A classic steam train has begun its regular summer service for a sixth year running, passing through Highbridge railway station on its journey to the Devon coast.
The Torbay Express passed through Burnham and Highbridge Railway Station on Sunday (July 20th) on its way to Paignton and Dartmouth.
Launched in 2003 when it ran on only four Sundays in August, the Torbay Express has been expanded every summer since and in 2008 will have a 14-week season.
The service will run every Sunday until September 28th, plus August Bank Holiday Monday.
Reviving the name of a famous steam express which once ran from London Paddington but which was discontinued in 1961, the Torbay Express now sets out from Bristol each Sunday at 9.18am, picking up at Weston-super-Mare at 9.42am, Taunton at 10.42am and Exeter St Davids at 11.18am.
The route takes in Highbridge railway station and the Somerset levels, plus the Blackdown Hills and the Exe Valley to Exeter, the Exe and Teign estuaries, the sea-wall stretch from Dawlish Warren to Teignmouth, and into the old riverside station of Kingswear.
This year, three trains will operate on the route – the Great Western Railway ‘King’ class engine King Edward I; GWR four-cylinder ‘Castle’ class locomotive Nunney Castle, and the Southern Railway ‘Battle of Britain’ class engine Tangmere.
Enthusiast Peter Boulter, who took these photos of the King Edward train, told Burnham-On-Sea.com at Highbridge railway station on Sunday: “It is great to see a wonderful steam train like this passing through the area – it’s a real blast from the past.”
Fares cost £55 from Bristol and Weston-Super-Mare; £54 from Taunton; and £50 from Exeter and the charge for the foot-ferry across the River Dart to Dartmouth is included. For bookings, call 01543 411 971 or visit here.
Pictured above is the King Edward train travelling between Weston and Burnham-On-Sea on Sunday morning, and a separate close-up
Photos courtesy of Peter Boulter
