Paignton Pudden Railtour, June 2008

Paignton Pudden/Riveria Rat Railtour

A fast car courtesy of Tony Ewer had us on the M1 just after 4.30 am to comfortably make the 0714 departure time from Stafford. Immaculate 37606/37423 soon arrived and took us South with the run along the sea wall at Dawlish the highlight, on an unatmospheric outward leg. 25185 always a hard one, back then, to get for mileage, delivered the thrash out of Paignton and out of Kinngswear on return.

On the return we were checked near Wolves from off the BS road to see 3 young trespassers walking along the four foot towards to BS. Cue much bellowing and shouting the youth trying to hide under their hoodies , debris was thrown at said youth with a large half full water bottle getting a direct hit, “you didn’t get this on Hertfordshire Tours” was one quote. On leaving Stafford where we bailed around 10 pm the tractors sounded superb growling into the half light.

37423 and 37606 at a Bridgewater photo stop on the Paignton Pudden tour

DATE – Sat June 21st 2008 ORGANISER – Spitfire Railtours

POWER – 37606/37423, 25185 HEADCODE – 1Z37/1Z38

LOAD – 11 x Mk I, 1 x Mk II – 4984, 4940, 4905, 4973, 5035, 99328, 5032, 99993, 3148, 3143, 99680

ROUTE O/W..Crewe – Stafford – Wolves – New St – Cheltenham – T.Meads – Exeter SD – Paignton – Kingswear (DVR train Paign-Kings)

ROUTE R/T ..Kingswear – Paignton – Exeter SD – T.Meads – Cheltenham – New St – BS – Wolves – Stafford – Crewe

DESTINATION ..Paignton TIMEKEEPING – Right Time all day

CHING £49, £10? supplement for Riveria Rat

HIGHLIGHTS ..1/ immaculate 37423 and 37606 (the former 37090) 2/..Dawlish sea wall running.. 3/gutsy thrashing 25185 4/ “jaws” the shark brake van at Churston! 5/ withered Wolverhampton trespassers, one hit with half full water bottle!

FARCES..1/.Wedge you all in and leave coach J empty so we moved! 2/No atmosphere. 3/ stagger up Lickey

RATING ..6

WEATHER..Grey/damp all day

PHOTO STOPS ..Bridgewater, Paignton, Churston, Kingswear