GWR 2-8-0 3803: how soon before she works on the “Paignton & Dartmouth”?

[D89 HAC]

Watching some YouTube this week I spotted the big 2-8-0 3803 parked under the train shed at Kingswear. I understand it’s been bought by the railway from the South Devon and wondered if anyone might know how far off starting her career on the line 3803 might be? I know the line’s availability of motive power has been stretched at times this season...

 

[D Williams]

Don't hold your breath..........

When it came to the end of its boiler ticket it was supposed to have had a "quick" overhaul and be returned to service for hire. A change of policy at the SDR saw it offered for sale but nobody wanted to pay the price which I seem to remember was in the order of £350k. It then spent the remaining years on the forecourt , so to speak, until a buyer came along and presumably a reduced price agreed. The PDSR is flush for locos at present but no doubt 3803 fits into the scheme of things somewhere. Back in Barry Cogar's day the PDSR was run "lean and mean" on the loco front with no more engines in ticket than required to run the services. Also they hired in very little and I always considered the railway to be a very good example of how to sweat the assets. Kettles are money eaters and having something in working order sitting in a siding is an expensive hobby.

 

[Gartcosh]

No issues with motive power at Paignton this year with 75014, 5239, 4277 and the S160 all available. If I recall 4555 is also due to return home possibly next year from its hire stint at the ESR. 7827 is now being overhauled at Churston so 3803 will wait at least until that's done, and I'm not sure when the ticket for 75014 expires - maybe that is turned round first prior to work starting on 3803.

Having worked on 3803 many times, including being the first to drive it after its restoration and on several test runs prior to it entering service, and also having spent many years in the past working up and down the line between Paignton and Kingswear, I think the 38 will be an ideal fit for the line. It has ample power available to cope with the heaviest trains, and being a tender loco will also be popular with the general public too.

 

[Cowley]

No issues with motive power at Paignton this year with 75014, 5239, 4277 and the S160 all available. If I recall 4555 is also due to return home possibly next year from its hire stint at the ESR. 7827 is now being overhauled at Churston so 3803 will wait at least until that's done, and I'm not sure when the ticket for 75014 expires - maybe that is turned round first prior to work starting on 3803.

Having worked on 3803 many times, including being the first to drive it after its restoration and on several test runs prior to it entering service, and also having spent many years in the past working up and down the line between Paignton and Kingswear, I think the 38 will be an ideal fit for the line. It has ample power available to cope with the heaviest trains, and being a tender loco will also be popular with the general public too.

Interesting @Gartcosh thanks for that.
One thing I remember from travelling behind 3803 a few times was a kind of resonance building up when it was coasting and you were sat in the train. I put it down to the enormous amount of compression in the cylinders (and was quite possibly wrong), but it was interesting watching the coffee in your cup swaying backwards and forwards and the other passengers jiggling about.

 

[D89 HAC]

Don't hold your breath..........

When it came to the end of its boiler ticket it was supposed to have had a "quick" overhaul and be returned to service for hire. A change of policy at the SDR saw it offered for sale but nobody wanted to pay the price which I seem to remember was in the order of £350k. It then spent the remaining years on the forecourt , so to speak, until a buyer came along and presumably a reduced price agreed. The PDSR is flush for locos at present but no doubt 3803 fits into the scheme of things somewhere. Back in Barry Cogar's day the PDSR was run "lean and mean" on the loco front with no more engines in ticket than required to run the services. Also they hired in very little and I always considered the railway to be a very good example of how to sweat the assets. Kettles are money eaters and having something in working order sitting in a siding is an expensive hobby.

No issues with motive power at Paignton this year with 75014, 5239, 4277 and the S160 all available. If I recall 4555 is also due to return home possibly next year from its hire stint at the ESR. 7827 is now being overhauled at Churston so 3803 will wait at least until that's done, and I'm not sure when the ticket for 75014 expires - maybe that is turned round first prior to work starting on 3803.

Having worked on 3803 many times, including being the first to drive it after its restoration and on several test runs prior to it entering service, and also having spent many years in the past working up and down the line between Paignton and Kingswear, I think the 38 will be an ideal fit for the line. It has ample power available to cope with the heaviest trains, and being a tender loco will also be popular with the general public too.

I’m a bit surprised to read “no issues” with motive power on the PDSR as, when I went down there in mid June and spoke to a guard, they’d just lost S160 for “possibly a few weeks” and with 7827 a kit of parts, he was crossing his fingers. Noticing the pic of 3803 at Kingswear made me ask if she was about to go into service...but maybe it’s just me adding two and two and getting five...
I love riding the line but prefer it when one of the tender engines, rather than exclusively tanks, is in action. I hope it’s not too long before I can sample the big 2-8-0 climbing to the tunnel.