Dartmouth Steam Railway General Discusssion

Pretty similar to last years event then except that the 42xx's aren't out and the beer festival is free to get in to. I had an excellent time last year and I expect this year to be even better thanks to the inclusion of 7820. The 25 being out during the day is a good thing too! I'm looking forward to it.

I assume day rovers are available like last year too?

 

Just found this on the blog.

"In addition, she will be double heading with 7820 Lydham Manor on selected trips on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July – again, in conjunction with the beer festival. We will also double up on our diesel engines too. Details are

Saturday 18th July:
7820 with 7827, Paignton-Kingswear, 14:15 (and return at 15:00)
D2192 with D2371, Kingswear-Paignton, 18:30 (and return 19:15)

Sunday 19th July:
7820 with 7827, Paignton-Kingswear, 10:30 (and return at 11:15)
7820 with 7827, Paignton-Kingswear, 12:15 (and return at 15:15)
7820 with 7827, Paignton-Kingswear, 16:15 (and return at 17:00)"

 

Another must do!

John

 

First down train today hauled by 7820. The second train has 4277.
The shunter D2371 took a truck with coal, plus brake van, for the KIngswear Castle paddle steamer.

 

7820 Dinmore Manor has successfully completed two running days on the line. The next time she will be out will be for the beer festival in just over a weeks time.

Please keep an eye on the website along with the blog for the latest news updates regarding the beer festival.

Day rovers will be available from booking offices and will be around £20. Hope this helps.

Just a reminder: 60163 Tornado is expected to haul the Torbay Express to the line this Sunday (12th). Will be the first time for over a year Tornado has visited the line and the first time since 2009 when it last hauled the TE.

 

***Beer Festival Working Timetable***

Here is a working timetable for next weekend which includes engine allocations and light engine movements (Sunday).

 

I notice it says all trains to use the Down platform at Goodrington, do trains only use the Up now if passing?

 

All passenger services are currently using platform 1 (down platform). Platform 2 is used by passenger services only if nessassary to do so e.g. crossing a charter/railtour which can't use plat 2.

 

She actually last hauled The Torbay Express back in July 2011 when she was in Brunswick Green and the last time she visited the line was back in 2013 in BR Blue.

 

Oops my mistake, she didn't visit last year but I wasn't sure when she last hauled the TE.... She's visited the line in every livery she carried tho!

 

The Beer Festival at Kingswear starts tomorrow which I think is the first time two BR black manor's have run together in preservation.

7827 has been lit today while 7820 has been out on service trains. First train tomorrow leaves Paignton at 1000 hauled by 7827 with the 1045 being hauled by 7820. D7535 is out and about in the evening starting at 1715. More special workings are continuing on Saturday and Sunday including doubleheader manors, a trip behind 2x03's and light engine movements. (Working timetable above in earlier post).

The Beer Festival is open 6pm - 11pm Friday, 12pm - 11pm Saturday & 12pm - 6pm Sunday

Here are the tasting notes for the 40 Beers and 8 different Ciders:
http://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Beer-taste-A5-2015-D-FINAL3.pdf

Also note there is a Statesman Railtour coming down to Paignton on Saturday and will be sat in GDN sidings during the afternoon which will be 2x47/57s.

Who's coming along then?

 

Count me in. By train, for obvious reasons!

John

 

Sat in the b&b overlooking Paignton station, with one of the manor's visible warming through. Are multi day Rovers available for the weekend?

 

I'm afraid we don't offer multiday rover tickets, a day rover is priced at £20.

 

A very successful beer festival weekend is over...

There was plenty going on the railway with 3 days of intensive timetable including double heading Manors (7820 & 7827), double heading 03s (D2192 & D2371) and 3 days of 3 trips with D7535. There were plenty of support for the event with many rover tickets being sold along with plenty of line side photographers.

The beer festival at Kingswear with 46 ales and 8 ciders was busy on all three days with it almost full on Saturday evening. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves and was a great event, Roll on next year!

 

Yes, it was good. I was pleased that the two little ones kept time so well on the 18.30 from Kingswear on Saturday.

John

 

I had an excellent day on Saturday. The timetable was almost perfect, no hanging around at stations and swift turnarounds meant I really made the most of my day rover. The locos were driven enthusiastically, the crew of Lydham in particular seemed to enjoying themselves. The noise from the doubleheader out of Goodrington was phenomenal. The 25 was entertaining too. Just goes to show you don't need loads of engines and a complicated timetable to have a successful event.

 

My footage from the Friday and Saturday. Crank up that sound, lads!

 

My footage of the Two Manors in action on Sunday. The sound of GWR Heaven!

 

Another thumbs up for a top weekend, even the non railway interested girlfriend enjoyed it!

Saturday we also went on the Paddle Steamer which was lovely in the warm sunshine. The evening runs were great too, with the 25 being very vocal.
Sunday got a pass to overuse the Day Rover, which I took full advantage of and had one of the more enjoyable days onboard a train with both Manors in fine voice (though '27 sounded a lot sharper).

Only quibble would the lack of a buffet car, as if you chose to stay onboard all day you couldn't even get just a cup of tea or bottle of water. Appreciate you are mainly a people mover, but maybe something to look at for future events? Would also help link the beer fest more with the actual railway, as in reality it was simply the railway with a beer tent stuck at one of the stations. Most other railway beer fests include a onboard bar of some form or another, even if it's just off a temporary table in the BSK. As it's only the second event though not going to complain too much, as had a brilliant weekend. We may be back next year...