South Devon Railway Diamond Jubilee Gala 3-5/06/12
You are here: Home > Latest Reports
Posted on: 10th June 2012 Updated on: 14th June 2012 The South Devon Railway celebrated 60 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in typically delightful style - by re-creating the classic Great Western country branch line, with suitably authentic bank holiday weather, too! The event, which ran over four days, three of which we were to capture, saw an intensive timetable, engineers trains, and two visiting locomotives - newly overhauled 'small prairie' No:5542 and BR Standard 2MT 2-6-0 No: 78019 - along side Buckfastleigh residents diminutive pannier tank No:1369,sole surviving Collet Goods 0-6-0 No:3205 and D8110. (Below: No:5542 storms away from Staverton with an evening service) |
Related Links:
Photos - 35 high quality photographs Video (HD, 11:40) South Devon Railway Official Key Information: Locomotives: Visiting: No:5542 No:78019 Home: No:1369 No:3205 D8110 Prices: £11.80 for Adult all day rover Verdict: |
This is a prime example of a preserved railway doing what it does best - the South Devon Railway provides a fantastic re-creation of the 'typical' country branch line and this gala played magnificently to the line's strengths. (Left: No:3205 forges up past Riverford Bridge in typical bank holiday weather bound for Buckfastleigh on 5th June 2012)
Main AttractionsThis gala didn't have any glamorous mainline 'Pacifics', but focused on the more day to day operation of a country branch line with an intensive service, characteristic branch line locomotives,
|
an engineers train and a bounty of cameos where it is almost impossible to tell if the scene was from 2012 or the 1960s.
Locomotives
With 'only' five locomotives in operation, this was by no means a mega gala, but all the locomotives represented an important part of branch line operations, although not all necessarily of Great Western origin. The first visitor could hardly have been more appropriate for the Buckfastleigh - Totnes line; GWR 'small prairie' 2-6-2T No:5542. The 'small prairies' are ideal branch line locomotives and moreover, are strongly linked in particular to West Country branch lines. No:5542 had just re-entered traffic after a whirlwind overhaul in the South Devon Railway's workshops at Buckfastleigh. The locomotive was also repainted into GWR green with 'shirtbutton' crest - the livery of unlined Great Western locomotives between 1934 and 1942. Pairing the 1928 built locomotive with two of the South Devon Railway's GWR coaches allowed countless 'timewarp' scenes to be re-created over the four day gala.
The second visiting locomotive, BR Standard 2MT 2-6-0 No:78019 managed to look very much at home on the line, in spite of the fact that none of the class ever actually worked over the Ashburton branch in BR days. Although the 'mogul' was the largest locomotive in operation, it still made plenty of noise - as evidenced by our video. No:78019 has been enjoying an extended 'holiday' on the SDR from its home on the Great Central Railway, following its visit for the South Devon's Easter gala. (No:78019 races down alongside the River Dart near Riverford Bridge on 5th June 2012) It's extended stay on the line came about as a result of the unexpected withdrawal of home based 'small prairie' No:5526 with boiler problems with still two years of its boiler ticket remaining.
|
The event represented the last chance to see both visitors on the SDR since No:78019's loan period ended shortly afterward and No:5542 is moving onto the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway.
For a home fleet of only two operational steam locomotives currently residing at Buckfastleigh*, the South Devon Railway turned out a surprisingly remarkable line up from its home fleet; first was the unique pannier No:1369 - one of only 7 of its class built in 1934 - which led a surprisingly varied existence; from shunting in Swindon works, to working on the quayside in Weymouth and finally running China clay trains over what is now the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. The pannier proved that, despite its diminutive appearance, it was more than capable of hauling full length trains.
The other member of the home based steam fleet at present is also unique in preservation - 'Collett Goods' 0-6-0 No:3205, |
built in 1946 at Swindon, is now the sole surviving member of its class. Indeed, the locomotive is something of celebrity; hauling the opening train on the Severn Valley Railway. No:3205 is another 'branch line' locomotive - the class were popular with the Operating Department for branch line passenger services. The final locomotive was home based diesel Class 20 BO-BO D8110 which gave the event a slight 'transition era' 1960s feel, particularly as the 1962 built locomotive was painted in BR green.
