Paignton and Dartmouth Railway

Was one a special? Stranger things have happened or the trains were busier than expected. I do have a picture of loads of broken sleepers in the loop in 1973? so presumably only recently removed? It was still there in 1945 I also have a record of the carriage siding connection at the Kingswear end of the loop being taken out of use in 13th March 1964. So presumably the loop was still in use til then. I believe though the loop was taken out of use in 1972, but I'm not sure when it was removed, as pic still shows it being there? Nobody seems to worry about when it was removed just when it was removed. I will continue my quest to find the answer though!

Yes BC is overseeing the 'Goodrington Project' I was led to believe that there was only going to be a two road carriage shed to house the available rolling stock because one set will be stored at Paignton still. Otherwise the train will need shunting to Paignton everyday? This question was asked directly and they thought not! I suppose it wouldn't be that much hassle though. I also thought the plane was to set it up as the temporary terminus for now while paignton was 'redecorated' and then to develop it into a specific carrieage shed later.

Also that GM who has recently retired and going to travel is going to volunteer on a line he knows very well.

 

After a visit today the things at Goodrington seem to be progressing quite nicely and a lot of static activity seems to be going on (probably due to it being a Sunday). I also have it on good authority that all of the foundations have been tested and are sound so the plan can continue. Unfortunatly (or not) BC is in Canada so how much will progress and when I couldn't guess but I've been told we should see signs of things to come by Xmas.

 

I was on holiday in Devon last week and paid a visit to Paignton as well as Totnes, interesting to see how Goodrington has developed from a single line the last time i visited, i know having the start of a 1 in 60 bank alongside it may make it look deceptive, but the headshunt at the Kingswear end of the new track appears to have a gradient of Fioxfield standards!.

I added a couple of phots of 5239 at Kingswear & 4277 at Goodrington to this album: http://david1984.fotopic.net/c1593753.html , although i was rather hoping 7827 Lydham Manor would be in operation as it's the only P&DSR steam loco i've never seen and is proving rather camera shy every time i visit

 

Lydham Manor hasn't been out for a while now. As for the headshunt. At first I thought they were installing a new road-rail access point, as the track leads down towards Cliff Park Road, but it doesn't seem so now. As for the gradient, no idea why its so steep. Perhaps it was just easier and cheaper to lay the track on the existing ground rather than build up the level?

 

I'm sure all will become clear in due course, I've herad by Xmas we will see the general jist of progress weather permitting etc etc watch the space.

As for Lydham I think she's fine I presume they jsut want to show of the new engine although wasn't she in service during the main peak season in the middle of August when 4277 was removed due to her cylinders playing up?? I know she was definately in service on the 1st as she hauled the first rain of the day before the naming cermony.

Also given the gradient I would have thought id would still be easier to load and unload at Paignton on the flat not that it happens very often.

 

Couple of weeks back, one of the Manor's axle springs was in Churston yard due to be sent away for some reason.

 

That explains her lack of use of late then, I just assumed she was taken out of the cycle temporarily

 

Last time Flying Scotsman visited it was un-loaded at Churston. A bit tight it was too!

 

It can be don there too I belive (but am not sure) that when Braveheart was delivered she was done so at Churston?? So maybe they just flip a coin to see which to use.

 

Somewhere I have a newspaper cutting showing 4472 descending Kings Ash Hill on a low loader (obviously!) Bet they were praying that scotsman was properly secured, and the loader had good brakes!
Anyone that knows that hill will know what I mean!!

 

I have a picture somewhere of her ascending telagraph in 1973, I also have one of Dumleton Hall ascending Kings Ash and getting stuck on her low loader and causing traffic chaos

 

So, what do folks make of the article in HR about the DVR? seems like Mr Barry is gearing up for another EGM. Do we need change? We certainly need to make sure the DVR rides out the current recession. Whatever personal agendas there may be, the priority must be keeping the company in the black - first for the sake of the livelihoods that depend on it, and second because it is one of the best lines in the country.

 

Those figures do look pretty awful and there aren't many railway people on that board. Now they have a new GM from a non railway background, makes you wonder what the future is - could Tuffer tell us what the staff think? What sort of people would Mr B want to see there though and would they have the railway or profit as priority?

 

The manor is fine, she's been on standby for the 42xx during october while 5239 is at Churston for repairs.

 

This site may be of interest in the debate concerning DVR plc Directors and recent results.
www.djbarry.co.uk/dartvalley.htm

 

Having read all the reports on David Barry's site, I would like to know what he has planned to impove the operating profit of the Company.
It seems to me, all he has suggested so far is to kick out the present board of directors as they are too old for the job .
Who else would he have on the board besides himseff I wonder???
He also states " It does not have a supporters organization, that was disbanded many years ago" If the volunteer group that run Churston are not supporters what are they??

 

Thats an interesting point they must be supporters there is also one member of on-train staff who is also a volunteer surely he is also a supporter??

I believe it was actually BC who disbanded the volunteer groups, perhaps now he has left the new chap may have different ideas. Although the PDSR has never been run for the "entertainment" of volunteers it has always been a business first and formost and hence iut has mostly paid staff.

I think also while you are all panicking about their recent figures you should remember the money thay have spent in the last 3 or 4 years as getting three new engines in steam, a new Loop, 3 new or restored coaches, and various other improvements are no cheap Affair or mean feat to accomplish.

 

Isn't rolling stock/locomotive maintenence an expenditure every year though ? loco's need repairs/overhauls, coaches need worn bearings replaced, seats reapolstered, bodywork repairs etc.

 

Yes but complete overhauls are a little more expensive than general repairs or maintenance, also buying a brand new ready to run loco is also a lot more expensive.
Usually when they restore locos they do it over a period of time and costs get absorbed but due to a slight unforseen or unorganised problem they had a huge need for two large engines very quickly and so had a huge expenditure all at once.

Also you don't go around making new loops and sidings etc all the time.

All I was trying o point out was that they seem to have spent a lot of money on assets etc all of a sudden

 

Didn't that happen to a lot of branch lines immediately before Beeching closed them?