Vintage Trains ran the 'South Devon Explorer' railtour from Birmingham New Street to Plymouth via Banbury, Bath and Bristol on Saturday, 10th May 2025. The tour was headed throughout by an immaculately turned out Class 52, D1015 'Western Champion'. The return leg had a brief diversion up the South Devon Railway to Buckfastleigh and was assisted from the rear by Class 37, 37240. Weather conditions for photography were perfect.

I photted the outward leg of the tour at Ellerhayes Bridge, between Cullompton and Exeter; the South Devon Railway deviation at Dartington; and finally at Gibraltar Bridge, Cullompton.

As you would expect, photters were out in their numbers! I would have liked a wider angle shot of the tour by the River Dart, but any wider than this would have resulted in a swarm of cameras and photters in the image!

Marvellous photos Phil,for which many thanks.
Champion is looking great and sounding marvellous,one slight concern was early on in the day she was dispensing large quantities of white smoke,from both exhausts ,enough to put the Chimney in Rome to shame !
However once fully warmed up and having been allowed to stretch her legs a bit normal service was restored and the usual mid grey Clag returned,hope to ride behind again before much longer.

I was on-board this train, treating myself to an early 70th birthday present with my wife, Pullman Class from Warwick Parkway

Absolutely excellent day out.  Five stars. Would recommend. * * * * *

Ten minutes late from Birmingham New Street didn't bode well (Held up by late-running West Midlands Railway services that were prioritised by control).  According to RealTime Trains the service was timed for a maximum speed of 75mph, but D1015 obviously hadn't read that bit.  It was a wonderful wallow in nostalgia to be Western hauled at 90mph (the loco's maximum permitted speed) where the line allowed it through Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Devon.

Whizzing through Taunton at 80 mph was a thrill I'd not experienced before, so that was fun

The on-board experience in the Vintage Trains Pullman was great.  Good food, and a level of comfort that really did put modern trains to shame (apart from on the too numerous stretches of rough-riding road)   It was a shame that the car's exterior hadn't been cleaned lately, which did mar the view of the fantastic sunlit countryside and the sea-wall section

The Class 37 was detached at Bristol Temple Meads, and followed the passenger train closely down to Plymouth.  Meaning D1015 single-handedly dragged the 9-coach train up Whiteball and the South Devon banks on her own.  Made a champion job of it - just as you'd expect, although I did overhear stewards from the train after arrival at Plymouth say that one of the Maybach pair shut itself down temporarily in the attack on Whiteball.  Which might explain the 30mph as we entered the tunnel

There was a melee at Plymouth, with every man and his dog jostling for position to take a picture of the loco after arrival.  There was some unpleasantness from a couple of the "enthusiast" passengers who wanted the D1015 group to get out of the way so a perfect picture could be taken.  But the D1015 folks quite justifiably wanted a group photo to remember the successful run.  It very nearly came to blows between the photographer trying to get the group shot and one of the assembled gaggle of gricers.  Very unpleasant.  In 55 years of both professional and hobby railwaying, I'd not witnessed anything like it.

The sea-wall section provided a great thrill, of course.  Many heads were turned by those on the beach and on the footpath.  Lineside photographers were out in force.  The weather was perfect.

The return from Plymouth started 40 minutes late after being held up by control who, we were told, were concerned that if we departed on time, there was a risk of delaying scheduled services because of the time it would take to "cross onto the South Devon Railway at Totnes".  If this really is what was the cause, it's the biggest load of hookum I've heard in a long time.

So, arrival at Buckfastleigh was some 40 minutes later than timetabled, cutting time down there considerably.  This situation was worsened when (after most passengers had detrained and were on the station, in the shop, off to visit the loco department, or wherever) the organisers decided it would be necessary to depart ten minutes early, so as not to run the risk of being late back at Totnes Riverside awaiting re-entry onto NR^» (Network Rail - home page) metals.  A shopful of probable buyers had to leave the shop empty handed

The train had been turned at Laira, so we were sitting on the landward side at Teignmouth, but by the time we'd again whizzed through Taunton, we were on the seaward side as we crossed the Somerset levels at sunset.  Something this former resident of Bridgwater found to be completely magical

We arrived at Bristol temple Meads early, only to set-down, but were held awaiting right time before departure.  Darkeness had fallen, but it was another journey in nostalgia to be moving along in the dark at 90

We were back at Warwick Parkway bang on time.  Standing and hearing Western Champion pull the coaches and trailing loco away with the taps fully open and off into the night was a spine tingling experience.  At Witham, I'd hear a D1000 at full chat shooting past, or pulling away with a stone train, maybe 20 times a shift.  I'd forgotten quite how emotional that sound is