Help for a fading memory... 40 at Exeter???

[rkk01]

I remember being a very excited teenager - spotting a Whistler at Exeter Riverside yard in the early 80s. IIRC It was working ballast back to the NW???

Anyway, the working was noteworthy enough to get a mention in RE or MRP, but not sufficiently noteworthy for me to instantly recall the No. I think it was 12, 20 or 25

Considering building it in to a planned scenario for Meldon Quarry workings. Don't know if a 40 would have worked down the branch in those days (RA?) - I remember the Meldon stone trains being handled by single / paired Cromptons

Does anyone have any recollections of 40s working through to Exeter? I belive they turned up occasionally - replacement for Brush Type 4 of one sort or another. Interweb has drawn a blank

[jetgriff]

they appeared on passenger workings, maybee specials..

quote from Taunton Trains

'''The 28th May 1984 saw another rare Class 40 foray into the South West, L.L.S./ T & N Railtours operated 'The Devonian' utilizing a pair of Class 40's to head South. Running as the 1Z26 throughout, the tour operated as follows:

40057+40135 operated the tour from Preston - Exeter St Davids. At Exeter the train was split, The Class 40's took 4 coaches on to Paignton. The remainder of the train then took in the delights of Meldon Quarry and the Heathfield Branch before ending up back in Paignton. 31259 & 31180 were used for this leg.

Once back in Paignton the train was reformed and the two Class 40's worked the train back to Bristol Temple Meads. At Bristol the Class 40's were removed (as 057 had failed) and 47199 was utilized for the trip to Crewe, before 40177 was added for the remaining distance to Preston.
this from the website"

http://www.tauntontrains.co.uk/MEMORIES-RAILTOURS.htm

another page there says
"You may also be interested to know that around that time class 40's also appeared on odd occasions - I remember the first one well having seen it from a distance heading south and later enquiries leading to its identity - which escapes me just now! I think it was also heading a special goods working to Taunton. On odd occasions after that (still quite rare though!) 40's appeared on trains to Bridgwater Cellophane works among others and I remember one heading North through Highbridge on 16 ton coal hoppers which had apparently come from Exeter Riverside one lunchtime.

[johnmckenzie]

MRP

Gosh! Our favourite magazine, now long gone and seemingly forgotten.

Happy days!!

[rkk01]

they appeared on passenger workings, maybee specials..

Yes - I did see 40025 (ex Lusitania) when it hauled the Wester Whistler through to Plymouth (81 / 82 ish?)

The one I saw at Exeter Riverside was another ex-namer - the more I think about, the more convinced I am that it was 40012 Aureol...?

heading North through Highbridge on 16 ton coal hoppers which had apparently come from Exeter Riverside one lunchtime

... Hhhhmmmm. There used to be railfreight HEA (?) hoppers worked from Riverside to Exmouth Junction. The 40 might have worked them through to Riverside, although I was fairly sure it was on the Meldon stone wagons (not sure what they were at the time)