SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY HOSTS BBC RADIO DEVON OVER AUGUST GALA WEEKEND
A train departs for Totnes | A guard gives "Right of way" |
Filling 5786's with water | Crew of ex GWR 0-6-0PT 5786 |
The weather was a typical 'railway weather' day with the morning starting overcast with a hint of drizzle and the sun only came out after lunch!
Trains ran to time pretty well all the weekend but the extra crowds on the Monday of the show resulted in the need to add a sixth coach to the GW set and to pinch an auto coach off the two coach auto train to strengthen the carmine and cream set and then put said coach back on the 5.20 auto departure - just as well as both carriages then left comfortably filled.
Diesel and steam were in about 50/50 ratio. It was interesting that nobody appeared to complain about this. A few years ago running diesels as much would have received an adverse reaction. But all the diesels in use were in original green livery. D6737 was, rather cheekily wearing a 1T57 - the headcode carried by the end of steam 15 Guinea special 40 years ago!
Note: Photographs are © Sarah Anne Harvey 2008