3rd May 2018

The 6C53 ThO 15.06 St. Blazey to Exeter Riverside North Yard china clay train, hauled by DB Cargo (EWS) 66077, is climbing up to the summit, and short tunnel, at 17.03, near Coombe Fishacre. The load is 11 x JIA NACCO/Imerys bogie hopper wagons. 66077 will return light engine back to St. Blazey soon after arriving in Exeter in order to collect the second part of this train. It won't get back to Exeter until well after midnight, and then form the trunk service from there to Bescot, West Midlands. The steep South Devon banks of Dainton, Rattery and Hemerdon restrict the train weight, hence this splitting of the train.