ON Sunday, April 17, the Tarka Line welcomed an exceedingly rare visitor - an HST 125 train from London.

A common enough sight on the Paddington to Penzance main railway line for the past 40 years, it is big news when one of these units is glimpsed in Mid or North Devon.

Rail enthusiasts thronged the platforms and bridges to see the train along the Tarka Line.

UK Railtours’ boss John Farrow had chartered the train for the special run for 500 people who had booked tickets.

Alan Quick