, the "Torbay Express".

  • This road bridge on a quiet back road gives good views in both directions. FGW 47816 fronts 1C33 1233 Paddington to Exeter. The train is made up of 2 Motorail vans and six mkII coaches. The entire train is in First Great Western livery and looks smart.

    This road bridge on a quiet back road gives good views in both directions. FGW 47816 fronts 1C33 1233 Paddington to Exeter. The train is made up of 2 Motorail vans and six mkII coaches. The entire train is in First Great Western livery and looks smart.

  • A southbound VXC working speeds by heading for Exeter which is its next stop in a few minutes time. 43178 and 43158 work 1V47 0710 off Edinburgh for Plymouth.

    A southbound VXC working speeds by heading for Exeter which is its next stop in a few minutes time. 43178 and 43158 work 1V47 0710 off Edinburgh for Plymouth.

  • Facing the opposite direction and another Virgin high speed set comes by. This train is 1S41 1411 Plymouth to Edinburgh with powercars 43068 and 43062. The train is due in the Scots capital at 2255.

    Facing the opposite direction and another Virgin high speed set comes by. This train is 1S41 1411 Plymouth to Edinburgh with powercars 43068 and 43062. The train is due in the Scots capital at 2255.

  • A northbound postal working apporaches with a light load for 67024. The four van train is 1C06 1353 Plymouth to Bristol Parkway, on arrival it will join up with 1M06 1425 off Swansea for the run to London Willesden Railnet.

    A northbound postal working apporaches with a light load for 67024. The four van train is 1C06 1353 Plymouth to Bristol Parkway, on arrival it will join up with 1M06 1425 off Swansea for the run to London Willesden Railnet.

  • A final view at Rewe with 43144 and 43126 working a down service from Paddington to Penzance, the "Royal Duchy".

    A final view at Rewe with 43144 and 43126 working a down service from Paddington to Penzance, the "Royal Duchy".

  • A last location for the day and Cowley Bridge Junction just by Exeter Riverside Yard. 67013 clatters over the crossover from the up to the down road running light towards Exeter St Davids station.

    A last location for the day and Cowley Bridge Junction just by Exeter Riverside Yard. 67013 clatters over the crossover from the up to the down road running light towards Exeter St Davids station.

  • Another class 67 comes into view, this time earning its keep. 67016 fronts the heavy 1E43 1509 Plymouth to Low Fell mail train which includes vans for Warrington which are detatched at Warrington. At this point the line is climbing at 1 in 300.

    Another class 67 comes into view, this time earning its keep. 67016 fronts the heavy 1E43 1509 Plymouth to Low Fell mail train which includes vans for Warrington which are detatched at Warrington. At this point the line is climbing at 1 in 300.

  • Crossing the very busy road to look north and a classic location is presented, Cowley Bridge Junction complete with the Cowley Bridge Inn forming the backdrop. 150238 bears left and takes the Barnstable branch with the 1642 Exeter St Davids to Barnstable whilst held in the background is a class 60 powered freight train.

    Crossing the very busy road to look north and a classic location is presented, Cowley Bridge Junction complete with the Cowley Bridge Inn forming the backdrop. 150238 bears left and takes the Barnstable branch with the 1642 Exeter St Davids to Barnstable whilst held in the background is a class 60 powered freight train.

  • With the branch train clear and the road into Riverside Yard set, the signal is cleared and the driver brings 60027 in towards the yard. The train is 6V70 0857 Cliffe Vale to St Blazey empty china clay slurry. The train will recess for a short while in Riverside Yard before continuing on into Cornwall.

    With the branch train clear and the road into Riverside Yard set, the signal is cleared and the driver brings 60027 in towards the yard. The train is 6V70 0857 Cliffe Vale to St Blazey empty china clay slurry. The train will recess for a short while in Riverside Yard before continuing on into Cornwall.

  • 43010 and 43021 power their train away from Exeter bound for London. The working is the up "Royal Duchy, 1A76 1345 off Penzance to Paddington. The signalbox that controlled this junction stood in the "V" of the branch and main line.

    43010 and 43021 power their train away from Exeter bound for London. The working is the up "Royal Duchy, 1A76 1345 off Penzance to Paddington. The signalbox that controlled this junction stood in the "V" of the branch and main line.

  • Fragonset owned 47701 is on hire to Virgin Cross Country and is entrusted to work 1C44 1433 Paddington to Plymouth service.

    Fragonset owned 47701 is on hire to Virgin Cross Country and is entrusted to work 1C44 1433 Paddington to Plymouth service.

  • Another branch line train is recorded at Cowley Bridge Junction. 150230 is nears its journey's end at Exeter with the 1603 off Barnstable.

    Another branch line train is recorded at Cowley Bridge Junction. 150230 is nears its journey's end at Exeter with the 1603 off Barnstable.

  • I had already missed a Virgin loco hauled northbound train as the road is VERY busy and I couldn't get across in time, so this was an important photo. FGW 47816 powers away from Exeter past the north end of Riverside Yard with 1A83 1730 off Exeter to London Paddington. A great last photo of the day, time to head home.

    I had already missed a Virgin loco hauled northbound train as the road is VERY busy and I couldn't get across in time, so this was an important photo. FGW 47816 powers away from Exeter past the north end of Riverside Yard with 1A83 1730 off Exeter to London Paddington. A great last photo of the day, time to head home.

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