Unlucky run for ‘Torbay Express’

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AFTER hot weather and dry conditions forced the use of a diesel loco on June 18, the ‘Torbay Express’ suffered more misfortune on July 2 when the booked steam loco – No. 60163 Tornado – failed before departure from Bristol.

The ‘Torbay Express’ ran with DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66172 on July 2 because of a ban on steam operations during a period of hot, dry weather. However, the return journey also suffered extensive delays because of operational and signalling problems, and was held at Newton Abbot for more than 90 minutes. NICK JONES

Injector problems discovered the previous day prevented the ‘A1’ from hauling the train, and it proved impossible to arrange a replacement at short notice.

A DB Cargo Class 66 substituted for Tornado, but the ill-fated train was then heavily delayed on its return journey by operational issues and a signal failure north of Exeter.

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The train was held for 30 minutes awaiting a path back onto the main line from the Paignton & Dartmouth Railway and was then delayed again at Newton Abbot for 93 minutes

The train eventually arrived back at Bristol at around 23.00, too late for many of the 403 passengers to make onward connections by rail.

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