Trainspotters have been out in force in Dawlish to get a sighting of a 'special train' passing through.

The privately owned train – consisting of two Class 37 locomotives and a string of Pullman-style coaches – travelled through Dawlish on its way to Cornwall and the South Hams and back again last week, on journeys believed to be for driver training and route learning.

Local rail enthusiast Colin Campbell was among those who came out to see it.

He said the train has a sleeping car, kitchen facilities and a cocktail bar, and one of its Pullman carriages was built in 1951 for the famous Golden Arrow boat train linking London with Dover and Paris.

He said the two locomotives – built in 1963 – are nicknamed 'tractors' because they're so noisy when travelling at top speed – although they were relatively quiet when they came through Dawlish, because the train was having to travel behind a passenger service that was stopping at the stations along the route.

'Special trains' pass through Dawlish fairly often, and are listed in advance on the Dawlish Beach Cams website.

But the one that came through this week was particularly special because it wasn't on a scheduled trip, and the trainspotters only heard about it through word of mouth.

Mr Campbell said he loves seeing the old trains because they're relics of a past era.

He said: "It's nostalgia more than anything else – it takes you back to the time when such things were commonplace."

He said the next 'special' train will be a high-speed Midland Pullman replica that will pass through on May 3.

Another Midland Pullman will come through on May 29 – the same day as a 'really exciting' Tornado steam train.

Mr Campbell said standing by the railway line as a steam train of this type passes through 'makes all the hairs on the back of your neck stand up'.