71000 'Duke of Gloucester' loco swaps with 50050 'Fearless' powering the Cornish Rivera Express West

Following Flying Scotsman Fever last Saturday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPL8GtCjXY4&t=3407s another iconic Pacific was in action on the mainline today in the shape of BR Standard Class 8P Pacific 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' which arrived at the West Somerset last week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlCxywnCNVA

This coverage shows some of the first day of the Steam Dreams Cornish Riviera Express excursion from London Paddington to Penzance, where we pick up the action this morning at Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway where 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' was being prepared in Westridge shed ahead of running down the main line to take over the tour from 50050 'Fearless' while 7828 'Odney Manor' runs off shed ready for a day on WSR services.

We see the Duke steaming away towards Norton Fitzwarren where it would run around the support coach while we moved on to 40 steps at Taunton.

We observe the Class 50 arriving at the head of the Steam Dreams railtour before running off up to 40 Steps bridge light engine and back to Taunton Loco Sidings, after which the Duke and it's a support coach reverse back down from Norton Fitzwarren to attach the train and continue the journey down to Exeter St Davids with LSL 57302 on the rear.

We then follow down to Exeter to see the Duke in Riverside New Yard being serviced during a stop before working the next leg down to Plymouth and onto Penzance on its first ever visit to Cornwall and the last piece of footage today is captured along the Dawlish Sea Wall in glorious sunny Autumnal conditions as the Duke is seen steaming along the coast heading for Plymouth and then, after a stop, onto Penzance concluding the first day of the railtour. | 22.09.2026

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