Approaching Mortehoe on the 1 in 40 climb from Braunton we see 7333, previously photographed at Filleigh (see TB7) returning to Ilfracombe on the 13.28 from Taunton on Saturday 27th July 1963, banked by an Ivatt 2-6-2T, a number of which had been drafted to the area to replace ex-LSWR tank engines. For operational convenience, northbound trains were usually assisted by a banker, which would be detached at Mortehoe and run back down to Barnstaple light engine. On the other hand, as we have seen, it was more convenient to attach the assisting engine for the southbound train as a pilot
