THE EDEN LIMITED

This trip, run by Pathfinder Tours, was steam hauled from Exeter to Par and return, giving a relatively rare steam hauled trip into Cornwall.  The primary destination was Par to provide a visit to the Eden Project, but a stop was also made at Bodmin Road (now Parkway) to give the alternative option of a trip on the preserved Bodmin and Wenford Railway.

The 13 coach train was provided with the ‘super power’ of 4-6-0 6024 ‘King Edward I’ plus 4-6-0 5029 ‘Nunney Castle’ double-heading throughout, and they certainly made light work of the many banks on this route. The locomotives have been operating on the West Somerset Railway (near Taunton), and this trip enabled them to be turned for their future return to their home bases.

In deteriorating weather conditions, we see the train on Rattery bank (KENC1), then on the climb out of St. Germans heading towards Liskeard (KENC2). The return trip is seen on the climb from Bodmin Road towards Largin and Treago Mills (KENC3), then on the climb of Dainton Bank at Combe Fishacre (KENC4).

The interlude on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway is shown with 2-6-2T 5552 climbing out of Bodmin Road heading for Bodmin General (BW1) and the same locomotive being banked by 0-6-0PT 4612 on the climb from Boscarne Junction to Bodmin General (BW2).