Paignton and Dartmouth Railway

This ghostly looking coach looking like a DMU trailer painted all over in white (including the windows) with murals on it, wasn't the black one that has been at Kingswear for the last EX years is it.
As when I was down there last weekend it had disappeared.
Talking about coaches as a matter of interest how many do the P&DSR have ?
I believe the following.
DMU Trailers 3 on service train, 3 parked up at Kingswear, 1 in all over white where ? Plus I believe 1 in the paint coach shed at Churston. Total 8 DMU Trailers.
MK1's 2 on service train 5 parked up at Paignton, 1 parked up at Kingswear. Total 8 MK1's.
BSK Brake Coaches 1 on service train, 1 parked up at Paignton, & 1 in shed at Paignton. Total 3 BSK's.
And last but not least No.13 the Devon Bell observation coach on service train.
Total Number of coach I believe is Tolal 20, but I'm sure someone will put me right on this !
May be on there revamped new web site when they add the loco's to the loco section they could add a coach section & list them out as well.

 

About this ghostly looking coachm, when you say it's black do you mean the dark grey one over in the sidings behind the bay platform, as below as this is otherwise known as Santa's Grotto on certain special weekends during the year.

As for a coach list I can provide a complete list as of the last time I was there when I get in tonight.

 

That's the one, but it wasn't there last weekend.

 

Well, the one I saw was definately white, with light green below the waist, and certainly had outline drawings of a viaduct and old loco on the sides - would have taken a pick, but no time to grab camera.

 

So have they repainted the grey one into white or is it another coach they have got from somewhere, if so where has the grey one gone.

Also when I was down there last weekend they had done a good job in hiding 4277 in the shed on the Friday morning by putting the 08 shunter in front of it (shed door was open).
By looking through the window's at the top of the shed you could see that the line up in the shed was 4277, 6435 & 4555.
Also you could see 75014 & 7827 in the shed at Churston through the window's.
Talking to a chap in orange overalls at Paignton he said they were hoping 7827 would be back to Paignton this Friday !
The people at the P&DSR do seem to be a lot more friendly these day which I think is a good thing.

 

Update from Mrs at 15:00 "An engine has just gone up to Churston on it's own, wasn't quick enough to see which one but I think it might be the Goliath look-a-like. Will keep an eye out to see if it comes back again."

I've asked her if it was still in undercoat - she said it was black with a yellow lion thingy on the side....... 8-[ ........




Only joking - she didnt say!

 

The engine that went past may have been Lydham as I saw her in light steam outside Churston shed at about 13:00, and she was gone by 17:00.

They have always been good at hiding their engines at least from good photos, just have to wait till she's ready.

I think the staff at the P&DSR have always been friendly and I've even got a good ten minutes conversation out of BC, but maybe it's cause I visit more often and actually go on the train as they do seem to be a little anti-Photographer. Especially when they block the passengers getting of their trains to get pictures of the visiting locos.
They also had a lot of trouble at Churston during the heritage weekend with people trying to get in without tickets, so they may just be edgy.
I've found the best thing to do is just seem interested and keep out of the way and not interfere with the general running of the railway.

 

The Coaches were in this formation during the Heritage open Weekend:

1st Service Train Hauled by class 25 D7535 Hercules
4665 Sereny, 4915 Natasha, 34535 Shakira, 59513 Heidi, 59503 Nina, 59507 Ella

2nd Service Train Haules by class 7800 Manor 7827 Lydham Manor
4233 Rebecca, 4081 Sophie, 9275 Jessica, 4756 Hannah, 4916 Claire, 4507 Nikita, 13 Devon Belle

There was also a mysterious other coach named Claire in the sheds at Churston??

Also for reference the two Autocoaches, 232 Claire (Directors Inspection Saloon and 238 Charlotte have left the PDSR for Boidmin and Wenford Railway and the Dean Forest Railway

 

The complete coach list for GWR.

I think you are right and they have got 20 Coahces as follows:
4081 Sophie Tourist Second Open
4233 Rebecca Tourist Second Open
4507 Nikita Tourist Second Open
4642 Sarah Tourist Second Open (Used to be called Isadora)
4665 Sereny Tourist Second Open
4756 Hannah Tourist Second Open
4915 Natasha Tourist Second Open
4916 Claire Tourist Second Open

9275 Jessica Brake Second Open
34535 Shakira Brake Corridor Second (Used to be called Anastasia)
34550 Louise Brake First Corridor

59003 Zoe DMU: Trailer Second
59004 Emma DMU: Trailer Composite
59494 Chloe DMU: Trailer Composite Lavatory
59503 Nina DMU: Trailer Composite Lavatory
59507 Ella DMU: Trailer Composite Lavatory
59513 Heidi DMU: Trailer Composite Lavatory
59517 Emily DMU: Trailer Composite Lavatory

59488 Unnamed as used as Santa's Grotto

Hope this helps

Scorpian04111986

 

Thank you for the info Scorpian04111986 I would think that 59488 DMU Trailer Unnamed is now the White one Stu in Torbay has seen.

 

7827's exam must have gone OK, she is in service today.

 

I thought Lydham passed okay, as I was also aware she is in service.

Also Stu if you are near Churston as of about an hour ago (14:51) 4277 was in very light steam outside the sheds at Churston recieving attention to her paintwork (so been recently moved?) when we went past for work on the way to Brixham and back (Pics will follow on my fotopic site, unfortunately not great quality as done on phone but pics all the same)

After some research and pontification I've realised this Ghostly White coach (that used to be Santa's Grotto), is now in PDSR's words going to be transformed into an Exhibition and learning coach, telling the story about Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Explains the viaducts and engines on sides then as he designed all of the viaducts and the tunnel on the line I believe.

Glad info was of use if you have any more questions then please ask I may knowthe answers

 

Great, thanks. By the way, what is your photopic site address?

 

Hi,

Yes the unusual coach you mention is in fact an exhibition coach which will be based at Kingswear beneath the overall roof as far as I know. I gather that there will be more than just I.K.Brunel info but I haven't seen the car yet. The turntable makers plate has recently been re-painted, as will the turntable itself - once we get some better weather.

A colleague and I will make a note of the plate details - maybe I can get a pic .

 

Hello yes my Fotopic site is at the following address:
www.kelvinsgallery.fotopic.net

It has pictures of most of my visits over the last two years, I am currently adding pictures almost daily and may even add an archive section when I have time, as it seems to be a very time consuming process if you do it correctly and name picture etc. Anyway let me know what you think!

 

Talking of exhibition coaches - I remember many years ago, there was an `exhibition` train which travelled the country. It was a long train which had all about IKBrunel inside.

The train visited Reading station and also Paignton to name afew. I remember that i was on holiday in Paignton at the time and went on the train which was kept in the DVR shed.

 

Yes it seems as though it may be quite a good coach to look at

Also my pics of 4277 at Churston are now on my site

 

Hi,

This is detail of the manufacturers plate on the turntable at Churston.

 

Is the company still operating does anyone know as if not it may be a rather unique turntable.
Or even possible one of their last survivig ones.

 

Seems they do survive but not as Ransome and Rapier having done a Google it produced the link below but in the search it found a U.S. site advertising Ransome and Rapier equipment.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ransomes,_Sims_&_Jefferies