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Dartmouth Steam Railway General Discusssion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by TorbayTrains, Jan 10, 2015.

  1. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    After the signing of 4247 on a long term deal, I see the railway have also purchased 3803 from the SDR.
     
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  2. Paul Grant

    Paul Grant Well-Known Member

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    Now that is interesting. Wonder if their experience with the USATC encouraged them to look at a heavy freight locomotive?
     
  3. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Or the two tank versions they’ve ran for years (5239 & 4277) ?
     
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  4. Paul Grant

    Paul Grant Well-Known Member

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    More plausible. Its broadly similar but the estate version.
     
  5. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    I like that description :D
     
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  6. Matt78

    Matt78 Well-Known Member

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    does that mean the 7200 class is the GTI version?
     
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  7. Paul Grant

    Paul Grant Well-Known Member

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    Whatever that weird Ford Focus saloon briefly available was.
     
  8. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Surely the 7200 would be the Renault Megane of steam locomotives?



    Tom
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2022
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  9. Copper-capped

    Copper-capped Part of the furniture

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    more ass than class…(4200!)
     
  10. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    Could they convert 3803 to a tank? ;)

    I'm surprised 4270 hasn't been transferred to the DVR company to be honest.
     
  11. OldSchoolTrains2

    OldSchoolTrains2 New Member

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    I'm excited and intrigued by how quickly the line-up at Paignton is growing. It's always had a small fleet with a 'just enough and no extravagances' feeling about it, and adding 4110, 4247, 3803 plus the S160 on a long deal in quick succession does feel like a very distinct change of thinking.

    I suppose they have had more hire-ins in the last decade than I remember before then (which has been great fun for variety), they are operating deeper in the winter than was probably the case before and their Decembers are more intense than they used to be with the success of the Lights trains. So all that might just add up to a sensible feeling of needing more of their own locos to rely on. But I must admit I'm hoping this expanded line-up is also a sign of plans for even more running days or more two-train service days.

    I absolutely love the line - brilliant gradients and scenery, just a superb place to spend time on the train and the lineside footpaths. Will be on the first train of 2022 with my daughter on Tuesday morning.
     
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  12. JBTEvans

    JBTEvans Well-Known Member

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    It's crazy to think the line used to rely on 6435 hauling 7 coach trains!
     
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  13. OldSchoolTrains2

    OldSchoolTrains2 New Member

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    In fairness that did sound pretty good - as did L94's relatively recent visit. Of all the guests in the last few years, as excited as I was about the King and S160s, they took the line in their stride but the Pannier had to do some proper work and was by far the most exhilarating from the front window up the banks.
     
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  14. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Things do seem to have changed somewhat since the previous GM retired, certainly those in charge seem to be a bit more willing to encourage/engage with the enthusiast market a bit more than in the past.
    I appreciate that enthusiasts like ourselves on this forum aren’t the DSR’s core market, but those in charge now seem to cater for both gricers/cranks as well as ‘normals’ in the area for a holiday.
     
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  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Aside from the fact that it is slap bang in the middle of a big tourist area, it has the advantage of being a short line but with views and interest along its length. And it also has a main line connection. It is quite surprising that it was ever given up by BR but I guess the issue was the seasonal dimension although the DSR turned that around with its Christmas trains.
     
  16. mdewell

    mdewell Well-Known Member Friend

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    No doubt these were all factors considered when Dart Valley Railway decided that they no longer wanted to run 2 railways, and decided to keep the one by the seaside rather than the riverside one*.

    * Which seems to have worked out very nicely for both them and the South Devon Railway.
     
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  17. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    The other thing to keep in mind is they also have the support and goodwill of an investor who has a sizeable stake in the railway and the finances to support sound investment in the lines long term future
     
  18. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    All of that is fair comment but, football clubs aside, people with money look long and hard at the current health of set ups and future potential before investing. That, of course, is why they have the money in the first place.
     
  19. Enterprise

    Enterprise Part of the furniture

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    Your last sentence is far from universally true.
     
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  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    True in the case of the DSR's benefactor though. And irrespective of whether we like how the money has been made it's nice that some of it has gone into the heritage system.
     

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