railways.co.ukPaignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway - Wednesday 13/08/08
My 6th visit to the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway, 'The Nations Holiday Line' on Wednesday 13th August 2008.
Now I know a hell of a lot of enthusiasts are against the P&DSR, saying that they don't keep locomotives in original liveries along with naming them, using coloured lights etc, but I think the P&DSR GWR liveries are better than the GWR real ones, come on, your saying 'Lydham Manor' looks rubbish?, and do the signals really matter?
So if you hate it so much why do they keep going there? - because you know its one of the best lines in the country. The views are superb of Torbay, the sea and of the River Dart.
I can understand naming locomotives because holiday-makers can say they were hauled by 'Goliath' for example, but I think naming coaches and brake vans is bloody daft. Also you got to remember the PDSR aren't an enthusiast line, they are aimed at tourists and that they are only using Steam Engines to attract them.
The locomotives in action on the day of my visit were -
| GWR 2-8-0T 5205 Class 5239 'Goliath'
| BR(W) 4-6-0 78xx Manor Class 7827 'Lydham Manor'
I visited with my Dad, Mum and sister Sophie and we did travel option Number Two, meaning steam train to Kingswear followed by a Ferry over to Dartmouth and return.
This is the plan we did -
0945 - Paignton to Kingswear hauled by 5239 'Goliath'
1445 - Kingswear to Paignton hauled by 7827 'Lydham Manor'
At Paignton, recent arrival GWR 2-8-0T 42xx 4277 'Hercules' was parked up raising steam at the beginning of the day, by the time I got back (around 1435) she had moved.
So don't complain about the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, we all know you love 'The Nations Holiday Line'!
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