The Devon Belle

[Blobrick]

I ve just been doing a spot of light reading about the Devon Belle. One passage l read mentioned that the turntable at Waterloo was used to turn the Observation coaches. This is the first mention of the Observation coaches working throught to London that  I ve come across. I have up until now believed they were attached at Exeter befor heading west., All the photos l have found,apart from one, are  front views  showing 12-14 coach formations working west, where the rear coaches can not be clearly seen.

 Can anyone confirm that they did infact work through from London please?

[Graham_Muz]

Hi

 

Yes I can confirm that the observation cars ran between Waterloo and Ilfracombe being turned on the turntables at both locations.

[RFS]

There's a photo here of the rear of the train - http://www.semgonline.com/coach/pull_1.html

 

Although the caption says it's between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple, I'm pretty certain that's not correct and the train is actually descending Honiton bank east of Exeter. Of the 14 coaches on the train, 4 were destined for Plymouth in the earlier years of the train's operation.

[Blobrick]

There's a photo here of the rear of the train - http://www.semgonline.com/coach/pull_1.html

 

Although the caption says it's between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple, I'm pretty certain that's not correct and the train is actually descending Honiton bank east of Exeter. Of the 14 coaches on the train, 4 were destined for Plymouth in the earlier years of the train's operation.

 

 

Hi there RFS

 

This is the very photo l mentioned as having seen , but as you say, its caption mentioned it being east of exeter, so l had discounted it. However thank you both for confirming that the Observation cars worked the entire journey. One question if l may please,there is normally a Brake coach at the end of formations, am I right in assuming that the observation car would be attached in rear of this? 

[mclong]

Look on YOUTUBE "Southern steam days at Basingstoke" the DEVON BELLE comes through with observation car on rear. Nearly 8 minutes all shot around  1948-50 well worth a view.

[Karhedron]

Thanks for the tip Mclong, I will look out for that clip.

[RFS]

During the time when there was a Plymouth portion, then there would usually be 4 coaches for Plymouth and up to 10 For Ilfracombe (including the observation car).  The train would have been divided at Exeter Central. I believe each portion had one brake coach, and if you look at the picture of the up train that I quoted earlier, then you can see the 1st and 5th coaches are brakes. The front 4 have come from Plymouth and the remainder from Ilfracombe attached at Exeter Central.

 

More pictures here - http://www.semgonline.com/misc/named_03.html . This web page has the same photo as previously mentioned, but correctly describes it as descending Honiton bank.

[brianusa]

During the time when there was a Plymouth portion, then there would usually be 4 coaches for Plymouth and up to 10 For Ilfracombe (including the observation car).  The train would have been divided at Exeter Central. I believe each portion had one brake coach, and if you look at the picture of the up train that I quoted earlier, then you can see the 1st and 5th coaches are brakes. The front 4 have come from Plymouth and the remainder from Ilfracombe attached at Exeter Central.

 

More pictures here - http://www.semgonline.com/misc/named_03.html . This web page has the same photo as previously mentioned, but correctly describes it as descending Honiton bank.

When I was much younger and a trainspotter, I was surprised to see the Observation car at Friary early on the Belles career, as we all knew it went to Ilfracombe. It had been turned presumably on the triangle ready for the return trip; possibly the whole train was turned in one fell swoop.

 

Brian.

[Blobrick]

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply to my questions seems l ll be looking to add an Observaion coach to my own Devon Belle after al !

 

Bob Cl