The "North Cornwall & Bude Express" ran from 1907, until 1964, as part of a publicity drive by Southern Railways the 11 o'clock from Waterloo to the West Country was named the "Atlantic Coast Express" in July 1926. The name was chosen from a list of entries invited from employees of Southern Railways to name the improved service from Waterloo to Exeter and the North Cornish Coast. The winning entry was submitted by Mr F Rowland, a railways guard from Great Torrington, who received a prize of three guineas. The "Atlantic Coast Express' very soon became known to many travellers and enthusiasts as the "ACE", the shortened version of it's full title
Over its long history the "Atlantic Coast Express" was made up of many combinations of carriage and length of train in order to accommodate the seasonal change in passenger requirements and it's multiple west country destinations. Once in the West Country the train was split at Exeter, Okehampton and Halwill Junction to cover its final destinations of Padstow, Bude, Ilfracombe and Plymouth. This required a certain amount of passenger dexterity when boarding at Waterloo to ensure you were in the right carriage for your destination!
Those coaches destined for the East Devon resorts of Seaton, Sidmouth and Exmouth carried sign boards saying "Waterloo - West of England" the true "Atlantic Coast Express" being the coaches for Padstow, Bude and Ilfracombe. By 1961 the train was noted for the speed it attained between Waterloo and Exeter, which could be reached in just under 3 hours. The 'Merchant Navy' engines used to haul the 'Atlantic Coast Express' in the early sixties frequently attained speeds in excess of 90mph and 100 + MPH was recorded on a few occasions. South of Exeter the maximum permitted speeds were slower, going down to a maximum of 55MPH in North Cornwall.
For those going to Padstow the first stop in Cornwall was Launceston, some 223 miles down the line from London Waterloo, then on to Egloskerry, Tresmeer, Otterham, Camelford, Delabole, Port Isaac Road, St Kew Highway, Wadebridge and finally ending 260 miles from Waterloo at Padstow. The coaches for Bude would be detached at Halwill Junction in Devon and proceed via Dunsland Cross, Holsworthy and Bridgerule to Bude. From about 1932 on Saturdays in the In the summer months a through train with dining car ran from Bude, joining with the Padstow carriages at Halwill Junction, then running straight through to Exeter, Salisbury and Waterloo. The equivalent straight through train ran in the opposite direction from Waterloo to cope with the rise in demand from holidaymakers.
The line south of Exeter was made up of the track originally belonging to a number of smaller railway companies it was extended and improved over the years with the last section to Padstow being opened in 1899.
The final part of the journey saw the train conqueror some incredible gradients rising from 200ft at Launceston to a peak of 800ft above sea level between Otterham and Camelford stations in North Cornwall. To allow the railway line a reasonable passage through the rugged north Cornish countryside there are forty three laboriously excavated railway cuttings between Launceston and Wadebridge, before the final flat nine minute journey of unforgettable views across the Camel Estuary, over Little Petherick Creek Bridge and through a final rock cutting to Padstow. Fortunately, today these magnificent views may be enjoyed at an even more leisurely pace as the bed of the old rail track now forms the 'Camel Trail', a very popular cycle and pedestrian link between Padstow and Wadebridge (cycle hire available in both towns near the trail).
