After a few days of Mediterranean summer weather, more familiar British conditions return with a vengeance as increasingly high winds and storm clouds build through the day.
Substituting at the last minute for 70000 Britannia, Ex S.R. Westcountry Class: 34046 Braunton makes a fine sight as she emerges from Parsons Tunnel and hurries past Spey Point for a close-up pan on the unfenced wall, a rapidly disappearing feature on the U.K. national rail network!
The storm winds have reached their peak and the rigging on the sailing boats moored behind us on the River Dart provide a background soundtrack as Braunton leaves Kingswear for the return to Taunton, and amazingly, the sun comes out right on cue! The tracks are slippery after a long wait for departure but 34046 eases the train through the twisty station point-work with minimal wheel-slip. As the train heads past and away towards the higher ferry and the climb to Churston an imminent thunder storm can be seen building up in Torbay and as I have travelled by motorcycle, this is my cue to head straight for home while my luck holds!!
Please note: the flags that appear from 2:03 have no significance other than to demonstrate the strength of the wind to explain the background noises. As I live in and abide by the conventions of a democracy; I believe in the right of free expression for all, no matter what their life choices are.
Chapters:
00:00 Title
00:13 Teignmouth, Sprey Point
02:02 Kingswear, Dart Estuary