* The other home based steam engine is No:3203 which is presently on loan to the Battlefield Line in Leicestershire.
* The other home based steam engine is No:3203 which is presently on loan to the Battlefield Line in Leicestershire.
Visitor NumbersNot being a major gala and with the Diamond Jubilee meaning there were many other events vying for the public's attention the trains were not overwhelmingly busy - when we rode on the trains on Monday 4th June we were able to find a seat on all the trains we wanted to ride on, although the trains became noticeably busy in the afternoon. Overall, the gala was perhaps not as well attended as some, most likely due to a combination of factors including the miserable weather and the 'rail event of the decade' - Railfest also occurring at the same time.
(Right: Complete with a very appropriate headboard, No:3205 awaits departure from Totnes Littlehempston on 4th June 2012 |
TimetablingThe timetable for this gala was excellent; offering a relatively intensive timetable with a mixture of trains running the full 7 or so miles between Buckfastleigh and Totnes Littlehempton, as well as No:5542 running a mix of services with its 2 coach GWR set including some full line trains and a shuttle service between Buckfastleigh and the real ale festival at Staverton, ultilising the loop at Bishops Bridge to run around its train.
The engineers train was an enjoyable addition to the timetable, even if it wasn't quite as impressive as the one on the Mid Hants Railway or perhaps as appropriates as the SVR's rake of Great Western wagons. Even so, it was quite a rare opportunity to see something other than a rake of MK1s on a preserved railway! It was another |
thoughtful piece of timetabling that saw to it that all of the locomotives, bar No:5542, took at least one turn on the engineers train at some point during the event. (Right No:5542 drifts into Staverton with one of the evening services on 3rd June 2012)
However, with this timetable, the real fun started after dark - on Saturday, Sunday and Monday the railway also ran evening services, nominally up until 10pm with No:5542 in connection with the real ale festival at Staverton, although actually the last train on the first three days didn't arrive back to Buckfastleigh until around 11pm. Although, the set up, due to operational constrains, was a little odd - the first of the 'evening' services left Buckfastleigh at around |
7:30pm, but if you were intending to return to Buckfastleigh, that would prove rather difficult, by train at least, until the last service returned to Buckfastleigh at 11pm! This was because the evening services operated primarily between Totnes and Staverton using Bishops Bridge loop to run around, but needed to finish up at Buckfastleigh, hence the odd start and end to the services. Overall, the timetable was good and seemed well thought out, except, in the three days we visited the trains were nearly always running late, and whilst it doesn't really matter, it does come to something when, at Totnes on Tuesday the 1:15pm service rolled up almost an hour late. Especially when most of the late running appeared to have been accumulated in shunting at Buckfastleigh that morning
Value for moneyCompared to some galas, where you can expect to pay around £20 for a day rover, the South Devon Railway event offers breathtakingly good value for money.
In fact the cost of an all day rover - including late night trains as well - was the same as for an normal service day; just £11:80 for an adult! Yes, you did read that right! Amazing value for money. (Left: Class 20 D8110 approaches Riverford Bridge on 3rd June 2012) |
Conclusions
Despite only hosting a relatively small compliment of engines, the South Devon Railway succeeded in putting on a fitting tribute to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, as well as focusing on what the railway does best; re-creating the Great Western branch line image. The event also provided some unique experiences - you probably won't be able to photograph a Collett Goods with a Diamond Jubilee headboard again - and plenty of timeless cameos, not to mention unbelievable value for money.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to all the volunteers and organisers who gave up their time to make the event happen. Without them there would be no gala.
Thank you for taking the time to read this report, watch the video, and take a look at the photos, hope you enjoy them, and if you were able to go they will bring back happy memories and if you weren't able to go, well, you can see what you missed.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to all the volunteers and organisers who gave up their time to make the event happen. Without them there would be no gala.
Thank you for taking the time to read this report, watch the video, and take a look at the photos, hope you enjoy them, and if you were able to go they will bring back happy memories and if you weren't able to go, well, you can see what you missed.