10th Aug 2019

Atlantic Coast Express 1: At 12.17 Bulleid Pacific 4-6-2 "Merchant Navy" Class no. 35028 "Clan Line" puts on a sprint as it starts the climb up to Honiton Tunnel, passing bridge no. 449, the occupation bridge off Woodhayne Lane between Kilmington and Whitford. The train is running early by around 10 minutes, having not laid-over at Chard Junction as scheduled, and caused an initial minor panic, but no need to worry as the London service had yet to reach the loop at Axminster. The Exeter train that should have gone before it was around 15 minutes late, hence the reason for sending "Clan Line" on ahead.

The train is 1Z82 07.52 London Waterloo to Exeter St. Davids, and would eventually arrive 23 early. After a few hours in the city the train would return to Waterloo by a convoluted route via Taunton, Bristol, Westbury and Salisbury.