The Four Stroke Explorer - Saturday 14th October

A group of us who work on the mainline have been busy working with the Dartmouth Steam Railway in recent weeks and can now bring you details of what promises to be a great day out.

Following the success of a similar venture in 2019, we are again returning to the Paignton-Kingswear line and with the help and support of the staff and management from the Dartmouth Steam Railway present to you the "Four Stroke Explorer" which will run on Saturday 14th October.

Although the final touches to times and route are still being finalised, the day will start at Paignton Queens Park at around 09.00 and run until around 17.00. During the day all four of the DSR's resident diesel loco's are expected to feature (D2192, 03 371, D3014 and 37 275) and our special train will during the course of the day traverse many non-passenger lines at Kngswear, Churston and Goodrington including some which have never (yet) been traversed by a passenger service.

All money raised is going to the Stroke Association to help the wonderful work this deserving charity does. With several of us involved with the charter having lost family or close friends to this terrible disease there is also a very strong like to the charity and we hope to raise as much as we can on the day. There will be an on train raffle (with several great prizes) plus a 32 page colour souvenir programme is being produced.

This is a great way to enjoy a day with a difference on the railway, which this year is celebrating its 50th year of operation, and to also help raise money for a good cause. A dedicated facebook page has been set up for the event and tickets, priced at £30 go on sale from 12.00 today.

Ticket sales will commence from 12 noon today over on Billetto
https://billetto.co.uk/e/four-stroke-explorer-tickets-857000
More information will be released over the coming weeks on Facebook and I will also add updates here when I can.

 

Booked! I did the one a few years ago so hopefully mop up some more track!

 

Well that's that done. A massive thankyou to everybody who came down to Paignton today and supported us on the Four Stroke Explorer. Great day, excellent weather and all loco's and rare track covered as booked. We had some great support from both the mainline and heritage railway sectors and were able to raffle off some splendid prizes - many thanks to all those who donated prizes. A special thankyou to all the Management and Staff from the Dartmouth Steam Railway with their help during the planning and today's execution of the charter, and for the railway providing the train and loco's at no cost which means we are able to donate more to our charity. It is pleasing to report (exact figure not yet calculated) that we have raised approximately £5000 for the Stroke Association which is a great achievement.

On a personal note, having spent many hours researching and then writing the souvenir programme it was really nice to receive so many comments about the publication. A big shout out to our chosen printer Aaron Printers in Newton Abbot for their help in printing the programme.

Looking ahead, as those who attended today will now know, fresh on the success of this event some us involved have already been looking at doing something again next year and I'm pleased to say that, after discussing it with the South Devon Railway last week, we will be running the "SDR Explorer" sometime in the late Spring / early summer next year in memory of career railwayman and well known enthusiast Nick Perring who sadly passed away just over 12 months ago.

Early days yet and we have a lot of planning to undertake with the railway, but we are aiming at a similar format with a few loco's and some "rare" track, with proceeds going to the Encephalitis Society. I'm pleased to say some of Nick's relatives will also be involved in the running of this charter. When we have more details we'll start getting them out via social media in much the same way we did for this charter.

Once again thanks to everybody who came and supported us today.

 

Top day out, thanks to everyone who made it possible. Great weather,locos a plenty and all adcvertised track done.
I didnt get much video on the day but heres a few shots and photos as a reminder of a great day.