The Four Stroke Explorer - Saturday 14th October

[Gartcosh]

A group of us who work on the mainline have been busy working with the Dartmouth Steam Railway in recent weeks and can now bring you details of what promises to be a great day out.

Following the success of a similar venture in 2019, we are again returning to the Paignton-Kingswear line and with the help and support of the staff and management from the Dartmouth Steam Railway present to you the "Four Stroke Explorer" which will run on Saturday 14th October.

Although the final touches to times and route are still being finalised, the day will start at Paignton Queens Park at around 09.00 and run until around 17.00. During the day all four of the DSR's resident diesel loco's are expected to feature (D2192, 03 371, D3014 and 37 275) and our special train will during the course of the day traverse many non-passenger lines at Kngswear, Churston and Goodrington including some which have never (yet) been traversed by a passenger service.

All money raised is going to the Stroke Association to help the wonderful work this deserving charity does. With several of us involved with the charter having lost family or close friends to this terrible disease there is also a very strong like to the charity and we hope to raise as much as we can on the day. There will be an on train raffle (with several great prizes) plus a 32 page colour souvenir programme is being produced.

This is a great way to enjoy a day with a difference on the railway, which this year is celebrating its 50th year of operation, and to also help raise money for a good cause. A dedicated facebook page has been set up for the event and tickets, priced at £30 go on sale from 12.00 today.

Ticket sales will commence from 12 noon today over on Billetto
https://billetto.co.uk/e/four-stroke-explorer-tickets-857000
More information will be released over the coming weeks on Facebook and I will also add updates here when I can.

 

[Forty29]

I wish you every success. Would a smaller brochure cut costs so more money could be raised? Just a thought.

 

[Gartcosh]

Firstly many thanks for the good wishes. It is pleasing to be able to report that after only 24hrs we have sold over 50% of the seats available so we are on target for both a great day out, and more importantly, making a nice donation to our chosen charity.

Regrading the brochure a smaller one would be cheaper yes, however (a) we want to provide those who attend with a nice memento of their day with us, and (b) sponsorship of the programme will see it produced without having any significant effect on the sum raised for our chosen charity a win win for everybody.

 

[Cowley]

I must say that I am quite interested in this. I’m just putting some feelers out to see if anyone I know fancies doing it too.

 

[Gartcosh]

You need to get in very quick as there are now just a very small number of tickets left (single digits).

We are absolutely thrilled with the response and bookings and the day will now generate a very good sum for our chosen charity. Lots of work still going on behind the scenes and some great prizes have also been secured for the on train raffle too (more details of those in the coming weeks). It is all coming together very nicely and should be a very enjoyable day out.

 

[31160]

Properly looking forward to this,got my ticket sorted. For those travelling down the day before the travelodge in torquay is currently under £45, well at least it was

 

[Forty29]

Firstly many thanks for the good wishes. It is pleasing to be able to report that after only 24hrs we have sold over 50% of the seats available so we are on target for both a great day out, and more importantly, making a nice donation to our chosen charity.

Regrading the brochure a smaller one would be cheaper yes, however (a) we want to provide those who attend with a nice memento of their day with us, and (b) sponsorship of the programme will see it produced without having any significant effect on the sum raised for our chosen charity a win win for everybody.

Glad to hear tickets are selling well and sponsorship of brochure covering costs. Yes it's worth doing well to retain lasting memories .

 

[Gartcosh]

Really great to be able to report all the available tickets for the charter have now been sold. To sell out in just over a week is a real achievement and our thanks to everyone who has booked to come along. The final times and routing are being discussed with the railway next week and detailed timings will be released when known. The 32 page programme is being compiled as I write and some great prizes are being secured for the on train raffle. We stand to make a sizeable donation to our chosen Charity following the charter which, being the Stroke Association is both pleasing and personal as several of us in the small organising team have lost family members or friends to this horrid disease. It is confirmed there will be a small on train buffet selling soft drinks, snacks and other light refreshments, plus there will be a lunch break (likely to be at Paignton) giving passengers the chance to make good use of the many off train options for food and drink. Finally massive thanks to all the Management and Staff at the Dartmouth Steam Railway for working with us to provide a memorable day out.

 

[31160]

Excellent news looking forward to the rods

 

[31160]

Having a excellent day on the pdsr, I have to say I'm properly impressed with the quality of the tour brochure A4 sized full colour with loads and loads of info of the railway and all the locos etc with a photo of D7017 picking up a buffet coach from the mainline platforms in 1991! Who knew, as it says probably the last time a hymek worked on the mainline. Also required for sight by me is Mr Timmy Dunn I must say its lovely seeing someone obviously having the time of his life (and I'm not being cynical there), there is a mention of a similar day out to this next year on the South Devon if its similar to this I would heartily recommend it to anyone

 

[Gartcosh]

Well that's that done. A massive thankyou to everybody who came down to Paignton today and supported us on the Four Stroke Explorer. Great day, excellent weather and all loco's and rare track covered as booked. We had some great support from both the mainline and heritage railway sectors and were able to raffle off some splendid prizes - many thanks to all those who donated prizes. A special thankyou to all the Management and Staff from the Dartmouth Steam Railway with their help during the planning and today's execution of the charter, and for the railway providing the train and loco's at no cost which means we are able to donate more to our charity. It is pleasing to report (exact figure not yet calculated) that we have raised approximately £5000 for the Stroke Association which is a great achievement.

On a personal note, having spent many hours researching and then writing the souvenir programme it was really nice to receive so many comments about the publication. A big shout out to our chosen printer Aaron Printers in Newton Abbot for their help in printing the programme.

Looking ahead, as those who attended today will now know, fresh on the success of this event some us involved have already been looking at doing something again next year and I'm pleased to say that, after discussing it with the South Devon Railway last week, we will be running the "SDR Explorer" sometime in the late Spring / early summer next year in memory of career railwayman and well known enthusiast Nick Perring who sadly passed away just over 12 months ago.

Early days yet and we have a lot of planning to undertake with the railway, but we are aiming at a similar format with a few loco's and some "rare" track, with proceeds going to the Encephalitis Society. I'm pleased to say some of Nick's relatives will also be involved in the running of this charter. When we have more details we'll start getting them out via social media in much the same way we did for this charter.

Once again thanks to everybody who came and supported us today.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Absolutely Great Day Out Today
Couldn't have asked for better Weather, especially considering yesterday!
Huge thanks to all involved in its planning and execution. It all went like clockwork.
Great to see a sizeable sum raised for a worthy cause. Hope to be on the next potential project on the South Devon