"The Exmoor Coast Express"
Date : 17th March, 2001
Location : as below
"The Exmoor Coast Express" was an excursion run by Pathfinder Tours from Derby to Minehead and return on the 17th March, 2001. The plan was to have GWR 5029 "Nunney Castle" hauling the train from Nuneaton to Minehead on the West Somerset Railway where it would remain for the WSR's Steam Gala. Things would not quite work to this plan.
I had chosen to join the train at Barnt Green, the penultimate pick-up point, mainly because this would increase the amount of line I would be travelling on for the first time. I also felt that it would be easier to get to than Cheltenham at that time on a Saturday. If had known what the weather was going to be like, I'd probably wouldn't have bothered.
The weather running up to the Saturday had been poor, and the weather on the day continued this downwards trend. On awaking I discovered it was snowing, but as it wasn't showing signs of settling by departure time, I decided to go ahead with the trip. However, the weather got worse the further north I went, and when I got to Barnt Green, I found blizzard conditions (I was however pleasantly surprised to find free car parking). I toyed with the idea of abandoning the trip at this point, but eventually decided to risk it. However, I decided not to attempt any photography of the excursion arriving.
Then came the other disappointment of the day. "Intelligence Reports" came through saying that "Nunney Castle" had suffered a failure at Nuneaton and was being assisted by the diesel that that brought the excursion from Derby. I had been looking forward to this for two months and now it looked like turning into a great disappointment. However, the thought of seeing £50 go up in smoke encouraged me to go on despite the conditions.
5029 "Nunney Castle" poses for photographs while taking on water at Bristol Temple Meads"
Once the excursion departed Barnt Green, things began to look up a little. When we reached the bottom of the Lickey Incline, the snow disappeared and the rain held off for a time. We made excellent time to Bristol, with one watering stop at Gloucester. In fact we made such good time, we had wait for 20 minutes outside Bristol Temple Meads for our path.
A second watering stop at BTM allowed the first real photographing opportunity. At this point the rain was holding off and although still overcast, my choice of film and equipment meant that this wasn't too much of a problem. Most of the photography I did on the excursion was done here.
The saviour of the day; Class 47 "47761" at Bristol Temple Meads
After watering, it was non-stop to Bishop's Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway. However, any hope that the rain would hold off was dashed by the time we reached the WSR. It was drizzly at Bishop's Lydeard; here the diesel and heating car were detached (the latter couldn't be vacuum braked) and WSR Prairie Tank 4160 was attached to pilot the train to Minehead. The trip to Minehead was cold, with poor visibility and felt like the poor Prairie tank was doing all the work. By the time we got to Minehead, it was pouring with rain, and my photography was confined to under the station canopy.
We had an hour in Minehead before returning which I chose to spend on the station, along with a lot of other people. We were the second excursion to arrive at Minehead that day; "Kinlet Hall" had brought up an excursion from Paddington earlier and the WSR staff were perhaps at little overwhelmed by the crowds.
5029 "Nunney Castle" at Minehead, awaiting repairs
With "Nunney Castle" unhooked and parked awaiting repairs, it fell to 4160 and Pannier Tank 6412 to return us to Bishop's Lydeard. Here we had one last opportunity to buy WSR souvenirs, and, after a delayed changeover from steam to diesel, we began the return journey. The train was half an hour late returning to Barnt Green, mainly due to the delay in changing back to air-braking at Bishop's Lydeard. The morning snow had cleared, although some fresh snow was beginning to fall. To my relief, my car started and I made my way back to Evesham
In conclusion, it wasn't the best day out I've had behind a steam locomotive, but the major disappointment of the day was the weather, and I cannot blame Pathfinder Tours for that. If I have one complaint to direct at PT, it is the underestimation of the time need to switch between air and vacuum-braking, which caused delays at Bishop's Lydeard, especially on the return leg.
No 5029 "Nunney Castle" at Bristol Temple Meads during a watering stop.
Minehead Platform on a very wet day!