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Published:
July 21, 2008
Steam
train revives old memories as it passes through Highbridge
A
classic steam train has begun its regular summer service for a
sixth year running, passing through Highbridge railway station
on its journey to the Devon coast.
The Torbay Express passed through Burnham and Highbridge Railway
Station on Sunday (July 20th) on its way to Paignton and Dartmouth.
 Launched
in 2003 when it ran on only four Sundays in August, the Torbay
Express has been expanded every summer since and in 2008 will
have a 14-week season.
The service will run every Sunday until September 28th, plus August
Bank Holiday Monday.
Reviving the name of a famous steam express which once ran from
London Paddington but which was discontinued in 1961, the Torbay
Express now sets out from Bristol each Sunday at 9.18am, picking
up at Weston-super-Mare at 9.42am, Taunton at 10.42am and Exeter
St Davids at 11.18am.
The route takes in Highbridge railway station and the Somerset
levels, plus the Blackdown Hills and the Exe Valley to Exeter,
the Exe and Teign estuaries, the sea-wall stretch from Dawlish
Warren to Teignmouth, and into the old riverside station of Kingswear.
This year, three trains will operate on the route - the Great
Western Railway 'King' class engine King Edward I; GWR four-cylinder
'Castle' class locomotive Nunney Castle, and the Southern Railway
'Battle of Britain' class engine Tangmere.
Enthusiast
Peter Boulter, who took these photos of the King Edward train,
told Burnham-On-Sea.com at Highbridge railway station on Sunday:
"It
is great to see a wonderful steam train like this passing through
the area - it's a real blast from the past."
Fares cost £55 from Bristol and Weston-Super-Mare; £54
from Taunton; and £50 from Exeter and the charge for the
foot-ferry across the River Dart to Dartmouth is included. For
bookings, call 01543 411 971 or visit here.
Pictured
above is the King Edward train travelling between Weston and Burnham-On-Sea
on Sunday morning, and a separate close-up
Photos
courtesy of Peter Boulter
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