Paignton and Dartmouth Railway

talk about locos going somewhere I see 4588 is advertised for sale in Heritage Railway.

 

She's been for sale for a while. Not sold though as supposedly they want a swap for a mre powerful loco like a std 4 tank or something of similar capabilities.

 

I think they have dropped the whole idea of swaping it now and just want to sell it.

 

They would be lucky to get a Std 4 tank. 80064 was on the line years ago. They have 75014 in the restoration queue.
A 28xx heavy freqight would be ideal for the line.

 

Swapping 4588 for a standard 4 was never a realistic proposition: no-one in their right minds would have swapped a powerful, modern, easy to maintain loco for an example of Edwardian technology. I just hope it goes to the South Devon as the DVRA lost control of it under unfortunate circumstances. However, I can't work out why they are selling this but keeping the 64xx - I would have thought they'd be better off keeping the two prairies and selling the pannier.

 

Don't be so sure about 6435 she's a tough ittle cookie, I've seen her haul 8 or nine coaches in the rain, on her own. I'm sure 4588 could manage it but I've never seen her do it.

Also why would they sell a perfectly good and servicable low season engine, especially when they only have three operational locos (7827, 5239 & 6435).

Another point is who is lickely to buy a loco that isn't exactly scarce, in bad condition knowing the work involved to restore it??

Also on the speculation over the name thing I have just been reading our local paper in Torbay and the advert on the front page of that mentions Dart Rail as a name but not PDSR so maybe it's changed.
I'll post a picture if I can work out how

 

4588 isn't in too bad condition is it?

 

4588 Just requires a retube and axle boxes to be relined as far as I know. She has been kept at the back of the shed since she was retired from working service.

 

Hi all,
sorry for not being on for a while, just a quick update, as others have mentioned there is the Heritage Weekend coming up, 19-20th April, Churston sheds will be open and maybe two trains running the timetable, with brake van rides too, also there will be a modelling display at Churston and maybe fair ground rides too.
Maybe this is a sign of things to come?

The season starts on Sunday with 6435 coming on for the first day. 5239 should be back for normal running on thursday.

Later this year there will be a new exhibition turning up, this will be in a coach stationed under the train shed at Kingswear, this will be a display dedicated to Mr I K Brunel.

So, thats a heritage weekend and a museum coming on.

Oh, also, look out for a new member of the PDSR fleet coming soon!

 

I noticed someone mentioning about the PDSR's attitude to outside loco groups, volunteers and enthusiasts.

1, Loco groups are a hassle. Every single railway in the country has had political problems within becuase of friction with loco groups. Everybody has the best wishes for the engines at heart and try to protect their interests. This added hassle is one reason why all PDSR engines are company owned. Previously engines have been used on the line and owned outside and problems have occurred, once bitten twice shy!

2. Volunteers, there is a hardy band of volunteers who excellently keep up Churston and some of the platform furniture at others. The rest of the staff are....staff. Mainly full time, some seasonal. The operational staff double up in the "off season" to other roles, track gang, fitters, painters, admin etc.

3. Enthusiasts events etc. There has been a lack of "person" within the company available to organise these things, also during the main season there is no need to run extra events, the line and infrastructure (train lengths, timetables, platforms, shops, buffets, and toilets etc) are at full stretch. Outside of this it is difficult, with paid staff it is essential to make some money, and running extra trains and engines costs, wages and overheads. If the said weekend is hit by bad weather etc and the turn out is poor it can be disasterous.

A lot of the above looks like money grabbing, etc etc but...well it is! The railway is a commercial business without the luxury of the free voluntary labour of other places. The line was set up (under the guise of the DVR with the now South Devon) to be the commercial line. And this is what it is.

HOWEVER!!!! Things are beginning to change! We'll see what happens.

 

Is that a new engine? Runner?

 

In the words of Take That....Just have a little patience....

 

Might i ask how your customer relations are? You can tell a lot about a Railway by how well the staff treats you as a customer. Since i haven't been on the line before i can't comment on it so i was wondering how your line is received by the general public at large. I could make comments on liveries and the normal rubbish but since it seems you now have a new person in charge who is making vast changes it can only be for the good of the line.

 

As a member of staff my self id like to say they're excellent! Ha. Personally i usually try to make time for passengers, they are the bread and butter after all. But like everywhere if a member of staff does not stop to talk it could be that they are in the middle of a job, so may not be able to stop, for safety reasons or other, or you may have caught them on a bad day!

And if you havent visited why not!!
Ha
thanks

 

I usually pay an annual visit to the line, depending on the weather - the beach does have preference!!!. Last year, whilst waiting to cross trains at Churston, I tried to strike up a conversation with the loco crew, who were sat on a bench waiting for the other train but it was obvious they didn't want to talk about their loco (6435) so I left it.

 

As i said...it can happen to anybody, they might have been having a bad day but thanks for the comment.

 

I have only ever experienced friendly and professional staff on my many visits. Even on what must be the most frantic day of the year (Regatta fireworks/red-arrows day) there are smiles. Even from Mr Cogar, who is to be seen running to and fro with cap on and walkie talkie in hand!!

As for the current scene, well - there seem to be more changes since the end of the last season than we have seen for a while. For example, the turntable modifiations are a sensible, strategic move to be welcomed - as I said before, lets give the new boss a chance, and encouragement (by supporting the Heritage Weekend for a start).

As for the new 'member of the fleet' I would love a GWR 2-8-0 or GWR 4-6-0 Anything from a Manor to a King would suit the line in authentic terms, but with a 25mph limit and the price of coal what it is, a Std 4 tank would be equally appealing!

Finally, thanks must go to Tuffer for providing us with info (as much as his position on the P&DSR allows)

here's to tomorrow's start to the season - should be interesting on Goodrington Bank for the crew - wet and rusty rail etc!!

 

That'll be 4277 then :-$

 

Quite a good educated guess, Heavy freight tanks would be capable of handling any train the line could throw at them even on 1 in 60 gradients, plus they already have experience of the type with 5239.

As someone said earlier you could do a lot worse than a GWR heavy freight type.

And before anyone wonders about the wacky post time, im up for the Grand Prix!.

 

Not really - there is a difference between and educated guess and fact!

Just wonder if they will fix "David" nameplates to it so they can have "David and Goliath" working together.