Paignton and Dartmouth Railway

IMHO that station is a credit to the PDSR but the problem I see is that it has never been manned during my visits and I have stayed as a guest at the adjacent hotel, no booking office open and no toilet facilities either although that was not a problem for me.churston.jpg

 

I only signed up for this site a few days ago after a recommendation from a friend.

I visit the P&DR? (Im also confused on the name but isnt P&DR the operating name and DVR the name for the company etc) very frequently and have done since tha age of 3 (21 now) and visit 3-4 Times a year when can according to work constraints therefore they know me quite well by site and i can think of about 3 or 4 people who would recognise me including BC

even with so many visits i usually only visit on special weekends etc as i think the problem with the line is that once you have been once or twice in the summer you have seen all the locos and therfore not much point in returning also the same things happen every year (Thomas days always follow exactly the same format other lines provide much more variety and interesting stuff than thomas just in th platform especially the SDR)

i think the nameing of the locos is rather unique so should be kept as i quite like it and as for the ajax point it follows as all the names except lydham follow a theme.

as for the loop it probably wont be much use to 3 train running as would completely mess up the timetable if you do the maths but would greatly improve the flexibility of when the torbay express comes as this really messes up the P&DR timetable when it arrives either early or late and so would add flexibility with its timings
i hadnt thought about it being used as a temporary terminus while paignton under repair but i didnt know it was a very good idea though.

as to a tour of the sheds couldnt this be done with or without a gallery especially at churston as this is very good and i find it very interesting at Buckfastleigh being able to view engines under refit also would be a reason to stop at churston

as for volunteers i would also be happy to help i asked for help a while ago but wasnt given much info (only a sheet of paper saying turn up didnt seem very organised and what if you turn up an nobodys there its a long trip to curston from TQY) and so gave up would love to help as SDR but given that i dont drive a buses being crap its difficult to get to but P&DSR is on the doorstep almost

also galas would be great i came especially and reorganised shofts at work to go on the City of Truro special last year or was it the year before?? and i came to see 6024 and 5051 and 60009 and tangmere so 4 extra trips there thats what £40 extra tey got from me and sometimes i also bring a friend and or my brother too and we all spend money on souvenirs etc whilst there.

i hope this is okay as i said its my first attempt at doing this sort of thing so see what you think. oh also 4588 is up for sale as far as i know as they want another tender engine or large tank ie 5205 or larger so ive been told and 75014's boiler has been sent away as for 4555 she is just out of service as certificate run out due to overuse probably in last few years so presumably joined the queue behind 4588 (as presumably being repaired for sale) and 75014

 

So, Lizzie is on the Dartmouth Express on 29th March, meaning the turntable had been done. What other locos will now fit?.......

 

When last I heard (Saturday 16th ) the turntable has not yet been extended.

 

I suppose you could swap around engines a little bit? Let another railway have Lydham for a bit? The main problems about the railway are the ones mentioned in 'the first post'. Whenever I go, its easy to see that its not really an 'enthusists's railway'. Its more of trains by the seaside. I have to say naming the engines that don't have names is a really stupid idea. They are rubbish names aswell......

 

I understand that the names on the locos: and carriages are not popular with all members of the workforce . The public (most of them who are not enthusiasts) do not seem to mind.

 

especially the bloke who has to paint the names on all the carriages!!

Regarding the Turntable. 6201 now seems certain for the Dartmouth Express, and Rly Herald mentions 6201 doing some of the Torbays too.
This would suggest they have actually altered it.
I wonder what is the longest loco that can now visit and be turned?

 

6201 is the longest engine around, so presumably everything else will fit as well, IF indeed the turntable/boundary fence have been modified for 6201.

 

The turntable didnt look as though it had been altered on inspection a couple of weeks ago but maybe I missed something, I understand its only a small alteration or maybe my memory differs??

Is there a good specific reason why the PDSR wont hire out locos or hire them in as it seems every other railway is the only long term visitiors they've had of late are the City of Truro and the Union Of South Africa and thats only as they turned up by accident on a railtour.
There has also been Thomas but as they've stopped Thomas iI presume he don't count anymore.

As I said in a previous post once you've been once or twice you've seen the servicable locos and so therefore only need to if they had visitors from time to time like they used to (the most memorable is Flying Scotsman 1993/94) then it would be a good reason to return obviously if she was to return again after her overhaul I'd be the first in the queue to get in that morning

 

On the hiring of locos - probably the cost. If they have the required number of serviceable locos in their own fleet to cover the timetable, then there is no commercial sense in hiring in others. (remember - 'varitey', 'interest' are not valid reasons for the P&DSR). I think they have done deals in the past such as stabling locos for a week in between mainline tours for free in return for using them on service trains, and they mended Bradley Manor, and used it on service trains to run it in.

 

I hear DVR shareholders have been sent a newsletter - The Dart Valley Telegraph. Full of typos and dreadful pics but has an architects sketch of the paignton station proposals, based on a signal box design. Apparently although the brochure says P&DSR the newsletter is headed Dart Valley Steam Railway with the company name as Dart Valley Steam Railway plc. Shades of a few years ago when they had a similar identity crisis and used mulitple names such as Torbay Steam Railway, Torbay & dartmouth etc.

 

I always thought the identity crisis had been sorted out when they became the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway as the railway and the operating company the Dart Valley Group or whatever they term it, but with everything seemingly changing its hard to tell

 

Does anyone know if the turntable has been changed yet as 46201 is supposed to be on the Dartmouth Express on the 29th of March so surely it has been fixed??

 

Yes, I understand that extentions have been made and can be clamped on to the existing rails as and when required.
The fencing is not that close will not foul and loco in turning.

 

On a slightly different subject. P&DSR are offering half price travel to local residents http://www.paignton-steamrailway.co.uk/LocalRover.doc
There is also a competition to design a new holiday poster (ala 'speed to the west')
Looks like Mr Pooley is making some changes from the word go.
Good to see it!

 

I think, the P&DSR has some nice locos, in nice liveries, not found on other locos around the country, eg 7827 and 6435. Could the PDSR lend them out?

Joshua

 

Hi

One thing with the P & DSR is that it is run as a commerical business to make money rather than in the sense that WSR etc are run to preserve a railway.

Alex

 

Yes. but the WSR manage to do both very well. The P&DSR could learn good lessons on combining commercial practice with preservation from them. Still, new bloke has just taken charge, so the jury is out. Lets give him a chance. discounted travel for locals is a very good first step!

 

Hi

Fair enough about spoiling what the P & DSR has made for itself, i was saying more that you are unlikely to see the loco's going anywhere.

Alex