A once familiar sight over the South Devon banks was recreated for the first time in 20 years on Friday 27th September, when Vintage Trains paid tribute to one of BR Western Regions’ short-lived prime express trains, The Mayflower.

Like most express trains heading for Plymouth and onwards to Cornwall the South Devon banks proved a formidable challenge to even the best express steam locomotives.

Many trains were double-headed to and from Newton Abbot and occasionally Exeter to assist with heavy express passenger trains.

Because of this steeply graded section of the route through the west country, it drew rail enthusiasts who would witness what seemed an endless procession of double-headed steam trains making much noise and speed, which sometimes involved unusual pairings of a variety of former GWR locomotives depending on what assisting locomotives, known as pilot engines, where available to assist the main train.

Vintage Trains took the opportunity to re-enact this once-every-day scene, using two castle class locomotives No. 7029 Clun Castle and No. 5053 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

The first on this section of the mainline since castles No. 5029 ‘Nunney Castle’ and No. 5051 ‘Drysllwyn Castle/Earl Bathurst’ also double-headed on the same route in 2004.

The Trip

On a cold and damp morning, The Mayflower departed from Birmingham New Street en route to Bristol Temple Meads.

The duo of Class 20 locomotives, No. 20189 and No. 20142 ‘Sir John Betjeman’ operating in tandem, effortlessly managed the initial segment of the trip, delivering a symphony of English Electric’s distinctive thrash to the passengers who were anticipating the main event: the double-heading of the two Castle class locomotives.

Assuming control of the train in Bristol, the only two preserved double chimney Castles revisited a region where, for 41 years, they pulled nearly all passenger trains except the heaviest.

The image of double-headed Castles charging up the South Devon Banks and racing along the Dawlish seawall recreates moments from a past age, indelibly etched in the memories of onlookers.

Both locomotives hold records over the Plymouth-Bristol route. Clun Castle, initially stationed at Newton Abbot in 1950 and later at Plymouth, surpassed the City of Truro’s point-to-point record in 1964, securing its preservation.

Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, starting as an Old Oak Common engine, found its way to Barry scrapyard but was later purchased for preservation at Tyseley, where it was restored to steam and surpassed Clun Castle’s record in 2014.

It is likely that the Mayflower event marked the first occasion these two record-holding locomotives ran together on this renowned and picturesque route.

“Double-headed steam on the mainline is a rare occurrence, but running an express steam train with two record breakers in the 21^st century is quite an achievement. Our team performed as well as the two locomotives and ensured a faultless performance and a splendid day out for our 500 or so passengers. So to not only be able to do this but do it with two Castles, the first time on this route in 20 years, is incredible. Network Rail and First Great Western provided invaluable planning support.

Following the success of 1Z48 The Great Western in May, we thought double-headed Castles would be the best way to top that experience. From the train selling out, seeing all the excited faces of thousands of people who saw the train and the photos and footage from each part of the route this train exceeded all expectations.”

Michael Whitehouse, Chairman of Vintage Trains