Great Western Coffee Shop

Taken from the 'Branch Line Society' webpage at http://www.branchline.org.uk/events.php

'Saturday 10th October 2015

We are honoured to have been asked to assist GWR (the new franchise succeeding FGW on 20 September) in running a very unusual and special charity railtour in aid of First Devon and Exeter Prostate Cancer Fund. The aim is to raise ^20k for a portable scanner. Timings are provisional and subject to NR validation with pick up and set down at: London Paddington (07.15/20.39), Reading (07.42/20.08), Didcot Parkway (07.55/19.52), Swindon (08.15/19.33), Bristol TM (08.52/18.50), Taunton (09.25/18.02) and Exeter St. David's (09.54/17.37); through P6 requested both ways. Then Newton Abbot (through P1 requested), Totnes facing crossover at 222m 47ch to P2 (reverse) and via the mainline South Devon Railway connection to Buckfastleigh (11.15). Enjoy a break on the delightful South Devon Railway or this small market town with all its amenities and attractions. Given the length of a HST the front should be well beyond the end of the platform to clear the starting signal for return. There will be workshop tours and services operating on the SDR. Departing at 11.25 the HST makes an extra optional return trip to Heathfield (12.44/12.55) also for local people, returning to Buckfastleigh at 14.47. It then picks up all the passengers from the main tour before departing at 15.02 to Heathfield again (16.22/16.42) then back to Paddington as per outward route. This might be the farewell railtour (and is the first HST) to the mothballed Heathfield branch which has had no booked traffic since the timber trains to Chirk were transferred to Exeter Riverside on 3 April 2015 (BLN 1233.914). A comprehensive catering service will be available on board including real ales and freshly cooked food from a Travelling Chef, with all proceeds going to charity.

Standard class fares from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads stations ^75 and ^50 from Taunton or Exeter St. David's. There is a Buckfastleigh to Buckfastleigh return special fare of ^25 which will be donated to the South Devon Railway and the Devon Diesel Society. First class is not available and no child discounts. Cheques payee 'Branch Line Society'.  PLEASE NOTE PAYMENT BY CARD IS NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS CHARTER (enquire if you are not able to send a cheque). Provide your name, address, email and contact phone number. If no email supply an SAE, and a second if you require an initial acknowledgment. All bookings to our member Jill Everitt, 4 Barnside Way, Moulton, Cheshire CW9 8PT.  Envelopes should be marked 'HST Special'.  Booking queries blsfgw@gmail.com and general queries to kev.adlam@branchline.org.uk  NB: bookings will be acknowledged after 14 September'

Heathfield was mothballed for many years before the timber flow, be very surprised if the line is taken up any time soon

Times for tomorrow's tour:
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63887/2015/10/10/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U63888/2015/10/10/advanced
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V15445/2015/10/10/advanced

Sort of - there seems to be bits missing.  There's nothing from Buckfastleigh to Heathfield on either trip.

I assume that's because these lines are not part of the Network Rail network?

Possibly but the bit between Totnes and Newton Abbot is.

Posted earlier on HST Facebook page:

43187 + 43188

5Z66 OldOHST 05:26 Padton 05:38
 Rptd Padton (plat 3, up) 05:37 1E
 1Z66 Padton 07:15 Bucfast 11:15
 Rptd Rdngstn (plat 9, line D, down) 07:39 1E
 1Z67 Bucfast 11:25 HthfEcc 12:44
 1Z68 HthfEcc 12:55 Bucfast 14:47
 1Z69 Bucfast 15:02 HthfEcc 16:22
 1Z70 HthfEcc 16:42 Padton 20:39
 5Z70 Padton 21:05 OldOHST 21:18

I'm told that HST designer Sir Kenneth Grange is on board the special.

About time a Class 43 power car (the exterior design being his) was named after him.

Quite agree - there's a picture of him on the special on the UK HST Enthusiast Facebook page.

I think that's been removed already?

Probably - the group's strictly moderated so a picture that's not an HST ....

The picture is still viewable if you're friends with the person who posted it...  ;D

Ha HST group...pah. Tried to join several years ago and, being red/green colourblind, I couldn't make any sense or logic of their anti spam tag at the end of my attempted joining page...complained to no avail and without response. Sod 'em. There's only 7% of the mail population so afflicted!

The UK HST Enthusiast Group on Facebook? That's the one we've been talking about

I'm not aware of any anti-spam filter to join that group. You just need to be a Facebook user and have your request to 'Join Group' approved.

