Rebuilt compared to Unrebuilt

Hi,

Is it true that only Unrebuilts were allowed down to Ilfracombe and not Rebuilds? I am sure the weight wouldn't had been that much greater would it? I'm pretty sure I remember my Father telling me from someone whom used to work the line that he saw a couple of Rebuilt Pacifics down there during his career?

Hopefully someone can clear this for me?

Andy

35005CP wrote:Hi,

Is it true that only Unrebuilts were allowed down to Ilfracombe anf not Rebuilds? I am sure the weight wouldn't had been that much greater would it? I'm pretty sure I remember my Father telling me from someone whom used to work the line that he saw a couple of Rebuilt Pacifics down there during his career?

Hopefully someone can clear this for me?

Andy

Originally rebuilts were not allowed west of Exeter, hence the influx of unrebuilts to Exmouth Jct MPD. Subsequently they were allowed on the Plymouth route, but not to Ilfracombe or Padstow. Some turns involved Plymouth and other routes, so rebuilts were fairly rare to Plymouth, though there are photos of them on that route. I'd like to see a photo of a rebuilt on the other routes before I would believed they'd been there.