London to Exeter Steam Excursion
September 13, 2009

The train loads at Waterloo Station in London (first class carriage shown).

Passengers are given detailed “timing sheets” for the trip, and the train generally keeps time to the minute on a line with heavy scheduled passenger traffic. Although the sheet indicates that 60163 is limited to 75 mph on this trip, I was reliably informed by staff members that we reached 78 mph at some points – the fastest I have ever ridden behind steam!

The train pauses for a red signal shortly after leaving London, and later passes a group of onlookers at a small station.

As on American steam trips, the local fire department (here at Salisbury) often waters the engine. “Tornado” has special tender fittings to connect to fire hoses.

Also as in common American practice, 60163 was accompanied by a crew/ service car from which souvenir vendors operated throughout the train.

There are no photo runbys on British mainline steam trips. High-level platforms, limited access at stops, and onlooker crowding made it difficult to get traditional ¾ shots.

At Exeter I managed to get some clear shots of the locomotive.

The cab controls seem rather simple compared with modern American steamers, but the locomotive is equipped with the latest electronic devices for main-line running.

There was a three hour lay-over in Exeter, during which I toured the medieval cathedral. (All the “Cathedrals Express” steam trains run to one of England’s cathedral towns.)

A typical crowd waits to board a London-bound train.

The “Cathedrals Express” backs in to Exeter station for the return trip.

I rode in this “3rd class” coach, in a seat next to the window lettered “F.” Small openings above the main windows let in some of the engine sounds and even allow for limited photography, but as in American cars the best views are from the open windows in the entry doors. The grim-looking guy appointed himself “owner” of the door where he is standing, and rarely yielded his place on the entire trip back to London.

The engine pauses for water at Weston-super-Mare in the waning light of late afternoon. Although it is not evident from my pictures, 60163 (like many British steam passenger locos) has a third, inside-connected cylinder between the frames. The three cylinders give it a distinctive exhaust sound, especially at high speeds.

The train passes the old resort city of Bath, and runs through a lovely landscape as the sun sets. Much of the return trip followed a different route than the outbound trip, traveling on parts of the original Great Western mainline which was built from London to Plymouth in the 1840’s. Total round trip mileage was about 380.

At about 10 PM 60163 rests at Clapham Junction, near London Waterloo, where the return trip terminated. This was one of the very best steam trips I ever rode, and “Tornado” is a magnificent locomotive.