Dartmouth Steam Railway Heritage festival 8th-10th June 2012

Should be able to pop down for Friday morning before a late work shift and just had a couple of questions:

* Timetable shows 4277 and 4965 double-heading the early service that only runs to Churston, but how does 4277 then get back to Paignton? Was wondering if this involved a demonstration freight and that the timetable only showed passenger workings?
* I probably won't have time to take full advantage of a rover ticket so was just going to get a return, but does this allow break of journey? Was thinking I'd probably do Paignton-Churston-Kingswear-Paignton.

Thanks for your help and looking forward to the event.

 

I normally break the trip on normal running days so I'd imagine thats the case at the gala too.

 

Wish it was 4965 going!

 

I am sure a break in the journey is allowed. Also start-finish at Churston, which is what I am doing (I asked the booking clerk at Kingswear)

 

Is there an online timetable for this event ? I havn't managed to find anything yet !

David

 

Yes. On www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk on the heritage festival pages there is a link to the timetable for Fri Sat Sun. Shows eall passenger services with respective motive power(s) but no mention of any demo freights. Kinlet Hall has been 'running in' this afternoon. Just gone down light to Paignton in fact - looking good!

 

Thanks Stu - Found the timetable now:
http://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/userfiles/Heritage timetable for Jun12.pdf

David

 

A couple of questions for one of the PDSR guys - are there any demonstration freights/ troop trains? and are the brake van rides at Churston or kingswear? Thanks & see you tomorrow!

 

THere are demonstration frieght trains throughout the weekend.

Break van rides are at churston again this year, hopefully with the 08 all weekend, although it maybe the 03 all day tomorrow, but the 08 will definately be used sat and sun.

Everythings ready for what we hope will be another great weekend!

 

Pitty that these have not been included in the timetable, but am looking forward to an enjoyable weekend!

 

Thanks Rory, are the freight times going to be released or are they part of the timetable that has been released?

I look forward to visiting on Friday and Saturday, and look forward to seeing 4936 and 7827 together. It has been quite a while since a Hall and Manor have worked together, I might try a panoramic shot at the golf course, near Hookhills Viaduct... We shall see. The weather looks good for tomorrow afternoon (when I arrive), Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning (when I leave!), so I hope to get a couple of 'glint' shots on the sides of the locomotives I will post the video on here, if I get enough footage that is!

James at SVN

 

Video of Kinlet Hall today. More to follow, but youtube seems to be taking ages to upload!
http://youtu.be/pMG--FaeGuM
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some photos from yesterday friday with 4936-7827 together at paignton and heritage gala - keyhamtrain and video at keyhamtrain - YouTube

 

4936 and 7827 double header today: http://youtu.be/cKe5zx71W8I

 

The Hall really looks at home on this line, well I missed her during this weekend but hopefully a trip behind her in July or August

 

It's been a really good weekend the harbour cruise was good to I really enjoyed it

 

Speaking to one of the DSR guys, he said the Hall is going to be used during the summer as a standby loco only,
I.e to cover washouts and unforeseen repairs to 4277 and 7827 so don't expect to see that much of it "every 3 weeks for a few days" he said. So plan carefully. Hopefully the guys can post up here when it is due on?

 

What a fantastic weekend that was, despite the weather. In the end, I could only attend on the Saturday but caught some cracking sounds up the bank to Churston, mainly with 4936 at the helm of those trains. The staff were extremely friendly, and the exhibits were very interesting to look around.

It was nice to see the freight train, even if it terminated at Churston on the return in the evening (stood at Greenway Tunnel for nearly 35 minutes after 4936 passed with the last down service train). I thought 4277 and 7827 sounded fantastic up the banks.

If I had just one criticism, it was that there was nothing facing Paignton, so it was not possible to capture anything coming up the 'other side' to Churston. It was a shame, and would've made quite a sight coming out of Greenway Tunnel.

I thought the event was well organised, and the timetable was good as it gave me quite a bit of time to walk to my next locations. My video from the event is below. Thanks a lot to everyone involved, in particular to Rory who gave us the headsup about which direction the engines were in and for telling us about the freight train.

I recommend, before watching this, you make a cuppa tea... The video is almost 22 minutes long (took quite a while to edit - never intended it to be this long!)

The Dartmouth Steam Railway Heritage Festival 2012 - YouTube

James at SVN

 

Rather belatedly, I've got my act together and edited together some photos and video from this super event.
Considering that in the past this is the line which has tended to be dismissed by some enthusiasts as not being a 'proper' preserved railway, this really was an excellent event. Personally the highlight, or the best of many highlights, was filming Nos:7827 and 4936 flying up Goodrington bank - the sounds were amazing! This line seems exceptionally photogenic and offers some really 'different' views - where else could you photograph a Hall class slogging up a gradient whilst standing on a beech? The fact the coast path virtually follows the line was a real boon for me as I haven't really been to the area before, but it allowed me to get some, even if I do say so myself, excellent shots. It was very interesting to have the opportunity to look round the workshops at Churston and see how they're getting on with No:75014 as well.
However, for me the star was No:7827 - I don't think there's a noisier engine in preservation; the GWR 'bark' was sublime, especially when you can get a spot in the window right behind the engine. Which brings me neatly to another poiint - the event didn't exactly feel busy, although there were a good number of enthusiasts about. I just hope that the event brought in enough people to break even, particularly as this is a line that is run for profit....
All in all I thought this was a really good event, even if there are a few things - like putting the goods train in the timetable - that could make it even better next year it is to the railway's credit that it even puts anything like this on and for that, it should be congratulated. I'd just like to say 'Thank you' to all the staff and organisers who made the event happen and the staff we met were all really friendly, so thank you for a great show.
As you're reading this you might be interested in the following links:
HD video, including the fantastic double header combination and a lot more (runs for 13mins, longest video of mine on YouTube so far!): (HD) DSR Heritage Festival 8-9/06/12 - YouTube
Photos (29): https://picasaweb.google.com/115609395788457768316/DSRHeritageFestival890612#
Report: DSR Heritage Festival 2012 report - Totally-transport.co.uk - totally-transport.co.uk (which expands on some of the points raised in this post and more)
I do hope you enjoy the video, photos and report and if you were able to attend that they bring back happy memories of a day well spent and if you didn't go that they'll encourage you to pay this great line a visit sometime. As always comments and feedback on the video, photos and report are most welcome either via this thread, comments on YouTube or Picasa or PM.
Enjoy! The reason for the intervening week between the event and this post is because in the same week as attending this event I also went to Railfest and the South Devon Railway's Diamond Jubilee - I hope you understand. Reports, photos and video for these two events can also be found on my website; totally-transport.co.uk. Thank you.