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Clan Line coming to Barnstaple!


darren01

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Hi 

This is an early heads up to let you know that Clan line will be coming to Barnstaple on the 5th of September on the Steam Dreams rail tours.

I think this is the first time since steam finished down here that a steam loco has run into Barnstaple. 

Darren

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Definitely good news :locomotive: but I agree there have been other steam trips. As industrial says, the 1994 trips weretop'n'tailed by standard 4MT tanks. i've also seen youtube footage of a 4MT tender loco tailed by a 37 - can't search for it now, will try to find later.

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  • 5 months later...

A late jump onto this thread...I was told by someone at the museum in Braunton when I was there recently that Bulleid Pacific 34046 'Braunton' will be hauling the ACE rain from London on 5th September, to Barnstaple via Exeter. Initially when I checked out the details on the Steam Dreams website this appeared to be accurate information, with a diesel scheduled to haul the train back to Exeter. I guess turning 34046 round might be a challenge at Barnstaple station!

 

I was really looking forward to this as I am going be in the Barnstaple area on that day.

 

However, looking at the Steam Dreams website it now seems that the ACE will not be going to Barnstaple (no mention of that anymore) and it also states that the locomotive is not yet confirmed.

 

A real shame if that's the case. I won't even see Clan Line if that's the case because Exeter will be too far for me to go that day. It would be nice to see her again as I travelled behind her in 2009 on the VSOE lunchtime train around London.

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A late jump onto this thread...I was told by someone at the museum in Braunton when I was there recently that Bulleid Pacific 34046 'Braunton' will be hauling the ACE rain from London on 5th September, to Barnstaple via Exeter. Initially when I checked out the details on the Steam Dreams website this appeared to be accurate information, with a diesel scheduled to haul the train back to Exeter. I guess turning 34046 round might be a challenge at Barnstaple station!

 

I was really looking forward to this as I am going be in the Barnstaple area on that day.

 

However, looking at the Steam Dreams website it now seems that the ACE will not be going to Barnstaple (no mention of that anymore) and it also states that the locomotive is not yet confirmed.

 

A real shame if that's the case. I won't even see Clan Line if that's the case because Exeter will be too far for me to go that day. It would be nice to see her again as I travelled behind her in 2009 on the VSOE lunchtime train around London.

 

 

 

Beware. Steam Dreams publicity material in general is about as reliable as Politicians election manifestos!

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  • 3 weeks later...

I emailed Steam Dreams (via the contact form on the website) a few days ago asking about the route, if the train was now definltey not going to Barnstaple, as the site no longer makes any mention of it, and the loco....no reply as yet...

 

I guess one challenge they would have had is getting a chartered train up and down that Tarka Line from Exeter and back.

 

Anyone know how else I may be able to find out?

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The Steam Dreams website says that once reaching Barnstaple - "after a short stop there, we will reverse back diesel-hauled to Exeter".

 

Not any more....that was there, even fairly recently when I looked...but it now just says:

 

"Departing from London Waterloo, one of the surviving Bulleid Pacific Class locomotives should be at the head of the train as the ACE follows the former London and South Western Railway to Salisbury and Exeter. It is planned that the train will be steam-hauled to Exeter. From Exeter the ACE heads westward along the seawall at Dawlish and on over the Devon Banks with two Southern Railway Bulleid Pacifics in charge."

 

Initially, at least when I looked it did say Braunton was hauling to Barnstaple, then diesel hauled back to Exeter. Now it says one of the Bulleid Pacifics should be at the head of the train!!!

 

So not even confirmed if a Bulleid is pulling to Exeter. I suspect the Barnstaple part of the trip has been dropped. Shame. I for one would love to have seen Braunton pulling the ACE into Barnstaple station!

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UK  steam website shows it as Tangmere going to Barnstaple

 

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/trs14.htm

 

I wonder if that is 100% up to date though, given that the operator changed the details on their site to omit the run up the Tarka Line to Barnstaple from Exeter. Tangmere would be cool, but for me Braunton would just make it that bit more special (for me, anyway).

 

How would I be able to find out the timings of the train? So if it IS going to Barnstaple, would I be able to get this info from somewhere online? And how far in advance?

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I don't think that anything is going to Barnstaple. All loco-hauled trains are subject to a ruling speed limit of 30 mph north of Crediton for starters, then there is indeed the bridge weight issue, which may have been a problem (haven't had a chance to check).

 

There was also talk of an 8F mixed in with the itinerary...

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Atlantic Coast Express ? :yes: 

 

Yes. Well, that's what Steam Dreams are calling it although as I understand it the original ACE never went as far west as Penzance, which is where this train is heading. It would have been great to see Braunton bringing it in to Barnstaple but alas, as Captain Kernow says, there are some logistical and other challenges which would have probably ruled it out.

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I don't think that anything is going to Barnstaple. All loco-hauled trains are subject to a ruling speed limit of 30 mph north of Crediton for starters, then there is indeed the bridge weight issue, which may have been a problem (haven't had a chance to check).

 

There was also talk of an 8F mixed in with the itinerary...

 

Parts of the line are single-tracked so I guess there may have been some logistical hurdles they could not overcome with the charter train possibly interfering with the regular schedule on the line and being fined for doing so? 

 

Then if the train was late back to Exeter...there could be issues with that (again I'm guessing here) but what is the bridge weight issue you refer to? Is this to do with the bridge on the approach to Barnstaple station, or somewhere else on the line?

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The last loco hauled passenger train to Barnstaple was in 2006 top & tailed by 76079 & 37411, I drove from Doncaster to Exeter as it was likely the last chance to go hauled to Barny and with a tractor, something I had not done for a long time.

 

The train was Top & Tailed as even by then the Run Round loop at Barnstaple had been out of use for some time. I believe the service trains also had to be altered to accommodate the Charter, I've got pictures of 37411 at Barny somewhere. I seem to recall there was a problem on the way back to Exeter with one of the level crossings. Tour details at six bells Junction: http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/00s/060601pr.htm

 

Anyway, back to Clan Line, after the above tour ran I believe Network Rail basically decided that they wouldn't entertain a charter to Barstaple again so i would say very unlikely that the Steam Dreams tour will get to Barny, or infact and other tour for a while!

 

Al

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Bit confusing on steam tours site as day 2 missing and day 3 cancelled!

 

Fri 05-Sep THE ATLANTIC COAST EXPRESS (Day 1 of 4) 
London Waterloo-Penzance [dbs]
35028
 34067: Waterloo-Salisbury-Exeter-Barnstaple
34046+TBA 34067/70000: Exeter-Penzance

 

--- Day 2 missing ? ----

 

Sun 07-Sep THE ATLANTIC COAST EXPRESS (Day 3 of 4) [CANCELLED] 
Cornish branchlines TBA [wcrc]
48151 TBA: TBA
[A revised tour will run with a diesel unit]

 

Mon 08-Sep THE ATLANTIC COAST EXPRESS (Day 4 of 4) 
London Waterloo-Penzance [dbs]
34046+TBA34067/70000
: Penzance-Exeter
35028 34067: Exeter-Honiton-Salisbury-Waterloo

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