Third time lucky typing this.....

One of the more unusual workings on the South Devon mainline were the route familiar trips enabling Southern drivers to maintain their route knowledge in case of diversion. A search of the internet has come across two photos of West Country class locomotives on a Plymouth Exeter stopping service hauling GWR stock on these workings (https://mikemorant.s...ves/i-5j6kmMb/A).

As ever RMWeb comes up trumps with the details (although they are somewhat lost within A Nod to Brent. First Mike Wiltshire confirmed the coach diagrams, with the first and last being D45/D46 70ft toplight break thirds, the second coach being a E158 Sunshine Stock composite and the third coach a C67 57ft Third. Kits from Frogmoor and Comet will eventually build the coaches.

As for the loco, I picked up a Hornby Torrington off Ebay.
There is a fair bit which needs to be done, first a couple of minor repairs (lamps, one tender step), before renumbering from BR condition to Tavistock in Southern.

The previous owner had made it slightly easier for me, in that the unbranded tender had already been swapped for a Southern branded body.

The next job to be tackled was the front end, First the BR number plate was carefully chopped off (Along with the top moulded lump that i guess is supposed to be a bracket for headcode disks.) A Modelmasters etched Southern smokebox disk was then glued in position, and the transfer for 21c111 was added to the front.

Next onto preparing the sides, the Hornby numbers were removed using my usual method of Microsol Red and a cotton bud. i only had a tiny amount left, so it was a bit touch and go getting it all off. (There wasnt enough to remove the lining and renumber the Hall bought from the estate of the late Geoff Brewin to Eynsham Hall as I had originally planned, so that will have to wait until I get some more...)

The original nameplates were removed with a sharp knife, one crest was a particular pain to remove. The replacement etches were then glued into position before adding the crests and new cab side numbers.

Still need to do the couple of minor repairs previously mentioned, plus do something about that awful looking gap in the firebox.

Now thinking about what to stick on the down working, I see there were plenty of Merchant Navy's at Exmouth Junction.......