Waterloo to Exeter in the 1980s

Sorting through some of my old 35 mm slides recently, I came across some photographs that I took during the 1980s of trains, mostly hauled by Class 50, on the Waterloo to Exeter line.

So, I thought I would post some of the better ones on the blog, beginning with three photos of Class 50s at Waterloo.

In these three photos we see, from the top, 50003 'Temeraire' and 50050 'Fearless' at the buffer stops both having arrived with trains from Exeter St Davids.

While, in the third photo, 50037 'Illustrious' waits to depart with a train for Exeter.

In this photo we see an unidentified Class 50 about to enter Sandley Tunnel, between Templecombe and Gillingham, with an evening train for Waterloo.

Templecombe station before there was a footbridge, meaning all passengers had to enter and exit via the crossing, just behind the photographer.

Of course the far platform has recently been reinstated meaning that the platform pictured here is now closed to passengers.

While at Templecombe we see the naming ceremony of 33112 'Templecombe, which took place on a very wet day in November 1987. This loco was chosen to be so named because Templecombe is 112 miles from Waterloo.

In better weather we see an unidentified Class 47 departing Templecombe, and crossing over to the down line, with a train for Exeter.

With the sun still shining, we next see 50012 'Benbow' at Sutton Bingham, between Yeovil Junction and Crewkerne.

Down the 1 in 37 from Exeter Central and around the curve into Exeter St Davids station. Oh wouldn't it be nice to have loco hauled nine coach trains on this line now!

Finally we see 50043 'Eagle' at the northern (Paddington) end of Exeter St Davids.