service obligation has been taken over by Torbay Express Ltd. This company was formed as a subsidiary of booking agent Pathfinder Tours, itself a subsidiary of Riviera Trains. As well as taking direct bookings, the company also takes bookings through Pathfinder Tours, who advertise the service as part of their tour programme, and also supply their own volunteers to steward the trains. Since being taken over by Pathfinder Tours/Riviera Trains, the British Railways Mark 1 coaching stock has been supplied in historic cream/brown by Riviera, and staffed by Pathfinder. The back-up diesel locomotive is supplied and operated by DB Schenker Rail (UK), sourced from a varying number of spot-hire companies, mainly West Coast Railways. During the operating season, the coaching stock is stabled in a spare covered road under the engine shed of Bristol Temple Meads, whilst the steam locomotive is stabled at a temporary operating base at Bristol Barton Hill MPD. Initial steam power was supplied by GWR 7800 Class 7802 Bradley Manor and GWR 4073 Class 5051 Earl Bathurst, but has varied since by season, latterly supplied from the Jeremy Hosking-backed Locomotive Services Ltd. Motive power has included: GWR 6000 Class 6024 King Edward I; LNER Class A4 60009 Union of South Africa; LNER Class A1 60163 Tornado; SR Battle of Britain Class 34067 Tangmere; BR Class 8P 71000 Duke of Gloucester; BR Britannia Class 7MT 70000 Britannia; LNER Class A4 4464 Bittern; SR West Country Class 34046 Braunton; GWR 4073 Class 5029 Nunney Castle; LMS Royal Scot Class 46100 Royal Scot; SR Merchant Navy Class 35028 Clan Line. References Citations References External links Company website Part 1 Part 2 YouTube videos Named passenger trains of the Great Western Railway Rail transport in Bristol Rail transport in Somerset Rail transport in Devon