27th March 1965

Plymouth Railway Circle / R.C.T.S.
The Exmoor Ranger

Locos Used D3517, 3205, 41206 & 41291

Route :

Loco(s) Route
41206 & 41291 Exeter St Davids - Okehampton - Meldon Quarry (1) - Halwill - Petrockstow - Torrington - Bideford - Barnstaple Jn - Barnstaple Victoria Road
41206 & 41291 (2) Barnstaple Victoria Road - Barnstaple Jn - Mortehoe - Ilfracombe
3205 (3) Ilfracombe - Barnstaple - Dulverton - Taunton (1)
D3517 (4) shunt at Taunton (Up side to Down side)
3205 Taunton - Exeter St Davids

Notes :
This five coach train visited a number of lines that were due to lose their passenger service, the Halwill - Petrockstow section had been closed to all traffic four weeks prior to this tour, special permission being required to run over this section of line.

(1) The poor condition of Meldon viaduct required 41291 to be detached at Meldon Jct and cross the viaduct separately from the train.
(2) For climbing to Mortehoe Summit Collett 0-6-0 3205 banked the train from Braunton.
(3) 41206 & 41291 were used as bankers out of Ilfracombe.
(4) Whilst 3205 was turned at Taunton shed the station pilot, Class 08 diesel shunter D3517 moved the train from the up side to the down side. 3205 was probably the last ever loco turned at Taunton shed as the depot closed an hour later and it was reported to have been disconnected the following day.


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.

Sources : David Hills (compiled from contemporary reports)
Terry Jackson (left the tour at Taunton), Nigel Tregoning & Dave Groves

Timings (Booked Only)
(From Terry Jackson)

M.C Location Booked
00.00 Exeter St Davids 10.12d
01.23 Cowley Bridge Jn 10/15
11.42 Coleford Jn 10/31
24.79 Okehampton 10w58a  ~  11w09d
27.51 Meldon Jn 11/17
33.50 Ashbury 11/27
37.35 Halwill 11w33a  ~  11w42d
45.26 Hatherleigh 12.07a  ~  12.12d
50.14 Petrockstow 12.27a  ~  12.32d
58.02 Torrington 13.00a  ~  13.03d
63.11 Bideford 13/13
65.61 Instow 13.18a  ~  13.20d
69.42 Fremington 13/25
72.14 Barnstaple Junction 13.30a  ~  13.32d
73.75 Barnstaple Victoria Road 13w38a  ~  14w00d
75.56 Barnstaple Junction 14.06a  ~  14.12d
76.45 Pottington Signal Box 14/20
81.52 Braunton 14/28
87.42 Mortehoe 14/40
90.52 Ilfracombe 14w48a  ~  15w20d
93.62 Mortehoe 15/32
99.52 Braunton 15/42
105.48 Barnstaple Junction 15.53a  ~  16.03d
117.17 South Molton 16/25
130.27 Dulverton 16.49a  ~  17.10d
142.04 Wivelscombe 17/30
149.39 Norton Fitzwarren 17/45
151.36 Taunton 17.50a  ~  18.30d
158.46 Wellington 18/40
162.25 Whiteball Tunnel 18/46
180.78 Cowley Bridge Jn 19/08
182.17 Exeter St Davids 19.11a


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