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Paignton & Dartmouth rly

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by sturdon, Sep 10, 2009.

  1. tuffer5552

    tuffer5552 Member

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    Yes it was, however, we've been victim of some water problems over the last few years which we are hopefully due to cute shortly but until then we are doing short cycle wash outs to protect the engines.
     
  2. Stu in Torbay

    Stu in Torbay Part of the furniture

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    Has the DSR put their clocks forward a day early, or was there am early train today? Manor went past at 0930!
     
  3. tuffer5552

    tuffer5552 Member

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    Today is the first operating day of PS Kingswear Castle, Britain's last remaining coal fired paddle steamer, she will commence normal running from tomorrow. Charter train down this morning taking people down to Kingswear.
     
  4. Gerald

    Gerald New Member

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    Can anyone tell me what equipment was on the line in the 1986 to 1990 time frame?

    Unfortunately I didn't pay enough attention at the time and all I can remember is the Devon Belle and Lydham Manor.
     
  5. tuffer5552

    tuffer5552 Member

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    As far as i know there was 4920, 4588, 5239, couple of autos, but I'm due other more senior people well be able to help more. Wasn't very old back then.
     
  6. Ganger

    Ganger Member

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    4555, 4588, 5239, 7827, D3014, D7535 and Class 127 DMU. Auto trailers on the line were W232 and W238, and there were three Mk 1 SLO's 48006, 48007 and 48009 from memory. Somewhere around that time the DVR also purchased a complete rake of corridor stock, but after finding they were not best suited to use on the line later sold many of them on. GWR Steam Crane No.2 was also on the line during some of this time, the Smith & Rodley diesel Crane appearing at the end of the 80's, along with the small Plasser TRAMM.

    4920 didn't arrive on the line until 1992, 6435 I think in 1991 (along with 9116 Duchess of York and Auto W225 plus a couple of other Mk1's transferred from Buckfastleigh. D2192 arrived in early 1992 (mid way through its repaint into BR green livery by members of the DDS.

    During the time span there were a few special workings and these included Class 142 "skippers" on Christmas trains through from Exeter one year, and also the annual appearance of the weedkilling train (which over the years saw 20's, 25's, 31's and a 47 visit the line). The first HST to work on a private line was also within this period I think, can't remember the exact date though.

    Signalling - Paignton had a single semaphore at the end of the platform (released by the train staff or key token from the line managers office). Other semaphores at Paignton were worked by BR from Paignton South. The DVR Groundframe was also released by the BR signalman. Churston loop was in place and controlled by a small Westinghouse lever frame and when not in use initially the signals would be turned off and the signal Identity plates folded down to show "U" which stood for unmanned. Brittannia Crossing still had gates, but these were replaced by barriers at around this time, and Kingswear saw the level crossing installed and station signalled (worked from a small panel at Britannia Crossing). Operation was normally one train only with a train staff, or Paignton to Churston by Electric Key Token / Churston Kingswear also by EKT but with only one token for this section. Paignton South box was closed by BR towards the end of 80's with the crossing at Sands Road being worked by traincrew from then on. The groundframe was transefferd to the DVR's control at the same time, and a new two lever frame installed to control the crossover between BR and the DVR. Any through trains then had to be handsignalled, the signals controlling the movements between the two operators being removed by BR at this time.

    Hope that helps a bit.
     
  7. tuffer5552

    tuffer5552 Member

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    Told you.
     
  8. Stu in Torbay

    Stu in Torbay Part of the furniture

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    I remember the HST visit. In pre-swallow IC livery. Lots of squealing flanges! The 90's also brought some good mixed-traffic galas. Class 50s, a pair of 58s in 1992, 37s and I will never forget Dumbleton Hall + a Deltic double-heading and erupting out of Goodrington and up the bank! Got it on VHS somewhere. Also when the demo freight derailed in the platform at Kingswear - but best not talk about that too much!
     
  9. age4047

    age4047 New Member

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    Not forgetting 80064 which was restored at Buckfastleigh but did a few years on the P&DSR, a couple of GW Ocean Saloons and 50 002 Superb was initially based at Paignton.
     
  10. Gerald

    Gerald New Member

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    I do somewhere have a photo I took of a DMU in the shed at Paignton, so that must have been the Class 127.

    I remember that now, it was on Saturdays in December if I recall correctly.

    Thank you, it helps a lot.

    I am considering modelling the P&DSR and this will at least help me get started accumulating items over the next couple of years while I continue to search for information from that period.

    Unfortunately I didn't pay enough attention to things when I was living in Paignton, and my numerous moves in the years since have apparently resulted in some of the photos I did take disappearing.
     
  11. Ganger

    Ganger Member

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    These fall outside of the timeline of the original post. 80064 arrived in 1982 and ran part of that year and some of 1983 before moving to the Bluebell in 1984. 50 002 didn't arrive until February 1992 and remained on the line until late 1998 when it left for a return to the mainline. This unfortunately didn't happen and the loco, which was in full working order when it left, returned to Devon in 2003 after a legal battle and in a terrible state with seized engine and numerous other problems. The loco is now undergoing heavy overhaul at Buckfastleigh and is not expected to return to service for two or three years yet.

    The Ocean Saloons - 9111 King George did spend some time on the line in the 1970's, but I'm not sure if it ever ran. 9116 Duchess of York arrived in 1991 and remained until sold to the SDR.

