17th June 2023

GBRf Class 73s nos. 73964 "Jeanette" + 73962 "Dick Mabutt" slowly pull in to the loop at Chard Junction at 16.57. They are working the returning "Magic Carpet" railtour, the 1Z62 15.33 Exeter St. Davids to London Waterloo, via Southampton, operated by UK Railtours. Apparently the train stalled on the bank up to Central from Exeter St. Davids after it was found that the locos were not working in multiple, so a driver had to man no. 73962 and the train then operated with tandem locos rather than a true multiple working double-header! You can see the driver in the second unit looking out the window. Now that this train has arrived it will wait for two service trains to pass so time for me to leap ahead to Forde Abbey to see the train again.