Waterloo Exeter - Loco Hauled Finale 1990 - 93

During the final years of loco haulage on the Waterloo Exeter route, with the help of my family, i set out to document the whole line on video.
This was available on VHS in the 1990s and filmed on a Pro Hi8 Sony EVW 300p camera, although state of the art at the time struggle to hold up on todays large HD televisions.
The complete series can be found on KZbin at
Waterloo - Exeter
• Waterloo Exeter - Loco...
GWR Volume 1 Paddington Bristol
• GWR Volume 1 Paddingto...
GWR Volume 2 Bristol - Saltash
• Video
GWR Volume 3 Saltash - Penzance
• GWR Volume 3 Saltash -...
The North Wales Coast - Crewe - Holyhead
• Crewe Holyhead - 37s O...

[@garyhardwick8489]

Two and a half hours simply watching proper trains going by. Brilliant!

[@360railways6]

Possibly my favorite videos on KZbin. Can only thank you for all the effort you took in the 90's to capture all the video you did, historically priceless now.

[@laurenceatchison1]

Really appreciate the fact that you took the time to document all this in such detail back then - as someone who lived on that route but was too young to remember these locos in action, this is a brilliant piece of railway history. It's the next best thing to actually being there!

[@fenderac3049]

This has bought back memories. From 1992 to 1998 I travelled regularly once a fortnight from Salisbury to Torquay and Paignton on business, I would catch a train leaving Salisbury about 8.15 down to St Davids where I would change to catch the train onwards to Torquay or Paignton. I clearly remember I always caught the 16.22 back from St Davids to Salisbury. I recall my last journey behind a scheduled class 50, 50033 Glorious, then the unreliable class 47's and 33's saw the diesel era out. The coaching stock was obviously causing problems in the final years as most trains were made up of first class MK2 stock! I for one wasn't sorry to see them disappear and was pleased when the class 159's started in mid '93, they were clean, comfortable, reliable and best of all they were air-conditioned, plus the timetable expanded to trains ever hour each way between Salisbury and Exeter. I was pleased to see you filmed the King Arthur 777 Sir Lamiel at Whimple in June '92, I was on that train. It started from Exeter Central and came off the train at Salisbury where D400 & Sir Edward Elgar took the train back to Waterloo. The outward journey down to Exeter was hauled by 34027 Taw Valley, which took over the train at Andover. Thanks for posting.

[@thehogfat]

Happy memories indeed, I am in the process of remastering the video to HD/4k, some footage at Waterloo and Salisbury done so far

[@fenderac3049]

@@thehogfat 👍

[@flymajj]

This is an incredible archive of the final days of loco-hauled services on this line. Over the past couple of days I've watched and enjoyed the lot. It even answered some of my modelling questions when it came to coach details on this route, from de-branded Trans-Pennine coach numbers to discovering new details such as InterCity MK2 aircons with NSE logos applied. Fantastic work!

[@thehogfat]

Thanks Ian, I’m hoping to post some of the material soon remastered to HD, like some of the North Wales material

[@JamesSmith-mv9fp]

What few have probably noticed, is the operational methods of loco hauled trains at Waterloo. Which date back to LSWR days. Unlike many termini on other regions/railways, there were no loco release crossovers near the buffer stops. Because this would have reduced the number of available platforms. Which was unacceptable once electrification started from 1915 ! Electrification resulted in a huge increase in passengers, and therefore trains, and of course EMU's can make rapid turnarounds. So inconvenient loco hauled trains arrived, and the coaching stock was either taken away to Clapham Yard for cleaning, (by a tank engine) releasing the train Loco that had brought the train in, which then went to Nine Elms shed. Or as we see in this modern era programme the diesel once released moves to the stock of the following train (now arrived in the adjacent platform) to take it back to Exeter. But even in this scenario, this method still blocked two platforms virtually all day, just to cater for this infrequent service. This platform occupancy problem, helped hasten more routes to be electrified, and more services to be turned over to multiple unit operation. Indeed the Southern had wanted to electrify to Salisbury (at 750v DC from the 1960's) to get rid of the loco hauled service to Exeter and clear two platforms at Waterloo. At that time, trains for this service, would have been similar to the methods used on the Bournemouth line, with Diesel locos used to haul/propel TC type stock between Salisbury & Exeter.

[@dodgydruid]

Sadly that mighty oak behind the road bridge at Gillingham succumbed to newhousebuildingitis a strange phenomenon here in Gillingham where new houses just spring up but lacking in the much needed newindustryitis the town sorely needs. At least we still got two tracks and that's only because of the required passing loop with the other one other side of Tisbury but what an awful awful shame this line has become, whether seeing the absolute reduction of Yeovil Jnc to a one horse station from its mighty gateway to the west or the ghost of a station at Templecombe which boasted not one but two huge sorting yards and its own depot losing any hope of rebuilding the S&D there due to newhousebuildingitis as did Sturminster Newton and Wincanton suffer from that fatal disease to railways :( Ironically back in the early eighties I was lampsman responsible for servicing these very trains and it was always a treat to hear and see the "Son of Deltic" at work up at Waterloo, now I live literally a stones throw from Gillingham station fairly isolated as they don't like grockles (Dorsetspeak for out of towners) down here in cajun town and especially South London folk who motors around in a bright yellow three wheel van seems to really irritate 'em locals, only came back to Dorset as I was based here in the marines. Am moving to Clydebank sometime this year and shows how bad things are when I am looking forward to moving to one of Glasgow's rougher neighbourhoods than live here in Unfriendlyton and of course will be right next door to the Yoker railway works... can't wait :D

[@robdingwall03]

Hi. Outstanding for the effort in the making, keeping it all and especially for sharing. I was very familiar with Exeter to Salisbury during the mid and late 70’s with many trips behind the then prevalent 33’s before the 50’s. I was elsewhere in the country when the 47’s were on the route so all this marvellous to see. Thank You.

