The South West of England has been a hub of activity over the past two weeks, with several steam and diesel railtours as well as the North Somerset Railway services.
On June 23rd was the Railway Timelines Limited 'Mayflower' from London Euston to Plymouth and return. The outward leg was hauled by West Country No. 34100 'Appledore', which was running as 34021 'Dartmoor', with Ex-GWR Castle No. 7007 'Great Western' being added at Taunton. The pair would take the train over the South Devon Banks and back to Westbury on the return, where Class 37 No. 37114 'City of Worcester' and Class 31 No. 31556 would take it back to London. The train is seen at Thatcham, Bedwyn, Crofton, Whiteball and Parsons Tunnel on the outward run and Pewsey and Newbury on the return. 34100 would stay on the North Somerset Railway until mid July, and is seen the following day on the 11:20 Frome Market - Radstock service at Flowers Farm Halt.
On June 28th, the return leg of the NSR/Ottery Preservation Society 'Mazey Day Cornishman' was worked from Penzance to Shrewsbury by Class 50s No. 50001 'Dreadnought' and 50023 'Howe' from the NSR and OPS respectively. The train is seen at Dawlish Warren, Stoke Canon, Yatton, Lawrence Hill, Cwmbran, Llanvihangel Summit, Leominster, and pulling away from a red signal at Marshbrook near Church Stretton. The next day, Stanier Mogul No. 13254 departs Kilmersdon on the NSR with the 13:45 Frome Market - Radstock service.
And finally, on July 3rd is another RTL tour from Euston, this time the 'Torbay Express' to Kingswear. 37114 and 31556 would once again work it as far as Westbury, where 34100 was waiting to take over. Due to the train's heavy load, 31556 remained on the rear to assist. On the return, unrebuilt classmate No. 34094 'Mortehoe' would take the train from Westbury back to London, due to commitments in the capital the following week. The train is seen at Thatcham, Crofton, Fairwood Junction, Castle Cary, Whiteball, Dawlish, Kingkerswell, Goodrington Sands, Woodborough and Newbury Racecourse, departing the Newbury pathing stop.
0:05 - 34100 Thatcham
0:21 - 34100 Bedwyn
0:49 - 34100 Crofton
1:16 - 7007 + 34100 Whiteball
1:43 - 7007 + 34100 Parsons Tunnel
2:34 - 37114 + 31556 Pewsey
2:52 - 37114 + 31556 Newbury
3:52 - 34100 Flowers Farm Halt
4:35 - 50001 + 50023 Dawlish Warren
5:24 - 50001 + 50023 Stoke Canon
5:51 - 50001 + 50023 Yatton
6:16 - 50001 + 50023 Lawrence Hill
7:27 - 50001 + 50023 Cwmbran
8:15 - 50001 + 50023 Llanvihangel Summit
8:42 - 50001 + 50023 Leominster
9:17 - 50001 + 50023 Marshbrook
10:09 - 13254 Kilmersdon
10:57 - 37114 + 31556 Thatcham
11:18 - 37114 + 31556 Bedwyn
11:51 - 37114 + 31556 Crofton
12:18 - 34100 TnT 31556 Fairwood Junction
13:01 - 34100 TnT 31556 Castle Cary
13:38 - 34100 TnT 31556 Whiteball
14:00 - 34100 TnT 31556 Dawlish
14:57 - 34100 TnT 31556 Parsons Tunnel
15:44 - 34100 TnT 31556 Kingkerswell
16:24 - 34100 TnT 31556 Goodrington Sands
17:49 - 34094 Woodborough
18:23 - 34094 Newbury Racecourse
Thumbnail - 34094 prepares to leave Westbury with the return 'Torbay Express', while 34100 has just come off the train and leaves for the NSR.
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This was recorded in Train Simulator in June/July 2024 using the Xbox Game Bar and edited in July 2024 using Microsoft Clipchamp.