Saphos Trains 2026

And then what brings the stock back out of the same sidings? Coz it ain’t the steam! And rather than paying PDSR to have one of their diesels shunt, LSL put one of their own on.

 

I believe it’s mainly the shunt at Kingswear. Once the steam has put the stock in the long siding, it goes for servicing, then the diesel brings the set back to its platform
Whilst it’s having its tables laid, etc. Gives more time for the steam to turn and service, plus allows for the crew to have a proper break, etc

 

Well that's probably the point - giving more time for servicing and giving the crew a break. The way it used to work was that the steam loco would run round at Kingswear, pull the stock out of the main platform and propel it back into the bay platform. It would then head off to Churston for turning. So no diesel required. The point that Gladiator 5076 raises however is very valid. In the past the DSR has had to provide a loco to rescue a train that has stalled on Goodrington Bank - it's much easier if LSL provide their own diesel.

 

Putting the regulator in the roof helped as well! No problems with the King on the Torbays, but 34067 and 60009 were treated a lot more gently, and unsurprisingly ran into trouble.

 

Around 2018/2019 when the Torbay trains were operated by DB Cargo, the train was worked by a DSR crew between Paignton and Kingswear. One DB C crew worked to Paignton and a different one worked back to Bristol. The DSR crews were happy with the performance of 35028 and felt she performed better than 6023 which was resident there.

Cheers, Neil

 

Ah yes, I'd forgotten that the local crews worked the Torbay Express over the DSR. Do I assume that LSL now work the train throughout?

 

Sorry, I don't know, any one from DSR post on here who may know. ( Idle curiosity, nothing else.)

Cheers, Neil

 

Was there also an era when the DSR provided its own diesel for the shunt release of railtours? I feel like I headed over there quite a few times in the 2010s to catch the then-resident Cl.25 being involved in various bits of shunting, piloting and banking when steam tours visited and it was always a fun bit of bonus activity to photograph.

 

Not just the 25! Seems a long time ago now.

 

Load 9 for Blue Peter today, same as November last year with Daisy up front and standard class mk2 at the rear

 

Following close behind the stopping service to Liverpool Lime Street, Peppercorn A2 class 4-6-2 No. 60532 Blue Peter passes through Hartford station with Saphos Trains charter The Cumbrian Mountaineer, steam hauled from Crewe to Carlisle and return, on Thursday 12th February 2026.



Cheers,

 

The Trans Pennine up to it's usual tricks !

 

https://flic.kr/p/2rWiCug

60532 passing Daresbury this morning

 

Brightening the gloom of threatening skies LNER A2 Peppercorn Class No. 60532 'Blue Peter' approaches Scout Green with the 'Cumbrian Mountaineer' 1Z32 on the climb to Shap summit and onwards to Carlisle