SR WC 4-6-2 No 34034 Honiton with the 2.30pm Plymouth-Exeter near Hemerdon on 27 June 1959.

Peter Kerslake says "Despite being used to running on relatively easy terrain on their home grounds the Southern Region light "Pacifics" seemed to take the one in forty two gradient at Hemerdon in their stride and 34034 is running well as it enters the woods with the returning afternoon service from Plymouth North Road to Exeter St. Davids.
The Southern engines and crews worked two daily services between Exeter and Plymouth on the Western Region's main line in order to familiarise crews with the line which they would have to use in the event of their own line running via Okehampton becoming blocked by foul weather or accidant, whilst Western Region men did the same on the Southern line but were restricted to using nothing larger than 2-6-0 locomotives due to weight limitations on Meldon viaduct at Okehampton."

Photo: P.W.Gray / Rail Archive Stephenson