A Most Unusual (non) Turn of Events. 60007 Hauls the Golden Hind. 11July 2024.

Delays and re-scheduling 'on the hoof' resulted in a very frustrating day for photographers chasing this Saphos Tour to Plymouth. A 16 minute delay leaving Taunton meant that the original stops for passing services (giving plenty of time for a second filming location) were either shortened or cut out altogether, reducing me to one shot of the down leg.

Starting with a clip I captured on Saturday 6th of the English Riviera Express passing Exminster at high speed we move on to the sea wall at Dawlish.

Thanks to a Bob, a new friend and fellow biker, I was invited on to his raised patio for a superb view of nearly the whole of the sea wall stretch and tunnels with the now completed rockfall protection clearly visible as the train disappears from view. A fixed camera picks up the section out of view.

Things got even worse on the return leg as I get myself set up high above the track at Coombe Fishacre. At the scheduled departure time there is no news from Plymouth, even of anything at the platform. Time passes and 61 minutes after the scheduled departure time things finally get underway and I wait 30 minutes with bated breath for the A4 to appear at the head of the train but when the diesel appears I assume that 60007 has failed so don't bother to film. However, something told me to eventually switch on anyway if only for panning practice and as I am filming I hear that distinctive 3 cylinder sound and pan to the back of the train to see something I have never seen before: an A4 reverse pushing at the back of the train!

Update:
There was a points failure at Laira MPD so the train was delayed by 65 minutes leaving the depot and the train was unable to be turned using the triangle. My thanks to @paulbrown7060 for the info.