    The 127 DMU mentioned above transferred from Paignton to the SDR whilst it was still under DVR control. It remained on the SDR, in private ownership, until last year when it was moved to the Mid Hants. Unfortunately the power cars were deemed beyond economic repair and were cut up earlier this year.

    The galas of the 1990's were great events. The first was held in 1991 when in addition to 6435, 4555, 7827, D3014 and D7535, Hymek D7017 and D1010 Western Campaigner (running as D1035 Western Yeoman) visited. The following year saw the steam fleet joined by 4920 and 50002 (running as 402) made its debut. D2192 made its first passenger runs on the line and D9000 & D9016 were the visitors. On the Saturday a pair of 33's worked through to Kingswear and on the Sunday 37 672 did the same.

    1993 was the busiest year. The main event saw no fewer then 19 loco's on the line during a two day period, 17 of which saw use. It would have been 20 if a driver had been available to bring D400 from Laira. Joining the home fleet were a pair of Class 73's, no fewer than 5 different Class 37's, a pair of 58's and D9016. Later in the year there was a steam gala at the end of August with six loco's in action (6435, 4555, 4588, 7827, 4920 and 60103). This was the last runs with 7827 before overhaul and its last run was the only time it ran with 4920 with both facing the same way. The climb out of Goodrington was loud and 7827 took the lead and carried the Torbay Express Headboard and smokebox reporting numbers. The end of the year saw a single day Clkass 50 gala with 50002, 50007, 50033, 50042 and 50050 all appearing.

    1994 saw green Class 47 D1524 appear (a late replacement for D821 which had to pulled from the event). 20166 and 50042 from Bodmin made guest appearances. The 20 was running in its channel tunnel livery.

    1996 was by far the best gala in many ways. In addition to the home fleet there were four visiting loco's courtesy of Mainline Freight: 31407, 33109, 37074 and 73133. The loco's were delivered to the line and left with the DVR to crew until collected after the weekend.

    1998 saw the final gala with 50002 debuting in original NSE livery and joined by 31466 and 37670 from the mainline, and D8110 from the SDR.
     
  12. Stu in Torbay

    Stu in Torbay Part of the furniture

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    Paignton & Dartmouth rly

    I wonder if there is any way we could see the gala glory years return? Things have changed a lot since then and people moved on, but if there was a way of making it work - as part of the business - it would be great. The main question of course is did these 90's events return a profit? As, sad as it may seem, there is no room for them in today's financial climate unless they do.
     
  13. TorbayTrains

    TorbayTrains Member

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    Re: Paignton & Dartmouth rly

    I doubt it on the size and scale that the galas in the 90s were. I think things like heritage festivals are a better bet but even these can be costly to put on, there would be more profit on a normal operating day in some cases than putting on an event like this.

    Things like one off running days for the likes of the class 25 and other types of special rolling stock would bring in a good crowd and still cheap to run.

    But also the DSR do get a lot of mainline railtours visiting it (much more than other heritage railways) so they can get a wide variation on the types of locomotives they get over the year visiting the line, whilst people can still go out and see it and it also good for photo opportunties along the line when these visit.
     
  14. Unlikely

    Unlikely New Member

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    Absolutely loved those 1990s galas and the size of their ambition. Been sorting through pics from the 1992 and 1993 June galas and the Class 50 day recently. Very fond memories of all of those.

    I'm happy enough with a two-train service day at Paignton and some good charges up the banks, but the return of the proper galas (whether steam, diesel or both) would be outstanding. Maybe next month's D7535 running day (which I'm definitely attending) might pave the way for some more adventures.
     
  15. Stu in Torbay

    Stu in Torbay Part of the furniture

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    Yes, the heritage festivals are good - especially when a stranded castle happens to be undergoing rehab on the line, or there is a borrowed Hall able to double-head with 7827 :+)
    If the Std-4 is back in service before 7827 goes out, that would make for a decent festival. Those two in BR black double-heading would be a draw I am sure. Also, coinciding the festival with an incoming railtour would help swell numbers -as the enthusiast element on the tour might well spend the day at the festival, rather than looking round Dartmouth. it might also be possible to double head a service train with the visiting loco as part of its servicing movements - assuming this isn't just an operational step too far!
     
  16. Stu in Torbay

    Stu in Torbay Part of the furniture

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  17. Hemerdon

    Hemerdon Member Friend

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    Does anyone know which engine is due to be running next Monday, 22nd April, please? I have a footplate ride booked. Thanks.
     
  18. nanstallon

    nanstallon Part of the furniture

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    The combination of 75014 and 7827 would bring back memories for me at least of the Cambrian line in 1965, as steam held out for the Cambrian Coast Express and the York - Aberystwyth Mail, plus summer Saturday 'extras'. But no need for them to double head; it would be great to see them cross at Churston!

    John
     
  19. tuffer5552

    tuffer5552 Member

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    Monday 22nd should be 7827.
     
  20. Ganger

    Ganger Member

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    D7535 is also likely to be out and about on Monday on test / crew training, so some additional interest for visitors to the line that day, and then later in the evening the SDR's tamper will be working at Churston (up platform) and Waterside undertaking some final tamping prior to its return to Buckfastleigh.
     

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