Paignton and Dartmouth Railway

Nunny's wheels went of this morning, turned they're going to Tyseley now, not SDR as were first led to believe. Wheel set due back Monday afternoon, so how long she will stay around for will be a mystery for now. Will do our best to keep you informed, would definately be a nice surprise if it stay's, one that requires minimal cost output for the railway too.....

 

Would be nice if Nunney could stay there for the gala. Would definitley bring in a lot of punters relativley cheaply. Still I don't know what all the complaints about the new booking office/shop are. When I visited on Tuesday just gone I thought that everything looks much smarter now, and I think the raiwlay bookshelf at Paignton is really good. I found a lot of books which I haven't ever seen before, and lots of money was spent \/ And I must also say that I was very pleased to see that the trains were very busy, although not over filled. 4277 was kept working hard with the extra coaches added on. Also all the stations look as good as they did last year - not saying that Paignton and Goodrington are nice but they haven't got worse. Hopefully everyone on this forum will be supporting this gala if they can, I know I will, nothing like a bit of 42xx thrash! =D>

 

I just thought I'd clear up a few things Firstly I do realise that the PDSR is a business and is run as such and that you have to applaud the fact that they are the only heritage line (Standard Gauge) in the country whoich has entirely paid staff, that continues to operate at a profit, with well a exceptionally well maintained fleet, even if some people don't like the liverys, as has been said before thats their problem and a silly reason for not visiting. At the end of the day this needs to be applauded. =D> =D>

Secondly I will be there to support them at the Heritage Wknd as I was last year and the other ten times I visited and paid for a ticket and travelled on the train and spent money in both shops, (maybe only for and Ice cream and a cup of tea and a sausage and egg bap but at least I spent something eh). :-$ :-$

I'm not therfore being overly critical about the way they run the railway as a whole and do a fine job my main points were that they could make more of an effort at the Heritage Wknd and meant by doing simple things like having the 08 on the brakevan rides this year instead of the 03 to give variety, and also to turn 5239 or 4277 so they are both facing the same direction if they are to appear double heading together, which peronally I think would look great, and as far as I'm aware hasn't been done in preservation before?? At the very least not for a while!!

Also the point about Nunney was meant that it was an ideal oppurtunity to get an extra engine without having the expensive hiring and transport costs which they would obviously want to avoid, I'm sure if any other railway had Nunney there in the same stuation would also do everything in their power to keep her there and have her running or on display for their gala. It's just common sense in't it and could make it better than last years gala in that case. :-k

Also out of curiosity Tuffer or Rory which locos are expected to double head together and if Nunney appears are you then expecting to have all four engines in steam or just three and if so which one will be dropped from the lineup??

 

Yes I happen to know you also maintain th Turntable well painted it last year and have been known to do a few bits to Kingswear and Goodrington Stations too, There is also one volunteer TTI I believe as well but other than that everyone else is a member of Paid staff

 

So...it’s beginning to sound more unlikely that Nunney will still be on the railway by the time the heritage weekend comes. But the sight and sound of double headed, GWR south Wales coal tanks, with a full rake of chocolate and cream coaches will more than make up for it. Plus, there will be lots more opportunities to see Nunney hard at work on the branch come the summer when she takes over the Torbay expresses from Tornado.

Anyway back to my original question, does anyone from the railway (i.e. Tuffers, Rory, etc...) have any details on, the re-launch of the Riviera belle, has the railway purchased a new rake of dining coaches?

I believe the company has the potential to provide a unique product here, with fine on-train dining through some of the UKs best scenery with the added possibility of providing a leisurely cruise along the dart or possibly even a cruise back around the coast line to Torbay.

 

I wonder if they will simply hire in a rake of dining coaches (pullmans perhaps) Surely less of a business risk than purchasing a complete set at what?... £700k?....

As for Nunney, unless she has mainline duties between now and 2nd w/e in May, then she could hang around. Perhaps letting the P&DSR use her on service trains could be part-payment for the repairs they carried out?....

We will see. Seems to good a PR opportunity for the P&DSR to pass up.....

 

Scorpian You have got it very wrong there are 12 volunteers at Churston

 

right, in response to some of the questions,

i belieev it's planned to double head the tank's, wether they're gonna be turned or not i don't know, but could try and find out. Not sure if 4 engines or 3, depends on staff. Will be able to elaborate more once we know what is definately available. I believe the timings for the freight train are on teh website.

And as for the dining train, some of the coaches are being fitted with tables for the puropse of eating. These will be removable, the food i believe is being supplied by henessy's Restaurant in Torquay.

 

For the gala, will the loco rosters be made available in advance, on the day, are we going to have to buy them?

 

I'm slightly curious how I got it wrong as I didn't quote any numbers of volunteers at Churston just aluded to the fact that you occasionally do other jobs than just those at Churston Station and painted the now smart looking Turntable last year.
It would be nice if they could be turned, it would also be nice if the 08 was on the brakevans so I could get a picture of it doing something toher than sitting in the siding at Paignton which it usually is.

 

I think people are referring to this comment:

I think you need to withdraw/modify that comment as it is seems to have (quite rightly) offended the volunteers on the line who help it to "operate at a profit, with well a exceptionally well maintained fleet"


Keith

 

I would think that seeing that Churston station and its environs always looks in pristine condition that the volunteers who maintain would hardly consider their tasks to be mundane, they have two choices, to do, or not to do and I for one applaud them. =D> =D>

 

IMHO any aspirations they may have to climb the greasy pole may be satisfied better elsewhere. However, if they have little ambition; that's their choice.

 

Nunney Castle now confirmed on PDSRs website to be running at the Heritage Weekend subject to completion of running in trials and 25185 Mercury to haul an evening special at the gala.

 

I'm sorry if I did offend the volunteers at Churston, I didn't mean any offense maybe I should have worded it slightly diferently than what I did but hindsight is a wonderful thing in ealmost every circumstance, especially whilst correctin gother peoples errors!!
I'm sure those of you who read the post as it was intended find it makes the point it should have.

I'm also glad that Nunney will be running at the Heritage Weekend maybe a few more people form on her will then therfore support the weekend this year to travel behind her as a lot of you seem to have an opinion.

 

I'm sorry but I thought that was the whole point of forums such as this ??

Anyway, back on topic, does the confirmation of Nunneys appearance, mean there will be four locos in steam, or still 3 with a change of loco on the sunday? ie. saturday: Nunney, Lydhams, Goliath and Sunday: Nunney, goliath and Hercules.

 

Roosteroy said earlier that it depends on crews. I guess they dont allow visiting crews to drive (insurance?)...

 

ah knew i should have checked back #-o