South Devon Railway in February half term week 2013

Just received word from a (normally) reliable source that 5542 has failed and the Bubble Car has replaced it.

James at SVN

 

Thanks to Tony for the update:

5542 back in action, Bubble Car to come into sheds after it completes its next working.

James at SVN

 

Feature on the steam railmotor on BBC Devon webpage.

BBC News - Steam railmotor back on South Devon line after 100 years

 

Ah, that explains why 1450 was on a working booked for 5542 when I popped over just now. Passenger numbers looked decent, good atmosphere and sun now out. Taking pictures this afternoon and travelling tomorrow. The Auto Tank and Railmotor both sounded storming on their departures from Buckfastleigh.

 

Excellent first day!
1450 + one coach onthefirst train was amazing......
93 looked just right. It has its challenges and we nearly needed to blow up at one point. Only being able to fire when stationary has limitations when you don't stop at Staverton+ only pause briefly in the loop - all good fun!
5542 missed a round trip and was sandwiched between 2 maroon autos. W232/8 iirc.
1369 and 1450 had various combinations such as 2 GWR carriages and 2 milk wagons.
Some diagrams stopped 1450 and 5542 to give variety over the weekend . I hope all the photographers bought tickets as it was v expensive to set this gala up!!

Try and visit.......it was v atmospheric today

Ray. Mason

 

Just to clarify, 5542 did NOT fail, we were prevented form completing our final checks due to the loco pit being unavailable to us as originally planned, and it was decided (very wisely) to run the Bubble Car instead. It was agreed by all concerned that it was better to complete all checks 100% than risk any 'on train' problems. So as Ray says above get down there for some interesting Branch Line workings and atmosphere.

John

 

Thanks for correcting my message from earlier John.

James at SVN

 

Perfection!

 

SDR have laid on a great show. 1450 with milk tanks and single coach was a perfect branch line scene - could have been Hemyock branch back in 1963! Followed by railmotor, stopped by signal at Hood Bridge with the driver getting out to phone the signalman - another great branch line cameo. Then the bubble car replacing 5542 was reminiscent of gricing in the 60s - who of my vintage remembers saying, 'oh, no, it's gone diesel' - but an interesting might have been if the Ashburton branch passenger service had survived in BR to the 60s. Then at Buckfastleigh the 'replacement bus' to Ashburton - a proper Southern (it could just as easily be Western) National half cab single decker - great finishing touch. Followed by a sunny afternoon.

Back next Thursday and Saturday!

John

 

Another great morning at the SDR today. Loved 5542 in the auto sandwich. Finally found Nappers Halt on foot for the first time too! Back for more next Sunday.

Does anyone know what the engine in the running shed behind 1420 and what I guess is 6412 is? Looks like it might be a Peckett, it's in light green and the boiler is off. Thanks for the help.

 

No.93 looked as pretty as a picture today and sounded good........Sorry about the noisy traffic.

GWR Steam Railmotor at South Devon Railway 17th February 2013. - YouTube

Pat.

 

It's good to know that the gala is going down so well. I spent yesterday afternoon stewarding in the museum at Buckfastleigh & by the end of the day we had had over 500 visitors. Tomorrow I'm in the signalbox at Buckfastleigh, back stewarding Friday afternoon & operating Chris Lamacraft's EM gauge model of Ashburton Sunday afternoon. Last night we came back to travel on one of the staff/volunteer special runs - unable to sample the beer festival, alas, due to needing to get home to 11 week old puppy! Here are a couple of shots taken at Totnes & one of 1450 at Buckfastleigh.


Regards
John

 

Just to add my thanks to the SDR for a wonderful day on Saturday full of GWR nostagia. Not everything went to plan with 5542 not ready in the morning and then covering for 1450 on one round trip in the afternon but this didnt spoil our plans and the Steam Motor is just amazing. Well worth the very modest ticket price and 300 mile round trip from deepest Hants. Pity about not being able to sample the beer tempting though it was.

Don and Tim (who persevered though unwell-but perked up when we met an old friend on the platform at Totnes).

 

My video from yesterday, including some PDSR action with 4277:

[video=youtube;3qnvsvMNUoY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qnvsvMNUoY&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

Monday saw a sunny day. 1450 and 5542 both on a single auto coach passing at Staverton.

however,the first return trip booked for 1450 was covered by 1369 with 3 GWR coaches plus 2 milk tanks not least due to a large group booking......

so the first day of half term felt like a mini gala

Both autos in maroon running with various destinations. Mostly local GWR ones but also a green Seaton one to remember the months of Western push n pull operation after a shortage of DMUs

All this for a return ticket..........

 

Hot news!

railmotor 93 IS running on Friday as per the t/t on the SDR site.

sat is nearly full(92%) so "by popular demand" it is now running on Friday.....

a beautiful painting of 93 by the R Dart by John Austin is on display until Sunday with poster copies available for £2.50

This was announced in the last hour. I DO hope lots of NP members will come for a ride on Friday

Ray Mason

 

Seaton - yes, I remember February 1965 when the two remaining 14xx locos 1442 and 1450 were drafted in to cover for DMU diagrams; a great new lease of life, but short lived when Halwill- Torrington closed on 1st March 1965, releasing a railcar. Strangely my last ride on Halwill - Torrington was in W55000; the same bubble-car as now works on the SDR!

Looking forward to coming to the gala again, but will have to be Saturday due to other commitments. Tremendous branch line atmosphere.

John

 

6412 is indeed the loco immediately behind 1420, and then after that it is 0-6-0st No.34 Portbury from the Bristol Harbour Railway, which is visiting the main works as part of its overhaul.

 

Some more good news, I was told late this afternoon that the third auto trailer, W225, which is still in carmine and cream livery, will be released back into traffic before the end of the week. This will allow the very nicely weathered 1420 to operate with an earlier liveried auto trailer, and will of course also allow the planned three-car auto trains to operate over the final weekend. All this and SRM 93 running additional trains on Friday too. The Real Ale festival will also be open for extra business during the day on Friday, in addition to the planned openings on Saturday and Sunday, and a further 8 ales have been ordered to cope with demand, many of the initial order having now been drunk!!!

 

Unexpectedly given a pass from household duty, for tomorrow so looking forward to what should be pretty close to a normal working day on the Ashburton branch in 1958! Can't make Friday as signed up for booking office at Bodmin - 30120 is rostered for the day there. What a fantastic half term week in the West!

John