60007 Sir Nigel Gresley. Glorious Along Three Waterfronts. English Riviera Express 9May26

It’s “National Train Day” as 60007 heads our train from Taunton to Kingswear and return along the English Channel, River Dart and River Teign waterfronts. The easterly breeze and haze is still with us as the swell hits the Dawlish sea wall and provides much of the soundtrack as the immaculate A4 makes her way around the Langstone Rock headland having passed through Dawlish Warren on time. However, it is not until she reaches Dawlish Station before the regulator is opened and we are treated to that iconic three cylinder beat as she passes the fixed camera before entering Kennaway Tunnel then finally entering the rock shelter and Parsons Tunnel. The stop at Paignton was reduced by 22 minutes which scuppered any chance of a second shot on the down leg, The return is captured in lovely light as 60007 lifts the train out of the twisty station section (accompanied by the sounds of the departing ferry) before opening up for the climb to Churston. The blue “streak” certainly sounds and looks “the business” at the head of a red and cream rake backed by the green spring foliage. Finally to the River Teign where I can get to a track level position below Flow Point but things nearly didn’t go to plan as apart from shooting directly into the sun, I am very nearly “bowled’ by a Plymouth bound train! That said, I think I got away with it as the trains pass mainly out of sight behind the two large bushes! 60007 is tearing along and although the passing service mars the initial soundtrack the rest of the pass is very impressive as the A4 blasts by and away down the river toward Teignmouth. Note: the disappearance of the Exmouth service train at 00:33 is now the subject of an X File !