THREE MORE PANNIERS AND NIGHT STEAM FOR ‘SOUTH DEVON 50’ GALA
Three visiting pannier tanks – two of them former residents – are in prospect for the South Devon Railway’s 50th anniversary event on April 6-14.
‘94XX’ No. 9466 (owned by the family of the late Dennis Howells), ‘16XX’ No. 1638 (from the Kent & East Sussex Railway) and ‘64XX’ No. 6435 (from the Bodmin & Wenford Railway) are lined up for the event, commemorating 50 years since the Ashburton branch reopened as the Dart Valley Railway in 1969, although all are awaiting final confirmation.
It will be the first time the ‘94XX’ has hauled trains on the SDR, despite having visited on three previous occasions – to be loaded for road movement following its runs on the Looe branch in 2010; for fitting of new tanks; and for repairs following a collision at the Mid-Norfolk Railway in 2012.
In contrast, Nos. 1638 and 6435 are former stalwarts, having been acquired for the line straight from BR service – but the April bash will be No. 1638’s first return visit since it was sold to the KESR in 1993.
Two other former residents – ‘14XX’ 0-4-2T No. 1450 (with autocoach No. 178) and ‘64XX’ 0-6-0PT No. 6430 – are booked to visit. Resident engines expected to be in steam are ‘64XX’ No. 6412, ‘1366’ 0-6-0PT No. 1369, ‘57XX’ No. L92 (5786) and ‘Small Prairie’ No. 5526.
The event will include a rare session of all-night running on April 6/7, as well as trains of four autocoaches with the engine ‘sandwiched’ in the middle – the first time this has occurred on the line since the 1960s.
The SDR will commemorate another anniversary – 60 years since the closure of the branch to passengers – with a special train on November 3, leaving Buckfastleigh at 7.58pm and returning there at 9.21pm, the same time as the final train on November 1 1958.
● No. 9466 is to haul a main line special to Princes Risborough on October 20, in memory of Dennis Howells. Tickets are available via http://mnr.org.uk/9466railtour and all profits will be donated to St Luke’s Hospice, where Dennis passed away.