Of all the titled trains operated by the Southern Railway, there is arguably none more prestigious than the 'Atlantic Coast Express'. With the inaugural run taking place in 1926, the original 'ACE' served the Southern Railway's most westerly outposts, from Exteter to Bude and Padstow, as well as Ilfracombe and Torrington. 93 years later, the mantle would be picked up by BR(S) Rebuilt 'Merchant Navy' Class - 35028 "Clan Line", working the 'Atlantic Coast Express' Railtour organised by UK Railtours.
The tour, worked solely by 35028 throughout, departed London bound for Exeter via Salisbury along the West of England Mainline, before working northwards to Bristol and Bath. From there, the Bulleid pacific would make a charge along the Wessex Mainline back to Salisbury, rejoining the West of England Mainline back to Basingstoke and then onward back to London to complete the days' running.
The cameras started the day just north east of Salisbury, to catch "Clan Line" coasting on approach to the station, before darting west to see the Rebuilt Merchant raising the tour out of Templecombe. Pushing even further west, the cameras caught 35028 on the climb towards White Ball tunnel as the consist headed for Bristol. Moving eastwards, we then catch 35028 effortlessly in her stride south of Warminster at Sherrington. Finally, with the evening sun fading, our cameras caught "Clan Line" east of Andover as the locomotive passed over a viaduct heading for London.
Footnote: Both the content and quality of this video are far removed from what I had been hoping to achieve on the day. However, circumstances on the day, as well as my own mistakes, led to this being the end result. Live and let learn, and on to the next one.
All footage filmed on Saturday the 10th of August 2019.
10 авг 2019
