Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway
The Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway is a full gauge preserved steam railway running between Dartmouth and Paignton in Devon in the United Kingdom. The Dartmouth terminus is physically in Kingswear, across the river Dart from Dartmouth and reached by ferry.
Contents
Route
Starting adjacent to Paignton main line station, the steam railway runs for about 7 miles in a south-westerly direction. The first half of the journey (from Paignton to Churston) is up-hill along the rocky Devon coastline. The line crosses Broadsands Viaduct, and the larger Hookhills Viaduct before reaching its summit at Churston. From Churston the line turns inland, cuts through Greenway Tunnel, descending along the Dart valley until it reaches Kingswear. From Kingswear, passengers can cross the Dart to the old town of Dartmouth by ferry. Dartmouth Station is unique in that it has never seen a train. In GWR days, passengers would arrive at the station by means of the ferry from Kingswear. The line was originally laid to Brunel's broad gauge, but was converted to standard gauge in May 1892.
Locomotives
Operational steam locomotives
- GWR 7800 Class 4-6-0 No.7827 'Lydham Manor' - Great Western Green
- GWR 5205 Class 2-8-0T No.5239 'Goliath' - Great Western Green
- GWR 6400 Class 0-6-0PT No.6435 'Ajax' - British Railways 'Late Crest' Green
Steam locomotives out of service or undergoing overhaul
- GWR 4500 Class 2-6-2T No.4555 'Warrior'-Awaiting overhaul - Great Western Green
- GWR 4575 Class 2-6-2T No.4588 'Trojan' - Undergoing Overhaul - Great Western Green
- BR standard class 4 4-6-0 No.75014 'Braveheart' - Undergoing overhaul - BR Black
Operational diesel locomotives
- British Rail Class 25 Bo-Bo no. D7535 'Hercules' - Two-Tone Green with Dart Rail logo
- British Rail Class 08 0-6-0 no. D3014 'Samson' - BR Blue with Dart Rail logo
- British Rail Class 03 0-6-0 no. D2192 'Titan' - BR Black, with Red lining with Dart Rail logo
Special Coaches
- Pullman Observation Saloon, originally built for the Devon Belle trains: used regularly on passenger services. It provides a unique view of the railway, although an additional charge is made to ride in it.
- GWR Autocoach "Claire", formerly used as "cocktail" bar coach in the dining train, but more recently as a directors' saloon and board room. The coach has had the driving compartment and guards/luggage area removed but the autogear has been retained; the remainder of the interior has been completely gutted and refurbished with "bucket" seats and a bar counter.
- GWR Autocoach "Charlotte" has had the autogear removed but the controls left in place. The interior of the coach is 'original' with the exception of the glazed windows between the passenger and driving compartments. The coach is (unusually, for this type) fitted with a corridor connection at one end and is usually marshalled in the second rake of coaches.
Both Autocoaches are now out of use and have been offered for sale.
