South Devon Railway

Awesome! Thanks.

 

I took some pics for you Corbs but not excellent as it was raining, as far as I could see the main things of interest in the headshunt are Lady A, Ashley, Kilmersden and 20118 undergoin repaint

 

Just a slight correction Kelvin.
The third saddle tank is Kitson 'Carnarvon' not Kilmersdon.
Her new location should now enable the owning group to begin to assess what is required for an overhaul.

 

Thanks very much Kelvin, seems things have shuffled around a fair bit. Dumbleton looks good 'on the vans' as it were, much better than the poorly-looking stock that was previously there

 

By the way, does anyone know when 1369 runs out of ticket?

 

Quite a while I think she came out of service during the 2006 & 2007 seasons and was then returned either mid 2007 or late 2007 in her nice shiny new livery complete with bell. I have some pics somewhere I think I'll see if I can dig them out

As a further note I believe she was originally restored in 1996 so the dates would fit, or at least how I remember it they would hope it helps

 

1369 was withdrawn at the end of the 2005 season, its last workings being a PW train in early November. It returned to steam again at Easter 2007 so has (hopefully) until then end of 2016 / early 2017.

 

What is happening with the turntable? Is it still going ahead?

 

The turntable is part of a much bigger project for Buckfastleigh. That will be dependant upon both fund raising and a successful HLF scheme. It will happen, but don't hold your breath just yet!

 

What exactly is involved in the bigger project, sounds exciting by the way . Also, how are the overhauls of 5786 and 6412 coming along? I don't know if you volunteer at the railway or work with them but I thought I would say anyway that this place is by far my favourite heritage railway that I have been to. It's always the highlight of my holiday if I go to devon, so thank you if you are involved and to all the people that work at the SDR, I really enjoy this place.

 

6412 is still in the que for overhaul with alot of work being done on the chassis in readiness for the boiler when it is done. 5786 is the focus of attention at present with the rear wheelset dropped out for work on balance weights and attention to the axleboxes. Work is progressing in the boilershop with the 2 large tubes are fitted. Some parts are already being undercoated and painted ready for its return in a new livery hopefully shortly after the start of the 2013 running season.

 

Thinking back to magzine articles from a few years ago, has the idea to build a new section from Buckfastleigh to Ashburton been abandoned? Given it would need a new formation, 3 road underpasses and a river bridge the cost would be in the millions.

 

It would be nice, but rather unlikely to happen. But they said that about the Welsh Highland Railway not all that long ago, so who knows?

 

Thanks, good to know that 5786 is not far from completion.
I'd like it if they could extend it to Ashburton again. Perhaps a lottery grant in the next 30 or so years and they can return!

 

While on the subject of Ashburton, can anyone answer a question for me - I went to check out what remains of the station on Thursday and while the Brunel station roof is the main remnant, there's a building around the back that resembles a goods shed, but the dimensions for what would of been the rail entrance look wrong to my eyes, is this the original goods shed or a a mock up sympathetic to the original ?.

 

Thats the original goods shed. The engine shed also remains as does the main building and overall roof, albeit filled in at each end.

 

What a delightfull line The South Devon Line is when i think of a country branch line i always think of this line I visited in 2011 with my wife the last time we came was on holiday around 1977 when it was the Dart Valley would liked to have come more often but we discovered greece & turkey.
But returned last year, my wife said it still has not lost its charm still a lovely line well done for keeping it so.

 

Is 1420 next in the overhaul queue after 6412?

 

If anyones interested I took a quick few snaps of Ashburton last week to show the station in it's current state in this album: Devon 2012 - a set on Flickr

Seems quite a bit remains compared to most abandoned stations.