Atlantic Coast Railtour (Lea Valley Railway Club) 12/4/1980

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19th August 2006

25225 & 25080 head the A.C.E. railtour across Pillmouth Bridge bound for Torrington, 12/4/1980. 2500x1679 Buy Print	25225 & 25080 stand in the old platform at Torrington, 12/4/1980. 2500x1676 Buy Print	Another view of the two 25s prior to 25225 running round the train, 12/4/1980. 2500x1625 Buy Print	25225 runs round the train at Torrington, 12/4/1980. 1649x2500 Buy Print
25080 now leading, the A.C.E. heads away from Torrington bound for Peters Marland at Meeth, 12/4/1980. 2500x1649 Buy Print	25225 is now at the rear of train as it heads for Meeth, 12/4/1980. 2500x1655 Buy Print	25080 stands at Peters Marland clay works, Meeth. Note that there are no platforms, on arrival the doors opened and everyone jumped out, and guess what, nobody got hurt! What would the fashion police make of it though? 12/4/1980. 2500x1678 Buy Print	25080 & 25225 head through Bideford bound for Exeter, with Appledore ship yard in the Background, 12/4/1980. 2500x1658 Buy Print
25225 & 25080 arrive at Okehampton on route to Meldon Quarry, to be welcomed by Morris Dancers! 12/4/1980. 2500x1621 Buy Print	Another view of 25225 & 25080 at Okehampton. 12/4/1980. 2500x1656 Buy Print	25225 & 25080 depart Okehampton bound for Meldon Quarry. Note the fertilizer wagons in the goods yard. 12/4/1980. 2500x1707 Buy Print	25225 & 25080 climb towards Meldon pass the former car carrier sidings at Okehampton. 12/4/1980. 2500x1719 Buy Print

In days of old, when photographers were bold and digital wasn't invented, railtours were hauled by real traction. On 12th April 1980, the Lea Valley Railway Club ran the 'Atlantic Coast Express' from Paddington to Meeth, Meeth to Exeter, Exeter to Meldon and Meldon to Waterloo. My mate Ian and myself set off in his Mini (SAF 622G) to catch this train on film. These were the days when a gallon of four star (YES, a gallon of real petrol) cost less than a litre of unleaded today. On the way home the fan belt broke near Ladock and a kindly old lady gave us a bottle of water to complete our journey. Happy days!