The King class steam locomotives introduced in 1927 by the Great Western Railway for their heaviest express passenger trains were, in terms of tractive effort, the most powerful engines in Great Britain and it was here on the South Devon banks that that very measure of a steam locomotive’s power was needed.

The thirty strong class did everything expected of them and gave sterling service for over thirty years and here a King digs its heels in on the climb to Dainton summit with an express for Plymouth.