RAILWAY enthusiasts will steam into into the past this Saturday.
The Dartmoor Railway at Okehampton is the destination of the once famous Atlantic Coast Express — revived for this one-off outing.
It is more than 35 years since an unrebuilt Bulleid 'Pacific' class steam locomotive last ventured down the mainline into West Devon hauling what was once a popular express which divided for various Atlantic coast destinations such as Ilfracombe, Bude and Padstow.
On Saturday, 'Battle of Britain' class pacific No 34067 'Tangmere' will run from London Waterloo. Departing at 8am it will travel down the former London and South Western line via Salisbury to Exeter, the old route of the Atlantic Coast Express (ACE).
The train's original destination had been Barnstaple, but due to track problems it will travel to Okehampton instead — now the furthest surviving extremity of the ACE route. Here the train would once have divided for North Cornwall and Plymouth. The estimated time of arrival at Okehampton Station will be 1.30pm, departing at 3.30pm.
'Tangmere' will be reverse hauled back to Exeter by diesel, and continue its journey to Paddington, via Taunton, Westbury and Reading.