Paignton & Dartmouth rly

Correct. She's been under the bridge at churston over the season, we put her "down in the car park" for the run up to Christmas to help lure people in. She's now back in the shed for a while.
Work going on at the moment...5239 being put back together, carriage servicing coming up and a relay going on at waterside, we are NOT building a new station for the caravan park as some rumours have said.

 

Thanks for that info.

On another subject, I found some interesting photos of the line from the early years in the 1970's, and a few dating back even further: Flickr: chuffed's Photostream
I did not realise that Riddles 4MT 80064 once worked the line.

 

From the Bluebell website " It was one of over 200 locos sent to Barry scrapyard that were subsequently rescued for preservation, in this case by a group based on the Dart Valley Railway where it was restored to working order in 1981. In 1984 its owners decided to transfer it to the Bluebell, and it worked out the remainder of its boiler certificate in fine style in Sussex. Since then it has been back to Devon and has now returned again to the Bluebell."

 

The DSR has many good Railtours visiting again this year which include...

Torbay Express's
Cathedrals Express's
British Pullman
+ more.

Looking forward to seeing them

 

For anyone interested on Saturday 23rd March 2013, 60163 Tornado (BR Blue) will be visiting the line whilst hauling 'The Cathedrals Express' between London and Kingswear.

 

Well worth looking out even if not riding on it. Also it is worth noting that regular running begins on 16 February and every day for the rest of February except 25th, then most days in March - including 23rd March. I hope that the courage of starting up so early is rewarded by bums on seats; one of which will be mine!

 

!!! Saturday 4th May 2013, Class 25 D7535 'Mercury' will be out operating passenger trains throughout the day!!!


The Devon Diesel Society in conjunction with the DSR will be running the event. Tickets are purchased only through the Devon Diesel Society. More to follow...

 

Don't think the link worked on my last post, so here it is:

http://www.devondiesels.org.uk/updates.htm

This is for the running day of the Class 25 (D7535) opperated by the Devon Diesel Society on the DSR.

 

Hi does anybody Know which loco will be starting the season and how long it will be running for
Thanks

 

4277 will be out first, followed by 7827 10 days later.

 

Paignton & Dartmouth rly

When 5239 due to be back into action?

 

Being of Cornish descent i can reply with the most accurate of answers....dreckly.

 

Just like to add.... Our season starts next Saturday, 16th February. We run right through "half term", to following Sunday, then we run tues, wed, thus and Saturdays until Easter, then every day until 3rd November, plus from good Friday we have the second steam angle, coal fired paddle steamer Kingswear Castle.

 

I had a great afternoon lineside today, 4277 sounded and looked fantastic. Remember that the DSR is open everyday in Halfterm and every Tue/Wed/Thur & Saturday in Feb/March, and then every single day until November 3rd.

 

Great to see some winter steam. The cool air (and boy, it is cold!) has made for some great exhaust plumes - especially accelerating out of the Waterside speed restriction :+) I hope it has proved worthwhile re. punter numbers. Some trains looked nicely patronised - especially last weekend when the weather was lush. Interesting to see 4277 running bunker first from Paigtnon (for tyre wear equalisation I guess?). I am sure last year all locos were smokebox first from PGN?
Also, whats with the after-dark haircuts to the lineside? The other night my boy looked out of his window at bedtime and said, "daddy, it looks like aliens have come to visit" I must admit, it looked very 'close encounters of the third kind' with the two rail-tractors all spotlights blazing!! The lineside looks nice and smart now in any case!

 

4277 is facing the same way as last year (smoke box towards Kingswear) and I think all other locomotives will be as well with the same sort of set up as last year of what I can gather.

 

JSG has photos to prove it, on 19th Feb, but I'm sure that Stu knows which way is Kingswear so has it been turned since the 19th?

 

I do believe so, 4277 is now smoke box facing Paignton. There's a video on Youtube of the DSR on the 23rd Feb which showed this.

 

I can confirm that 4277 is note facing Paignton, after all i did turn out on Friday. We've got the flailers working nights as we have trains during the day, usually we'd all be tucked away in a shed somewhere at this time.

 

Ps, for some strange reason last year we didn't turn the engines at all, we like to do it at least once a year for wheel wear.