Paignton and Dartmouth Railway

Do they though? I really don't think the public care that much. Why did they name the thing 'Ajax' anyway? Not exactly inspiring is it!

 

Firstly, thank you all very much to those who had made constructive criticism, as you may have read in the railway and non railway press the line is going through a big change, mainly in management, so lets see what happens.

But for now, keep going and i will try and nudge the managers slightly with your thoughts.

Cheers.

 

'Ajax' isn't inspiring!! Ajax the Great from the Trojan war. Ajax the lesser son of the king of Locris, and another hero in the Trojan war. Champion Australian racehorse of the 1930s. And a name used for many Royal Navy and United States Navy ships. And a name used by a former Broad Gauge South Devon Railway locomotive. It a great name!

Considering the other names used on the other engines on the railway, 6435 is proberley named after the Royal Navy ship.

Just becasue it happens to be a name for a cleaning adjent...

 

And of course it was a war rocket despatched to bring back Flash Gordon's body........... 8-[

 

Must admit, the first thought I have is a Dutch football team, sad really...

 

I know this subject was virtually dead at 12 days without a post but I'd like to make a few comments

Firstly the guys at the P&DSR do a great job. A lot of railways would die to have 3 or 4 engines in steam, including a Manor, with a few others on the sidelines

Now, the suggestions/questions:

- What happened to the middle band of the timetable? I noticed you got rid of it. I think it's left a bit of a drop from 2 trains running in tandem to 4 return trips a day in the summer when not running the full timetable

- What's happening with 75014 and 4588? Back anytime soon?

- I know you don't run from October to April, which is different to a lot of railways around the place. Now I know you run with nameplates and other tourist-friendly stuff in the summer, and I respect that, because it helps those who may not have as keen an interest as us enthusiasts know and remember (and not just the kids too). Perhaps you could do things to reverse this and run occasional trains, say, in the winter after the Santa Specials. Perhaps put a gala on at that time

- Personally I'm not bothered with Lydham Manor in GWR livery because none of the Manors run in that livery. But I think it is important to get the liveries right, even if it's not on an engine that didn't wear the livery, e.g. the lining, the mismatch on 6435 with a painted bufferbeam and late BR livery

- Restoring the loop and 2nd platform at Goodrington isn't vital because I don't think there's a need for 3 trains running on one day (apart from the gala and when the Torbay Express is down), but it would be nice, and would allow more flexibility in the timetabling

- Maybe (and this is a big maybe, if even possible with timetable constraints) you could do what the NYMR are doing with Whitby and run trains to Newton Abbot. But that would mean fitting in with NR services, getting an engine with a main line ticket, or bringing one of the current engines up to standard (role for 75014?)

- Line rover tickets perhaps?

But these are just minor things. Not really that important. Keep up the good work, and I hope I'll be able to watch and ride the trains for years to come (not having to tell my future children/grandchildren at the site of a supermarket that that was where a steam railway station once was)

 

The P & DSR certainly run a professional outfit and do it very well IMO. Somebody with greater knowledge may be able to answer the questions re the loco situation but, this summer I enquired about 75014 and was told that there was no rush. As I understand it, the policy is that they only have three operational steam locos as a routine -two in service and one on washout/repair. There's a diesel back-up if required. The two in service on my visit were the Manor and the Pannier. Presumably the 52XX was the third. Isn't 4588 theoretically 'for sale or exchange'?

 

5239 was running recently as well

Hadn't heard that about 4588. Last time I saw it was in the Churston workshop. I was under the impression they were going to start on it once 7827 was done. But then 75014 came along

 

7827, 5239 and 6435 are currently operational. 5239 being the most recent return to traffic (7827 been back for the last 2 years) 75014's boiler is away for overhaul. I had heard 4588 was for sale. I presume 4555 is under overhaul (or in the queue behind the Std 4)

New track at Goodrington - been laid for a while, not sure if signalling is completed yet. Still not sure why the up platform road has been re-laid AS WELL AS the new avoiding line? Also, Goodrington seems too close to Paignton for a 3-in-steam passing place?
EDIT** just been reading a book about the Newton - Kingswear line. It said that talks were ongoing in 1988 about re-istating the up platform road for BR services. I wondered if something is happening there now (after 19 yrs of 'talks'!!)? Also I wondered if Goodrington might become a temporary terminus while Paignton is being re-vamped? hence the need for run-round and loop line?

Tuffer - can you shed any light on it?

 

general question re signalling; d you still have the miniature lever frame in use which used to work churston!!

dom,never knew the box was worked by that frame!!!!

dom

 

That manor (cannot remember which one) looks absolutely ridiculos!! Esspecially that tender!!

 

I believe the frame from Churston (11 lever Westinghouse L type) was sold on after it was removed. Memory may be wrong but I seem to recall the Great Cockrow Railway may have had it.

 

That Manor is 7827, Lydham Manor. Built at Swindon by BR, so it never carried GWR livery. Despite the inaccuracy, it is very well turned out, and is a super loco.

The purpose of this thread is to apply continuous pressure to get the P&DSR management to sort out some of the lines let-downs, and woefully inaccurate liveries is one such issue.

 

Yep!! I hate all the way all their smaller engines are named as well!!!

 

This is my first time using this forum- I’m just a random young enthusiast of Britain's railways, particularly interested in BR SR/WR steam era- so don't bite if this post comes out incorrectly. Just to quote something from a few months back...

 

Anyone know whats happened to the P&DR website? Have they changed their domain name, because the old one just brings up a web hosting company.

 

Dont want to get to political on this but

For many years the PDR has had nothing but a negative approach towards the enthusiast that is why they have few if any volunteers, or enthusiast related events features etc or anything with a hint of the word heritage or preserved attatched to it.

I have heard many stories of thier attitide towards other loco groups railways etc which i cannot repeat here, the story true or not of thier wealth of so called spare parts has frustrated many loco restorers.

With all you guys looking form the outside advising one person what to do to improve the situation i am afraid you may have little understanding of where the PDR stands in its relationship with others, to help this one man achive his goal it will take many years work along with changing hearts and minds.

Sorry to offend i hope i have not but all is based on what i see and hear and the PDR is unique in the views that put upon them.

 

how about a website ???

 

I noticed the site was down a week or so ago, maybe they are doing a revamp, it certainly needs it. The last two versions were very sketchy and would not really attract anyone, but they are in the position to have a huge captive clientel with the tourist trade.

 

Sorry but the PDSR do have volunteers, some 10 -12 maintain and run Churston station and have done so for at least 15 years.