[@graemehutchison5145]

Love that clag on 47714 fantastic. Great video, thanks for sharing

[@brianfearn4246]

Again absolutely fabulous. I would think all those 47 locos have been cut up by now . What a shame

[@brianfearn4246]

Absolutely brilliant. And not a mobile phone in sight with the passengers

[@ClydebridgeStation]

Great to see the ex Scottish 47/7s in action. They looked very powerful in nse colours.

[@edwardbarnes2702]

Whow, this is some of the best filming and of this lovely south western line that I’ve seen of this era, and locations, Station announcements, the sound quality is excellent, was there to some degree just don’t know how to get my old Hi8 tapes to play obsolete stuff to modern day, watched this twice now, is so of it’s time, 💓 brilliant Eddie🤓

[@JohnPenfold1]

Connect your Hi8 recorder or player to computer via USB video capture card, play your old tapes and save the resulting video to your computer hard drive :)

[@owenevans83]

great stuff

[@111672balernabz2010]

Very good video great footage..

[@going2thedogs]

Superb footage.

[@adamc1272]

Brilliant compilation of these workings, thank you for the upload. At 27:20 is an immensely lucky pheasant XD

[@Georgeasaurus2001]

This is awesome stuff Sir, thanks

[@Xenogeek2]

"I yam what I yam!"--Popeye Great vid. I can't imagine all the work that went into it. I shall watch the entire series.

[@johnnyboy3949]

We should go back to having loco hauled services in Britain. Easier to increase capacity which is much needed. Loads of mk3 carriages now off lease, add the electric doors and put them to good use.

[@stevehutchinson5399]

Those were the days....!

[@dodgydruid]

1:36:18 - Was there a private siding going off from that headshunt? Its now all part of either Dextra or Sigma and where the old cripple siding behind the signalbox (now redundant) is a pre-school but they took up the track fencing it off but crazily left the old bent rail buffer stop still in place. The old goods siding sometimes sprouts the odd track tamping machine which attracts attention, even had the odd steam tour go through. The rails supporting the canopy on P1 worth an examination as some quite old rail used as stanchions. I'm after a bit of old rail to turn into an anvil, wonder if anyone will notice if I nick a bit of the leftover from behind the box... joking of course.

[@edsutton115]

This is amazing, thank you!

[@Thunderer0872]

Nice one chief as you promised, You know I heard this was very popular with the train crew mess room at Salisbury in the past. I hope you have no problem with me sharing this with the 'Loco Hauled over the Mule' Facebook group they will love this? cheers again.

[@thehogfat]

Gillinghamgus No problem Share away

[@davideggbeer8762]

Bring back memories good old MK2 PV stock.

[@hellooldchap]

Execllent video

[@tracya4087]

back in my day was dissapointed to see a 47 when wanted a 40 on the train . seeing them now they are classic too . all the best from lancashire

[@The-Bloat12]

These trains are so retro

[@theovanstaden5766]

Geat video, thanks for sharing, hi from south africa!

[@hughesy45108]

Thats fucking amazing ! Myself out of the front window behind 704 with camcorder at the ready at 16:45! I have very similar footage covering 1990-93 of the mule . Too stuff, thanks for sharing

[@edwardbarnes2702]

Actually the more I watched this, the more I’ve seen especially Salisbury from the different angles/ platforms, signals, etc, this should be preserved in the Nation archive. the evening shots, I can smell, gone for ever.🤓

[@thehogfat]

Thanks Edward, I did a few more on the GWR soon after but never quite the same as this line

[@simontappenden9179]

@39:42 - I remeber that guy from Andover station.. Dennis?

[@davideggbeer8762]

Wes on 47521 1v11 1115 waterloo-exeter 27/03/1993 brings back memories of bashing.

[@timwattison4419]

This route lost its soul and atmosphere when the Hoovers were removed. Would it not be lovely to see South Western draft in ex Great Western HST's or even Class 67/68's and Mk4's to replace those awful 159's ? Just a thought but anything would be better than units 🤔

[@mikeollier6218]

@2:05:26 are the roof flaps opening at full chat automated?

[@thehogfat]

Mike Ollier no idea I’m afraid mike Probably letting air in to cool rads etc

[@leeoffill1605]

How long would the journey take from Exeter to Waterloo on a 47 please.

[@thehogfat]

Think it was approx 3 hours 45 mins Lee

[@pauloconnor2980]

There's nothing quite like a BR standard class at 70 mph!!!!!

[@dieseldave3879]

🚂👍

[@trainrover]

oof! no wonder my mom made a stink about the grime smudged around our car; she'd protested and wouldn't vacate the 1st class seating she had us all migrate up to 🍸