The Dartmouth Steam Railway...

Hi all. This week we were on our holidays in Devon. We like to do a week each year in the Torquay area and no seaside trip would be complete without a visit to the Dartmouth Steam Railway. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Torbay, the picturesque 6.7-mile line is known to us as "the holiday railway" and I just love going there. Running from its base at Paignton, the line follows the sea as it climbs steeply up to Churston before dropping down through Greenway to skirt the River Dart towards its riverside terminus at Kingswear. From there you can catch the ferry across to the pretty town of Dartmouth and there are also various cruises on offer through the railways river boat services. I called in at the DSR yesterday to purchase our tickets: this saved plenty of queuing this morning! We booked the 'Steam and Paddle Steamer Cruise': train to Kingswear, ferry to Dartmouth and then a 1.25-hour river cruise on the paddle steamer "Kingswear Castle". Our Paignton departure was the 10:45 trip and we arrived in good time. In the platform, simmering away, was a familiar engine: 7752, otherwise known as L94. Tyseley's red Pannier has spent the summer on the Dartmouth...

After a quick look in the gift shop, we wandered out onto the platform passing the queuing hoards. The popularity of the DSR is amazing. A shining 7752 was enjoying a buff up by one of the crew as departure time neared...

We boarded the chocolate and cream rake of coaches at the Kingswear end. It was initially a fight to get a seat aboard the leading TSO... 

As "right time" neared, 7752 hissed into life and gently ticked backwards through the loop towards the Sands Road level crossing...

The red pannier certainly looked smart as she rolled by...

7752 is one of three 5700 Class Panniers based at Tyseley, with batch-mate 7760 and younger sister 9600 making up the trio. 52' was built by the North British Locomotive Company in 1930 for the Great Western Railway as one of the popular 863-strong class. At the end of their BR service life, some panniers found their way into NCB service, others went to the big smoke. London Transport purchased 13 of the 5700s for use on engineering trains on the Undergound between 1956 and 1963. 52' was sold to LT in 1959 and was given the number L94. She was still going strong in 1971 when she had the honour of pulling the last steam train on the Underground before preservation at Tyseley. Since then she has travelled far and wide, visiting many preserved railways as well as being main line certified. I've had the privilege to drive and fire her at the Tyseley open days and, like all panniers, she is willing and strong. The engine has been on loan to the DSR for the summer season and I believe she'll be going home at the end of September.

Anyway, back to today. Our train departed on time at 10:45, hissing out of Paignton Queens Park station. The drain cocks were doing their best to release any condensation from the engines 17.5" cylinders on this first trip of the day. After picking up a few more passengers at Goodrington Sands the plucky pannier got to grips with the 1 in 71 climb towards Waterside. It seemed a bit wet at the chimney, a fact later confirmed by the driver running with the taps open most of the way up the bank. By the time the 1 in 60 towards Churston beckoned the engine had stopped hunting for the water and the exhaust became clear and crisp. You always get a good shout from a pannier! Arriving at Churston, we passed one of the DSR's beautiful heavy tanks: 4277 "Hercules", built in 1920 and the oldest engine in their fleet...

From Churston the line descends towards Kingswear and, after Greenway tunnel, views across the River Dart open up on the right hand side. It was a little dreary as we arrived at the terminus: todays weather didn't know what to do with itself: but being in the leading coach allowed us to alight quickly and trot towards the ferry before the crowds could beat us to the ramp...

Whilst we waited for the ferry, 52' duly ran round her train ready for a prompt return departure for Paignton. The short ferry crossing took us over to the Dartmouth pontoon, where we alighted with a little time to kill before our midday cruise on the "KC"...

"All At Sea On The Paddle Steamer"

There will be a separate post about the "Kingswear Castle" following on from this one. After our cruise we had a walk around Dartmouth, admiring the quaint buildings and of course we didn't miss the Fudge shop!...

Looking at the DSR's orange timetable we opted to catch the 14:55 train back to Paignton. Sure enough, when it rolled in, the eyes of the assembled hoards were met with the sight of 52' (L94) once again...

Rolling in neatly from Paignton, 52' ticked gently past us with her 7-coach train. Realising that the pannier would no doubt offer a good bark as we climbed back towards Churston, we wandered up to the leading coach once again. I've had the pleasure of crewing four of these machines now: the operational Tyseley pair plus 5786 and 9466. Compared to the Midland alternative, known as the 3F or 'Standard Shunt', they offer a lot more grunt and a little more finesse I find. Always liked the 3F and I've been on two or three in the past but a pannier is just a go anywhere do anything tank. This trip was busier: pretty much every seat full: but then again it was probably one of the peak trains of the day. The red pannier duly ran round...

On time, 52' lifted the 7-coach train out of Kingswear and attacked the bank towards Greenway. A request had been made to the Guard to stop at the halt just the other side of the tunnel and so the pannier would have to restart on the climb. The heavy tanks have no issues with their ability to start 12 coaches without breaking a sweat but how would the smaller pannier cope? The answer - she walked away. Its amazing how much power a 200psi boiler plumbed up to 17.5" cylinders gives you. I think they're great engines. Sitting across from us, some older chaps were discussing 4277. "He had six on didn't he?"..."yeah they really load um' up down here, pulling um' backwards an' all". If only they knew: the heavy tank will do more than twice that with ease! At Churston I was pleased to see the railways BR Standard Class 4 No75014 "Braveheart" out in the yard. She returned to service after a lengthy overhaul in December last year and, although sadly she wasn't running today, the engine looked amazing as I grabbed a blurry shot from the passing train...

From Churston, 52' ticked quietly down to Paignton via Goodrington Sands. Again, being so close to the front of the train allowed me to grab a shot before the crowds arrived for their "take me by the engine" souvenir photos...

The pannier was swiftly uncoupled before edging forward ready to have her 1200-gallon pannier tanks replenished. The general public seemed happy to see a red engine; they're aren't many really (apart from the famous Hall that went to Hogwarts). As the crowds slowly cleared, I grabbed a final shot of 52' as she simmered quietly awaiting her next turn of duty...

"See You At Home Old Gal"

Well that's it folks - another great day out on the Dartmouth Steam Railway. I can't fault it: a really lovely day out. If you're ever in the area its always worth a visit and if you haven't been, well, you need to! It must be one of the most picturesque railways in the UK: if not the most: and its certainly my favourite preserved line. Cheers all, Sam...