Friday 5 August 2011

Post No70 of 2011: A 'Manor' & A 'Pullman'...

Hi everyone! Today we were taking a ride on the beautiful Paignton & Dartmouth Railway. The line runs daily between Paignton and Kingswear along its coastal route, and is operated for a profit. Preserved steam locomotives are used, in this case as a marketing ploy. However, the engines are professionally kept and operated to the highest standards so they are safe here. During the summer, two locomotives are operated each day. After spotting the two Western tanks out & about on Tuesday, I kind of expected that it would be them again today. However, yesterday, during a visit to Broadsands beach, the beautiful "Lydham Manor" crossed my path, taking the place of "Hercules" for the next few days. I was very pleased with this. Arriving at Paignton at around 10am, we purchased our tickets and prepared to board the train. Our locomotive for the outward trip; the chunky "Goliath"; was simmering in the sunshine at the end of the platform. For your interest, all PDSR locomotives and most of the stock have been given names. This is again another marketing ploy I believe but, of course, the 42/52xx tanks never carried names in service. At the back of our chocolate & cream rake, the wonderful "Devon Belle" Observation Saloon was waiting for custom. This fantastic coach is lovingly kept and very comfortable indeed. The large windows and open-plan layout provide the best possible views of the railway. The "Devon Belle"; one of only two examples in the world...
Our locomotive; the beautiful 52xx 2-8-0 No5239 "Goliath"; is seen below sitting in the sun. The engine was built in 1924 at the famous GWR Swindon Works. She was retired after a hard life in 1963, and preserved by the Dart Valley line in 1973 from Barry Scrapyard. The restoration work was transferred to Paignton in 1976 with the 2-8-0 entering service two years later. Apart from overhauls, the tank has been in regular use on the PDSR ever since, providing powerful and elegant service...
We rode the 10:30am train in the beautiful "Devon Belle" Saloon, enjoying the fantastic views over Torbay. The train made its leisurely way to Kingswear, through the sunny, coastal landscape whilst we sampled the delights of the Pullman lifestyle. I must admit, the coach is very comfortable indeed; beautiful design. At Kingswear, with the coach empty before the return trip, I managed to catch a few shots...
What a coach...
We left the train at Kingswear and proceeded towards the Foot-Ferry across to the beautiful riverside town of Dartmouth, which can be caught from just behind the station buffers. At the buffers, "Goliath" was waiting to run round, with a good fire in the box...
After a stroll around the bustling little town, we caught another Ferry back to the railway. We then had a quick look in the station visitor exhibition before the lovely Manor arrived. Pulling in tender-first from Paignton, the 4-6-0 looked wonderful. She is now the only PDSR engine in Authentic colours, following a repaint in May. After being uncoupled, the loco reversed towards the buffers before pulling forward again. She was then halted and handbraked, staggering the points. The crew then left her for their 30 minute lunch break. The Manor simmered quietly with 160psi on the clock and gauge glass isolated. The firehole doors were left open and the fire pretty much dead...
Now, that looks beautiful...
"Lydham Manor" was built at Swindon, but by BR (W) and not GWR, in December 1950. Of course, the GWR had already gone by this time. The Manor's were built for lightly loaded lines which couldn't take the weight of other 4-6-0s such as the Grange's and the Hall's, let alone the heavier Castle's and King's. In 1966, 7827 left service and was sent to Barry, no doubt rubbing shoulders with stable-mates "Goliath", "Hercules" and even the Standard 4 "Braveheart" whilst there. She was preserved and restored by 1973 to operate the first season of the Torbay Steam Railway. However, her claim to fame came earlier, in the late 1950s, when she once hauled the Royal Train, aided by sister Manor, No7828 "Odney Manor" (now preserved at West Somerset). The Manor is perhaps the most well-known PDSR engine, and the only one that carried a name in service...
With the engine staggering the points, she could be easily photographed yet not accessed by the public. Footplate access on the PDSR is a big no-no; probably due to insurance or health & safety seeing as it is a company and not a preservation society. Shame really, it has alot of potential. Other things that makes the PDSR a bit inauthentic are the signals. There are no semaphores, just colour-light signals. Also, apart from "Lydham", the loco's are painted in a PDSR-style of GWR Green, and not the proper type. Mind you, they look great, and I'm not being picky about it too much. Apart from these things, the line is beautiful and always well patronised. The coastal views on the Goodrington section are, in my opinion, the best in the country. Anyhow, the Manor was soon crewed again, allowing her to run round for the 2pm departure to Paignton. We boarded the front coach, with me leaning from the window as normal. I took some more film today too, at Kingswear and on the journey back. The loco is examined at Kingswear after arrival, and can then be heard charging up the bank towards Greenway Tunnel; fantastic. If you wish, have a little watch and a listen; the Manor sounds fab...

Following our lovely return trip, we watched "Lydham" run round and depart again. We then left after another comfortable, scenic and enjoyable visit. I would recommend this line to anyone, even enthusiasts. Though some people are very picky about the railway, you can't argue that the Manor is inauthentic anymore; why not pop down and see her?! She looks beautiful. A lovely railway. Thank you for reading folks. Good evening...

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