BULLEIDS ON TOUR

The approaching demise of steam traction on British Railways in the 1960s engendered an ever increasing number of railtours and enthusiast excursions, which often featured locomotives working over unaccustomed routes, in parts of the country far from their normal sphere of operations. Amongst the most popular classes selected for this purpose were the Bulleid ‘Pacifics’ in ‘Merchant Navy’ and ‘West Country’/’Battle of Britain’ forms.

The stage was set on September 20 1958 when ‘The West countryman’ tour ran from London to Plymouth and back. The outward leg was via the Southern Region main line, with the Exeter- Plymouth section entrusted to double-headed ‘T9’ 4-4-0s Nos. 30712/26, while the return leg saw rebuilt ‘Merchant Navy’ No. 35023 work over the Western Region main line from Plymouth to Paddington. The ‘Pacific’ was able to exhibit its tremendous power when, having attained 55mph at the foot of Hemerdon bank, a sticking regulator handle caused speed to drop alarmingly to 14mph within 1% miles. When the problem eventually was solved, the locomotive then recovered to 24mph within the next mile on the fearsome 1-in-42 gradient