Paignton and Dartmouth Heritage Festival 9-10th May 2009

Last year there was no incentive for visitors to go pass Churston as they had both the shed open and the 03 shuttle and there was nothing at Kingswear. This year can the 03 shuttle be held at Kingswear using the bay. Controlling the visitors at Churston last year was a problem when they wished to take a ride on the shuttle, as they had to leave the station building and walk over rough ground and past a pile of concrete sleepers.
One more thing there were no notices at Churston giving directions to the attractions, ie: the model railways.

 

That line up sounds pretty good! Espcially the banking and double heading! Two 2-8-0's together, heavy load, Goodrington banks! Lovely!!! Also the attractions should be good, 25 cab visits, hopefully a shuttle, and a goods! Brilliant. 5***** P+D!!! =D>

 

Have 2 2-8-0's together been done before, a obviously theres only 3 of the 5205 class, one of which is unrestored.
There are also only 5 4200's only 2 of which are operational so just curious if its ever been done before, possibly on the WSR as I know 5224 and 4247 have ben there but have they been together, or in fact have two been in the same place at the same time before.

 

Very promising start, but I totally agree with everyone asking for the Cl.25 to get some passenger turns. A few well-publicised round trips from a loco like D7535 which has so few passenger turns will definitely get diesel enthusiasts out (although it clashes with the Swanage Diesel Gala, I'd like to think a few of the Rat crowd who will be at Swanage for 26007's return would make a trip along the coast for D7535 too), whereas I don't think anyone would make a special trip for a cab visit.

Other than the lack of the 25, everything else looks great though.

 

Hmmmm.

I wonder if any of the P&DSR gala organisers have seen the locomotive line up, the working timetables, or the list of attractions advertised for the South Devon Railway's gala? Ironically the two lines at the closest point are physically less than 7 miles from each other and yet they are world's apart. Maybe the SDR wouldn't mind giving the P&DSR a leaf out of their book. Good luck with the gala though!

 

We have looked at the SDR's efforts and as you can see the PDSR's "gala" will be much smaller. SDR have done many galas and have a lot more crew, support staff etc than us. As previously stated this years weekend is a step up from last years. We are using all we have available, we have some very set limitations to work with that make it a small affair to start off with.

Ganger: don't worry, as for staffing levels you're right we do have enough for the planned events, also, we are aware that other railways have crews that could be made available with engines, some of which already know the line! Thanks.

We are all working to make a great weekend. The idea of not using the 25 in traffic is because there is the Swanage diesel event on the same weekend, so we thought it is not worth fighting for the diesel types, therefore allowing us to make a better effort for 3 steam engines, i.e. doing one thing "well" rather than a group of things "badly".

To those of a diesel persuasion: would a saturday/s later in the year when we ran the 25 on a service train in between our normal steam service appeal?

Thanks to those with sensible input.

 

That would definitley appeal to a lot of people, but you'd have to make sure it didn't clash with say the SDR's diesel service on the first Saturday of the peak months, or any other diesel events going on locally. Since the 25 is hardly ever used on passenger trains, a lot of people would go to get some mileage behind it I should imagine!

 

I can see your point, but all I can say is "suit yourselves". Would've gone for the manor and 25, but can't justify the journey for one...

 

As its been said earlier Tuffer hopefully it will grow into a migty Oak as you can't keep doing the same thing every year, as at the moment there is a slight novelty with people (especially members of the public) about the evtns going on at the PDSR, the difficulty is making it different everytime if you stick to the same ideas and setups.
I think the main problem you have here is going to be to keep the idea fresh although it will be better with all three engines in steam.

Just as an example for a while the SDR did roughly the same thing running trains from one end to the other but now they have over the last few years added services where they reproduce local trains which terminate at Staverton, start there, or even run a full round trip it does make for an interesting timetable with lots of variety. (was referring to last years Branchline Weekend)

However I will be at the Gala anyway, as I and some others said earlier the event needs supporting if it is to progress.

 

I am another of those that would love to go behind the 25,but this is a great start,unfortunately i doubt we'll be able to get to the event,but if we could we would/will seems like a great day and something we've been needing for a long time!

 

Absolutely. If it was well advertised, and well operated, i'd imagine this'd get in a lot more of the diesel crowd than you would have got over the 9-10th weekend - especially as I presume a normal operating day would allow the 25 to do more round trips. The more miles on offer, the more interested diesel chaps will be.

Dave

 

Re 25185,
If possible during the summer months on a Sunday would probably maximise potential.
The option is then for a SW weekend with WSR diesel turn Saturday and Paignton on the Sunday.

Giving the 25 a full day in the second train path would attract the most.

As additional attractions what about 03/08 brake van rides during the day also,only need be for an hour each at one or two stations during the day?

 

The second path on summer Sundays is partly occupied by the Torbay Express and light engine moves. Could always stick the Rat on the TE set. Load 11....!

 

I also would love it to have the 25 out on Saturdays,if we could we would get there! The WSR did it last year and i certainly enjoyed it! Make sure its properly advertised though,otherwise the tourists will moan,moan and moan!Pity you can't arrange something with those up at Dartmoor,Okehampton-Kingswear and back on Summer Saturdays? I'd be there (thats if 47701 and 715 do indeed return!)

Cheers,
Mark

 

The Dartmoor services would definitley be very good, and as I believe it the new owners of the Dartmoor Railway are looking for new things to do. Maybe you could even have some link in with the SDR, especially now that they have the weight upgrade! A Devon Heritage Special! Would be another thing to look into...

 

But wouldn't it be more difficult to path at Totnes though,with the reversal? Would be brilliant,47s back on the sea wall! It would be great,although i feel a lot of armchair enthusiasts would just lineside it,which may be a problem!

 

Yeh Totnes could be hard but we have managed before. You'd probably have the train top n tailed for Okehampton so Totnes wouldn't be so hard. Or you could use a unit. It would just be a nice excursion for holiday makers, and bring in some much wanted revenue for the lines. I think you'd aim it more at holiday makers than enthusiasts really, but it would be a service for enthusiasts as well.

 

How much will the tickets be at this event?

I heard rovers are available, what about the normal returns?

 

Ladies and Gents,

The following is the official company press release.

5029 Nunney Castle Confirmed For Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway’s Heritage Festival

The Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway are pleased to announce that 5029 Nunney Castle will be in operation during their Heritage Festival on 9 & 10 May, subject to repairs being completed.

Peter Roach, Operations Manager said, “We are thrilled that Nunney Castle will be an active part of our Heritage Festival. It has been a number of years since we had a visiting locomotive operating our service trains, so we are really looking forward to it. Nunney Castle will be used on one of the service trains on both Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May.”

The Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway’s second announcement is that a demonstration freight train will run Kingswear to Paignton on Saturday lunchtime and will return to Kingswear on Sunday lunchtime. It was over 10 years ago since a freight train last appeared on the line.

The weekend kicks off at 10am on Saturday 9 May with the first train departing Paignton at 10.30am. There will be a Day Rover Ticket available which includes unlimited travel on the steam trains, entrance to Churston station, brake van rides and a ride on the miniature steam railway. An intensive service will be in operation.

For more information on the weekends events visit www.pdsr.co.uk


(Subject to Availability)

 

Working timetable is attached!

Also available at http://www.pdsr.co.uk
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