Various classes of engines were used to haul the 'Atlantic Coast Express' including the 'Merchant Navy' and slightly smaller engines of the 'West Country' class at 67ft 4in in length and 23 tons lighter than the 'MNs' at a total weight of 129 tons. Reproduced here is a Southern Railways advertisement from a local newspaper printed in 1945 announcing the arrival of new 'West Country' engines. The engine tenders held 5 tons of coal and carried 4,500 gallons of water.
The hey days of travel on the "Atlantic Coast Express" was in the 1930's and again in the immediate post war years and into the early 1950's. Passenger travel by train peaked in 1957, from then on the motor car took over as the most popular holiday transport. During the early 1960's the route south of Exeter became known as "The Withered Arm" due to the fact that investment was concentrated on electrifying the lines around the suburbs of London, there seemed little point in financial commitment to a rail system for the far West that was now facing intense competition from the motor car and road hauliers, thus the system west of Exeter was literally left to wither away.
The last "Atlantic Coast Express" left Padstow at 11am on the 5th September 1964, this famous train that had for so long linked London with the invigorating holiday environment of North Cornwall's Atlantic Coast ceased to exist. Lines south of Okehampton were closed some two years later and the era of steam and rail travel in much of rural Devon and Cornwall came to an end.
Circa 1928 travel article:
"Here let me say a word in praise of the Southern Railway's "ATLANTIC COAST EXPRESS," the latest flyer on the line. All that modern engineering ingenuity can do to make fast railway travel pleasant and comfortable has been done. Long corridor-coaches, luxuriously appointed, mounted on wonderful smooth-running bogies; little shaded lights over each seat; clean and up-to-date lavatory and washing accommodation; comfortable restaurant cars with inexpensive meals efficiently served; and the whole train hauled at express speed by a monster green locomotive of the "Lord Nelson" or "King Arthur" class - these are the contributions of an enterprising railway management to your holiday pleasures. Moreover, for the small sum of one shilling, you can reserve a seat on the train in advance - an inestimable boon".
"The Withered Arm" - Atlantic Coast Express - VIDEO
A Jim Clemens video, which captures the bygone days of steam and is a unique record of travel in the early 60's. This is a one-hour video about "memories" as well as a must for the railway enthusiast.
A classic journey on the "ATLANTIC COAST EXPRESS" from London Waterloo to the extremities of the Southern Railway, to that part of the rail system west of Exeter, known as the "Withered Arm". This has to be the definitive video recording the magnificent days of steam in Devon and Cornwall, superbly colour filmed on sunny days in the early 1960's. Only archive film has been used and is supported by an informative commentary with sound track.
We join this celebrated train at Waterloo and travel via Basingstoke, Salisbury and Sidmouth Junction to EXETER CENTRAL, viewing the line from the train and track-side. Then deep into the West Country to BARNSTAPLE JUNCTION, ILFRACOMBE, INSTOW, BIDEFORD and GREAT TORRINGTON. Forward to busy HALWILL JUNCTION, before an in depth visit to the BUDE branch and the Bude Canal Wharf. Further west on the North Cornwall Line via LAUNCESTON to WADEBRIDGE and PADSTOW. Bodmin is visited, returning via Bere Alston, Gunnislake and Okehampton to Exeter Central.
ORDERING INFORMATION
To purchase a Video or DVD of Jim Clemens No 3 "The Withered Arm" go to the Michael Clemens web site at www.michaelclemensrailways.co.uk
IMPORTANT - When ordering please confirm that you have viewed the "Atlantic Highway" web site.
Sources of information and inspiration for the
"Atlantic Coast Express" web page of www.atlantic-highway.co.uk
Acknowledgement and thanks to
Michael Clemens, Brian Dudley Stamp and John Statham
Shops with interesting Railway Books:
The Titfield Thunderbolt,
Brassknocker Basin, Monkton Coombe, Nr Bath. Tel: 01225 723039
Spencer Thorne Bookshop,
Belle Vue, BUDE, Cornwall. EX23 8JS. Tel: 01288 352518
