2022 Springtime Hoovering In Devon

50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance at different stages during the Springtime Hoovering In Devon tour run by UK Railtours.

The tour started at London Paddington, travelling to Paignton via Bristol. After a lunchtime stop at this seaside resort 50007 was run-around and re-coupled for the top-'n'-tail working that was required for the single-track Dartmore Line to Okehampton.

50049 returned the train back to Exeter whereupon the locomotives were then recoupled in a double-headed formation . The tour then returned to London Paddington via Westbury. Total distance covered by the Class 50s was 493 miles for the one-day trip.

The Dartmoor Line, terminating at Okehampton, opened on 20 November 2021 and is the first line to be reinstated under the Department for Transport’s Restoring your Railway initiative. From May 2022 there will be regular passenger services on the line, making any future railtours to this destination almost impossible.

Date: 2022-03-26