in August 1981(?) passing over Home Farm bridge on the approach to Eggesford.The fish in the water tickled my feet while I was waiting for the train!
21 December 2005
Class 47 and two carriages arrive at Barnstaple to form the 14.10 departure during the early 1980's, due to shortage of rolling stock. 
The practice was to 'borrow' the coaches off the Exeter -Waterloo service. Some times a loco would bring the failed DMU down which had no lights and no heating! A wide variety of locos would visit the branch including class 50's with one or two coaches that just happen to fall off a passing Waterloo service. It was not unknown for the station supervisor at Exeter to 'fail' certain Waterloo carriages due to lack of toilet roll or suchlike and send them off down the withered arm. Most of the rolling stock shortage was due to the poor class 142 (Skippers) performance. 
The practice was to 'borrow' the coaches off the Exeter -Waterloo service. Some times a loco would bring the failed DMU down which had no lights and no heating! A wide variety of locos would visit the branch including class 50's with one or two coaches that just happen to fall off a passing Waterloo service. It was not unknown for the station supervisor at Exeter to 'fail' certain Waterloo carriages due to lack of toilet roll or suchlike and send them off down the withered arm. Most of the rolling stock shortage was due to the poor class 142 (Skippers) performance.
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