Tour No. 36 : The Dartmouth Arrow (Past-Time Rail)

Saturday 30th August 2008.

Bristol Temple Meads - Nailsea and Blackwell - Yatton - Weston-Super-Mare - Taunton - Exeter - Kingswear and return.

 

After an absence of three years D1015 made a return to Kingswear by working Past Time Rails "The Dartmouth Arrow" railtour, taking passengers to the Royal Port of Dartmouth Regatta. Following a mid morning departure from Bristol Temple Meads and regular pick up's which picked up a good number of passengers, D1015 got into it’s stride as we headed westward.  D1015 ran wearing the number and nameplates on one side as D1005 "Western Venturer", this is in association with a promotion that the DTG runs enabling travellers to purchase a replica nameplate and have them carried on the loco.

After arrival at Kingswear passengers had a five and a half hour break to enjoy the Kingswear Regatta with the main highlight being a fly past over the Port by the  RAF "Red Arrows". We departed Kingswear for Bristol at 1900 and after some spirited running notably along the sea wall arrived back on time at Bristol Temple Meads.

 

 D1015 stands renamed and renumbered one side as "D1005 Western Venturer" inside the Factory at Old Oak Common a week prior to working "The Dartmouth Arrow Railtour.  Photo : Steve Willis.

Caught running light engine from Old Oak Common en route to Bristol Barton Hill depot in readiness for the "Dartmouth Arrow Railtour" at Basildon on Friday 29th August. Photo :Nick Townsend.

Posing as D1005 "Western Venturer" on one side D1005 is about to shunt the railtour stock into Platform 3 at Bristol Temple Meads for departure to Kingswear. Photo : Paul Winter.

 

Caught at Churston on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway heading for Kingswear. Photo: Steve Marshall (Link www.rail-video.com)

D1015 caught in glorious sunshine after arrival at Kingswear. Photo : Paul Winter

After arriving at Kingswear D1015 stands in the carriage sidings with the tour ecs. 33025 stands adjacent having worked a Vintage Trains charter from Tyseley to Kingswear with 47773. Photo : Paul Winter.

  

D1015 waits time at Paignton on the return journey to Bristol Temple Meads : Photo Paul Winter

 

DTG mini seminar photo taken at Weston-Super-Mare left to right; Paul Koch, Dave Marshall (who sponsored the loco as D1005 with the DTG Nameplate offer), Trev Shattock and Paul Winter. Photo : Alan Kennett

 

 

Journeys End! D1015 back at Bristol Temple Meads after arriving from Kingswear . Photo : Trevor Shattock

 

 

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