We start our journey at Paignton, one of Devon’s most popular holiday resorts and finish in one of the country’s most scenic settings at Kingswear and Dartmouth.
British Railways 460 standard Class 4 No.75014 "Braveheart" is simmering at the head of its Chocolate and cream coaches waiting for the guard to make sure all the doors are closed before blowing his whistle to let the locomotive crew know that his train is ready to depart. A toot from the locomotive, followed by a purposeful exhaust beat and we are on our way. The formation along the first mile or so is shared with Network Rail as far as Goodrington carriage sidings used by GWR and CrossCountry trains waiting to form national rail services towards Exeter, London and the North. Goodrington is also the first station on the Dartmouth Steam Railway after which our train runs close to the holiday beaches along coast before turning inland to cross Broadsands and Hookhills viaducts to arrive at Churston, one time junction for the Brixham branch. USATC S160 Class No.2253 "Omaha" was waiting in the passing loop ready to continue on to Paignton once our train had cleared the section. Not long after Churston we enter Greenway tunnel after which we are treated to our first views over the River Dart from the impressive Greenway viaduct as the line descends through the wooded slopes to run next the scenic Dart estuary for the last mile into Kingswear station.
Although Kingswear is the end of the line it is not the last station, to reach Dartmouth station, now a café, we have to catch a ferry across the estuary. Dartmouth and the views along the estuary are some of the most beautiful views to be seen anywhere in the world. We join a ferry at Dartmouth destined for Greenway, once the home of Agatha Christie, creator of the legendary detectives, Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.
I had intended to create two videos, one covering the river cruise and another featuring the railway, but to be honest it’s difficult to separate them, because the railway and its trains are constantly in the background of any river adventure, just as the river is part of the train ride.
The captain welcomes us aboard his ferry for a truly fascinating cruise up the river, passing Dartmouth Naval College, car ferry’s, boatyards, wildlife and scenes that have featured in Agatha Christie’s novels. At Greenway Quay we are joined by people who have visited Christie’s holiday home “Greenway House” for the trip back to Dartmouth.
Please join me to see some of the best scenery Britain has to offer.