Dartmouth Steam Railway, 40th anniversary.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Paignton - Kingswear line coming into the ownership of the Dart Valley Railway, currently operating as the Dartmouth Steam Railway (& Riverboat Company). The line never technically shut, BR ran trains one day and DVR the next. DVR took over a basic single track line with strict restrictions from BR, along with the line there was also a hotel a far as I'm aware, at one end of the line there was no station and could only be accessed with cooperation from BR. Now we have a fully signaled intricate line that attracts hundreds of thousands of people each year. There has been much said about the DVR over the years, different to many other heritage railways this one is operated predominantly by paid staff, however there are a lot of enthusiasts in there.
Here's to another 40 years of steaming in Torbay and the South Hams. Now the DSRRB Co. operates not only the railway but a fleet of buses and 17 vessels. This year will see a second steam aspect come into play, the paddle steamer Kingswear Castle has come back to her home port of Dartmouth. From Good Friday she will be operating on the River Dart again.

 

Happy 40th! Here's to 2013, 14, 15, 16..........

 

The DVR did not have boats from the start. It was much later they took over Riverlink and Red Cruisers.

 

Thank you. Not far off. Still a great 40 years with many to go.

 

I still thinks its a bummer that the Kingswear Castle is moving from the Medway to the Dart. I know its her going home, but I live on the medway and will miss seeing her up here