Paignton and Dartmouth Railway

Lydham Manor will be running this year, along with 5239 and 4277 once repiars are completed. Cant say what days they'll be out though, have to check again nearer the time your coming down.

 

Just out of interest, who used Britannia Halt while it was there? I can't recall seeing it in any timetables, not public ones at least.

John

 

Mainly RN Officer Cadets.

 

Speaking (OK then, 'writing') as a local resident, I'm actually quote proud of my local railway. I live within earshot of the line. In fact, when the wind is in the right direction, I can sit in my garden and listen to the distant bark of a loco charging Goodrington bank. Lovely!

I remember the line many years ago when it struggled to run services with 0-6-0T or 2-6-2T locos and a ragtag collection of stock. Now, it's a pleasure to ride on the line with family and friends who come to visit. The Round Robin particularly provides a great day out.

Those who complain about liveries and names should remember that there are plenty of railways in the UK where they can see authentic liveries on stock and locos, as well as all the other little details (station furniture, traditional signalling etc) that mark them out as preserved railways. We are actually spoilt for choice in the UK compared to other countries.

It's been said before; the P&DSR sets out to be a profitable, passenger-carrying tourist attraction. It happens to build upon the nostalgia of travelling by steam. It has been doing this successfully for years and is highly regarded locally for its efficient operation when others have gone to the wall. I'm always impressed when I stop and chat for a while with eager young enginemen at Paignton. They are proud of what they do and rightly so.

If the new management see fit to acknowledge the enthusiasts by putting on heritage galas, hooray! But we mustn't expect this (or correct liveries etc) as a right.

John.

 

I agreee with every word you said John, I have stood on the platforms of Churston and Kingswear may times and have never heard any complaints re: the livery of the locos and carriages. All enthusists know if you want to see GWR locos and rolling stock (in their 1920/30 livery)they can go to other sites, there are plenty of them about. P&DSR do a good job at what they are doing. The locos look and sound good and the carriages are spotless.
I wish them the best for the comming season

 

Thanks for the info Roosterrory - means my PDSR trip's now gone from being pencilled in to being scrawled in indelible ink!

In passing, is 7827 the earliest engine saved from Barry that's actually running at this moment in time? I think it was one of the first ten saved and of the others
43924 hasn't run for 20 years.
31618 hasn't run for 10+.
5051 is out of action for now...

Someone's sure to know.

 

no worries 7911, after all, the railway does pay my wages, so drumming up buisness is in my own interest!!!

 

That'll be 5322. Third engine to leave, back in March 1969.

 

Oh, good call. Reminds me, must get to Didcot to check out KEII. I went 25 years ago but I must have been about 6 at the time!

 

Please all don't be so defensive. Of course loads of people enjoy the railway, it is good at what it does and the engines work hard. If it was a little more enthusiast friendly and painted stock in proper liveries would that reduce passenger numbers - of course not!

 

Doesn't anyone agree that if the liveries were authentic GWR or BR WR then you cater for ALL, public & enthusiast, therefore this is logically the best option?

When folks say "go to another line if you want authenticity" that's fine, but is doesn't help the P&DSR

 

At the moment on here it looks like just you and Hunslets finest support that view. As far as I can tell no one else has come forward to support it.

 

the trouble is authentic GW livery on a 2-8-0T is plain green....not very atractive to the non-train buff...

 

Don't really like to wade in on a livery dispute, but I did visit the P&D several years ago and can't say that I felt anything was out of place. I count myself as a railway enthusiast (mild, I guess) but I enjoyed the ambience, the countryside and hearing the engine working hard. I even paid extra to travel in an SR observation car which, arguably, has no heritage on the line at all.

Whilst I agree that if a loco is out on an overhaul it could be returned with an appropriate green upon its return (especially if that colour paint were cheaper) - surely it is up to the owners how it comes out of the works?

I feel sure that were the locos in correct colours, somebody on here would note that they would never have hauled DMU trailer cars or an SR Pullman. Will P&D ever win, or just keep going and pleasing the market that they are targetting?

A gala or two could bring in enthusiast pennies, but perhaps they could be arranged around visiting mainline locos? Just some thoughts.

 

Well, the day you agree with anything I say, I'll fall off my chair in shock!

 

OK then, I personally would be delighted if the P&DSR management suddenly decided to roll out a programme of progressive repaints into authentic liveries. Yes, I believe that more enthusiasts would visit the line as a result, without adversely affecting normal passenger numbers. =D>

However, when I say 'visit' I'm afraid that a large number would come to photograph and comparatively few would pay to travel.

Looking at enthusiasts in a wider sense, I know from experience that getting enthusiast photters to part with money is difficult. I'm a conductor on heritage buses and, on Running Days, there are plenty of photters about but very few will pay to ride or even shell out a couple of quid for a souvenir timetable.

The P&DSR would need to be absolutely sure that a change in livery policy would bring significant financial benefits. Having heard that they keep an eye on this forum, maybe we should keep this topic alive for a bit longer and see what happens...

John.

 

How would the railway justify the cost in materials, staff time and loco unavailability (while in the paint shop), if there was going to be little if any extra income from the new livery? :-k

Richard

 

Well, the day you agree with anything I say, I'll fall off my chair in shock![/quote:2a6qhe3h]

Its nothing personal