Yes, Sir Kenneth Grange was on board - and a very interesting, down-to-earth chap to chat to.

I was on board the special and I enjoyed every minute. It is such a pity that it wasn't that well patronised. Run as a charity special for a very worthwhile charity, and they certainly know how to drain you of every last penny  :)

Oh - and just in case Charlie M wants to know the whereabouts of the Green HST today .....

(http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww255/PhilWakely/PA102966_zpstal44ixe.jpg)

(http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww255/PhilWakely/PA102985_zpsozblv9c4.jpg)

With the newly reformed Sharpness "Vale of Berkeley Railway" just started, this branch could be a candidate for a new Devon initiative. So many similarities, workable track bed and a possible tourist location, plus future rail diversion for the future. Dreaming? Yes, but a nice dream.

BTW, I was referring to the Heathfield Branch, I am aware that B'fastleigh is on the South Devon Railway, I go there quite a lot.

Video footage of the green set visiting the South Devon Railway and Heathfield branch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=761&v=6zFpOyefoQ8

Heathfield is a "difficult" dream, I fear.  Ideas sought?   I was on the ACoRP special on 2nd October that visited the branch, including the bay at Newton Abbott.  An interesting run alongside sections of the older derelict canal, and it's a crying shame to see a line mothballed.  It runs up into an industrial / china clay area, close to the main A38, and I don't see any spectacular views even if opened out.   As a passenger / parkway station the line perhaps doesn't point in the right direction.   As part of a diversionary route (it used to run on to Mortenhampstead, and to Exeter), I understand that the route is tight, includes a long (collapsed??) tunnel and twisted and the trackbed's not all in place.  I wonder if there are already too many heritage railways very close by and a third might not be viable - indeed might dilute customers from the others.

But I did say "ideas sought" and I am aware of at least one other line that was not taken on (by a CRP) on the basis that this extra line would be a potential albatross around its neck which has now become a line with a CRP in its own right and is doing OK.  And looking on the preservation side, whilst there's a lack of sheds / stabling, there remains a single bay at Newton Abbott with the trackbed / space to install a second platform face and loop / centre siding.  And there's already a loop and a (scruffy) platform face at Heathfield.  So perhaps something could be done for this asset?   Commercial care needed - "what can we do with this line?" is a bit like the tail wagging the dog and a risky way to start something ...

Some info here: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=16279.0

It was a privilege to be on the train yesterday and despite a fairly low turnout I'm sure lots was raised in aid of the chairity. I stayed on the train throughout the journey and was great to see a huge number of volunteers who never stopped throughout the day.

To see an HST and steam in action side by side was a unique and wonderful experience and to see such differents scenery outside the window kept everybody interested.

Network Rail were busy recently clipping back the vegetation on the Heathfield branch and bar one or two scrapes the HST came away unscathed. Both trips went right down to the buffers at the end of the branch.

VIPs were treated to a Pullman-esque style breakfast with a Travelling Chef making a welcome return to cater for all onboard.

All in all, a great day out and my praise goes to all the volunteers (mostly GWR staff) and organisers who made the whole day possible.

That was one thing that was very noticeable on the trip with GWR in the 150 the previous week - we frequently got showered with leaves, and the occasional small branch, as we made our way to Heathfield.  It was also noticeable going out to Okehampton, which shows how quickly the vegetation had grown back since the last Sunday train from Exeter just under a month before.

I saw NR workmen attacking the bushes at the entrance to the Heathfield branch just to the east of Newton Abbot station last Monday, there was certainly a lot to clear.

They didn't leave too many leaves on the line, did they?  ::) :D ;D

From Devon Live (http://www.devonlive.com/reopening-historic-devon-branch-line-is-possible-but-significant-investment-would-be-needed/story-30412059-detail/story.html)


Funny - I could have sworn I travelled by passenger train to Heathfield in the autumn of 2015.

Yes - I seem to remember it too.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/heathfield.jpg)

Strangely the curve coming onto the branch is now deemed too sharp and no longer permits passenger trains!

It follows a derailment up country on a similar sharp corner. A check(?) rail is required on the curve before any further passenger trains enter the line.

I also gather flood damage has occurred near Teignbridge,

Moi aussi  :)
(http://i725.photobucket.com/albums/ww255/PhilWakely/UntitledD_zpsgeskkmx4.jpg)