Only had one trip on the ACE unfortunately. May 1962 with rebuilt Merchant Navy 35028 ‘Clan Line’ from Waterloo to Exeter Central then unmodified Battle of Britain 34070 ‘Manston’ to Ilfracombe.
I think that I saw West Country class engines on the Torrington portion back in 1959.. my school organised a camp to Westward Ho and I and 2 chums bought a weekly rail rover pass to spend most of the week on Exeter St David's. For us being Blackpudlians the GWR and Southern engines were a great attraction. The ACE was banked by a USA class engine I think, up to Central. A great deal of noise and wheel slip from both the West Country on the front and the USA on the back. And would there have been 2 trains going up the bank to form the one train from Central? These days the diesels make short work of the bank and no doubt some form of electrification will make shorter shrift of the bank in the near future! Of course the real joy is that the line, once being considered for closure is making such a big comeback. The railways would do well to sell day rover tickets on the line for people to explore Axminster and Sherborne and Salisbury on a day out.
As a young boy, I ravelled with my parents on the ACE. In those days, we stopped at Sidmouth Junction (now called Feniton) and one or two coaches were detached from the rear. These were picked up by a small tank engine and taken down through small towns like Tipton St John and Ottery St Many. At one of these stations was a junction and the train was split yet again. One coach was taken by another tank engine to Sidmouth and the rest went on to Exmouth. Happy days!
In particular, most of the coaches were brake composites, so you effectively had a complete train in each coach - guard, luggage, first and third class. IIRC there was also a pair of catering vehicles (probably tavern cars, interesting in their own right!), which were detached at Exeter Central and swapped onto the up service.
I was in the RAF in 1953 and used to regularly travel on the midnight train from Waterloo to Barnstaple to get back for duty at Chivenor by 6am.some Army guys got on the wrong part for Salisbury on looked very bemused at Barnstaple
Even today the Exeter train from Waterloo splits at Salisbury & sometimes the up train is made up of a Salisbury set added to by a 3 coach set from Exeter.
When I used to travel in and out of Salisbury, I distinctly remember the 16:21 out of Salisbury becoming a 9 coach unit made of 3 Class 159s. 6 coaches would park themselves on Platform 2, and all of us BWS/SWGS students would hop on, and then we'd wait for the doors to slam shut while the final 3 coaches got added, and then reopen for a few minutes until it was time to depart. I'm not sure why, but when the 6 coaches arrived, it always triggered the "the next train is not scheduled to stop here" warning, even though it (without fail) always stopped to let us all on!
A very interesting story, well told.
Grand film , well explained 👍☕
Nice video and good to look back at a part of history of the Southern Railway.
Only had one trip on the ACE unfortunately. May 1962 with rebuilt Merchant Navy 35028 ‘Clan Line’ from Waterloo to Exeter Central then unmodified Battle of Britain 34070 ‘Manston’ to Ilfracombe.
Really great story, excellently narrated, well done!!
I think that I saw West Country class engines on the Torrington portion back in 1959.. my school organised a camp to Westward Ho and I and 2 chums bought a weekly rail rover pass to spend most of the week on Exeter St David's. For us being Blackpudlians the GWR and Southern engines were a great attraction. The ACE was banked by a USA class engine I think, up to Central. A great deal of noise and wheel slip from both the West Country on the front and the USA on the back. And would there have been 2 trains going up the bank to form the one train from Central? These days the diesels make short work of the bank and no doubt some form of electrification will make shorter shrift of the bank in the near future! Of course the real joy is that the line, once being considered for closure is making such a big comeback. The railways would do well to sell day rover tickets on the line for people to explore Axminster and Sherborne and Salisbury on a day out.
As a young boy, I ravelled with my parents on the ACE. In those days, we stopped at Sidmouth Junction (now called Feniton) and one or two coaches were detached from the rear. These were picked up by a small tank engine and taken down through small towns like Tipton St John and Ottery St Many. At one of these stations was a junction and the train was split yet again. One coach was taken by another tank engine to Sidmouth and the rest went on to Exmouth. Happy days!
Most interesting!
Thanks
In particular, most of the coaches were brake composites, so you effectively had a complete train in each coach - guard, luggage, first and third class. IIRC there was also a pair of catering vehicles (probably tavern cars, interesting in their own right!), which were detached at Exeter Central and swapped onto the up service.
Really interesting, I didn't realise Southern trains went that far into the South West.
Amazing I was Filming Clan Line on that train today but wrong coaching stock Mk2s instead of full rake of mk1 coaches
Love it!
I was in the RAF in 1953 and used to regularly travel on the midnight train from Waterloo to Barnstaple to get back for duty at Chivenor by 6am.some Army guys got on the wrong part for Salisbury on looked very bemused at Barnstaple
2:39 This Famous Named Train Atlantic Coast Express Train Is A Bit Like The Flying Scotsman. Thanks Mate. X
So say when the train split at Oakhampton what loco would take the Bude section or padstow if the main train went to Plymouth.
Didn't the Western Region take over everything west of Salisbury in January 1963 and the last ACE run in September 1964?
♠️ the southern name train are very iconic.
Even today the Exeter train from Waterloo splits at Salisbury & sometimes the up train is made up of a Salisbury set added to by a 3 coach set from Exeter.
When I used to travel in and out of Salisbury, I distinctly remember the 16:21 out of Salisbury becoming a 9 coach unit made of 3 Class 159s. 6 coaches would park themselves on Platform 2, and all of us BWS/SWGS students would hop on, and then we'd wait for the doors to slam shut while the final 3 coaches got added, and then reopen for a few minutes until it was time to depart.
I'm not sure why, but when the 6 coaches arrived, it always triggered the "the next train is not scheduled to stop here" warning, even though it (without fail) always stopped to let us all on!