Bullied Pacifics blasting the Devon Banks! 08/09/14

Quite possibly one of the greatest and most memorable railtours of the modern era drew to a spectacular close today, as not only was there the double heading of Southern and Western Region steam locomotives, but for the first time in many years, a locomotive was banked up the incline between Exeter St David's and Exeter Central, these engines consisting of both the streamlined and rebuilt versions of the same West Country/Battle of Britain Class.
Starting off, and in the shadow of the former Pumping House that once powered the Atmospheric Railway along the Sea Wall, blasting north through Starcross on the return 'Atlantic Coast Express' from Penzance to Exeter St David's is rebuilt Southern Railway West Country Class number 34046 'Braunton' and Great Western Railway Castle Class number 5029 'Nunney Castle'.
In scenes all too familiar to locomotives of this class, the West Country and Battle of Britain Bullied Pacifics returned in force to Exeter Central, harking back to the days when these locomotives would work the Southern Railway's top expresses from London Waterloo and Victoria to Ilfracombe, Barnstaple, Bideford, Padstow and other destinations along the Atlantic coast.
Exeter Central was one of the two main stations opened in Exeter to serve the city, the other being the former Great Western Railway terminus at Exeter St David's, three quarters of a mile downhill from Central. Central's situation in comparison to the City Centre made it an ideal commuter centre, which it still boasts today as a majority of commuter trains stop, terminate or originate at this station. Probably the most notorious part of this section of the route between St David's and Central is the climb through St David's tunnel, a climb that regularly employed the assistance of several banking engines.
In spectacular fashion, preserved Southern Railway Battle of Britain Class number 34067 'Tangmere' provides a fine sentiment to those glory days, crawling up the 1-in-37 incline into Central station at barely a walking pace, even with the assistance of fellow Southern Railway Bullied Pacific, rebuilt West Country Class number 34046 'Braunton' on the rear.
After it's memorable assistance of fellow Southern Railway Bullied Pacific 34067 'Tangmere', 34046 'Braunton' runs light engine back towards Exeter Riverside to rejoin 5029 'Nunney Castle' on the run back to Bristol Barton Hill.
Enjoy!

[@johnanthony5421]

i loved the "spam can" CITY OF WELLS,smooth rider, steam reverser, when her boiler certiiicate ran out , they gave us skipton drivers "A REIGHT GOOD DO" at the rail club,john.

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

Never knew the Spam Cans sounded so damn good! Love them

[@charleswatson1093]

I'm sorry to see that Mr Bulleid's locomotives were bullied.

[@Trainboy452]

“I'm slowing down! Hello, sir, and err sorry, sir. I miscalculated how long it would take me to stop!”

[@Sharpshooter-dl9fc]

It’s Rebecca

[@jackforde4883]

I much prefer them unrebuilt. The looked so unique and cool

[@Onthemainline]

I like them both, but yes the Un-Rebuilt was alot more unique

[@0palineblue]

Wonderful to watch the old steam trains in action , i have seen 34046 BRAUNTON in my boyhood days . It's in my old IAN ALLEN combined volume 1962/1963 .

[@bobnweaver]

Superb video Rory. A great sight indeed.

[@rorymacve]

Thank you very much! :D

[@easonlau6138]

The Bullied Pacifics are the both nicknamed steam locomotives, which are the SR West Country and Battle of Britain Classes Classes.

[@wotnotvintage7762]

And Merchant Navy Class ... all collectively known as "Bulleid Pacifics"

[@STEVEHARLEY1956]

Cracking video Rory....Cheers...Steve.

[@rorymacve]

Thanks very much! :D

[@vancepomerening4794]

Now that's a balcony!

[@sam8alex12]

Hard going at times but very nice to see, THANKS Rory

[@rorymacve]

Certainly was, I was expecting poor old Tangy to stall at Central :S
Thanks! :D

[@Legomoviebros]

Who has been bullying Pacifics?

[@Legomoviebros]

Bullied the Bulleids!

[@47606odin]

just for the record, bulleid pacific's were never streamlined. they had "air smoothed casing" :-)

[@47606odin]

they were never called streamlined by Bulleid. he stated it was air smoothed casings. it was a way of getting authority to build them at the time

[@marsvltor2]

Wasn't the idea to enable the locos to be cleaned using carriage-cleaning machinery?

[@47606odin]

i think that was 1 reason behind it

[@markturner4219]

That wasn't the reason. They are not streamlined. The casing was to enable them to use the automatic train washing equipment. The most basic knowledge of streamlining would show it is about the worst shape possible for reducing air resistanc. The rebuilds are more streamlined. He wangled permission to build them by designating them as mixed traffic engines.

[@Onthemainline]

@@marsvltor2 Yes, So they could clean them easier (Like coaches)

[@WestCoastRailwayBoy]

only just seen your new steam tour vids, going off youtube a bit, but great shots Ruairidh :) also what happened to your Deviantart? can hardly contact u now :/ also i may down south on the 21st for one of the steam tours :)

[@rorymacve]

Thanks Chris :)
Yeah I got bored of that whole DA thing, decided to move on to bigger and better things :)

[@sueharding9037]

WestCoastRailwayBoy ssxxxxxxxcdfggggf

[@Otacatapetl]

I hope the bullying's been reported...

[@nigelmitchell351]

People are so different, woman on platform at 5.10 doesn't even look up from her phone as Braunton passes.

[@thanhtun9975]

မင်္ဂလာပါ

[@danielcreed2328]

It's one of Rebecca's brothers or sisters!

[@azlinaahmad1876]

Ita being bullied