HAIL TO THE ‘KING’
No. 6023 gave a regal performance up the steep climb from Kingswear to Greenway Tunnel.
The sustained spell of hot weather through the summer caused many steam operations on the main line to be suspended, though sometimes steam has been at the head of trains effectively powered by accompanying diesels to mitigate fire risk.
Some of our preserved railways managed to continue steam operation, and the Dartmouth Steam Railway was one such. ‘King’ No. 6023, now in single-chimney, slimmed-down guise and resplendent in blue livery, was resident on the DSR through part of the summer, though it was used sparingly.
It was in action during a ‘Beer and Regatta Festival’ over the weekend of July 13-15 and I could not resist including a brief snippet of its performance on a line on which ‘Kings’ were once in regular service. Table 2 shows how it handled a seven-coach formation, including a former ‘Devon Belle’ observation car, on the steep climb from sea level at Kingswear to Greenway Tunnel, which is approached by 1½ miles of 1-in-66.
Driver Rory Edwards and Fireman Nick Dunn managed to coax speed close to the 25mph line limit up the climb to Greenway and gained a minute on schedule, despite easing through the tunnel and a signal check approaching Churston.
I can’t wait to see the locomotive finally unleashed on the main line…