34046 Braunton Shreds the Timetable! English Riviera Express. 4th May 2024

The first day of mainline steam in the far Southwest turned out to be a frantic one with the 60 m.p.h. schedule being easily beaten on the outward by up to 26 minutes and the homeward by up to 50 minutes and as a consequence I was alone at most locations.

Having negotiated the Teign Estuary mud to find a solid sandbank I still had plenty of time to set up according to a check on progress 10 minutes before. However, a quick look at the phone revealed a huge advance on the schedule showing the train now only minutes away. I rush to get the gear up and switch on and that was all the time I had for the first shot.

Seeing the train held at Aller Junction was good news however as it gave me the chance for a second shot from the beach at Goodrington Sands.

Even the return from Kingswear caught a few out as the train quickly gained on the schedule and once more I was caught off guard as 34046 suddenly appeared through Greenway Halt in this most idyllic setting.

My luckiest shot however was my last as I took a chance on the schedule being correct after Paignton and set off for Woodrow Barton with what I thought was at least an hour in hand when I got there. Wrong! Once again, all intermediate stops were cancelled and I heard the train whistle through Exeter St Davids as I was still walking to the last location. Braunton is well into her stride as I switch on and she appears through the greenest of green spring foliage, giving me a toot as her only admirer as she flies by.

Chapters:
0:00 Titles & Teign Estuary
1:03 Goodrington Sands
2:36 Greenway
3:18 Woodrow Barton