Leaving Exeter St David's at 05.35 the supurbly turnedout recreated luxury Blue Pullman train took the route through Bristol and up Lickey bank to Birmingham and onward to Crewe and north through Blackburn. Joining the Settle and Carlisle route at Hellifield the train then traversed this scenic route in good weather, passing a southbound steam train enroute! A two hour stop at Carlisle preceded the return journey which was via the West Coast mainline over Shap with magnificent views of the setting sun enroute.