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Great Western Coffee Shop > All across the Great Western territory > Diary - what's happening when? > Tarka Valley Railway - Naming Ceremony
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Author Topic: Tarka Valley Railway - Naming Ceremony  (Read 4291 times)
TonyK
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« on: April 04, 2023, 16:53:04 »
Tarka▸ (Line from Barnstaple to Exeter) Valley Railway has acquired a Class 143, and will be having a naming ceremony and other fun on Saturday 8 April 2023, from 1100 to 1700. This will feature the first passenger train to grace Torrington Station for over 40 years.

More information on Tarka Valley Railway's website, where this picture and others can be found.
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broadgage
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« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2023, 10:46:08 »
Good news, and as someone said in another thread "WSR take note"
I do not much like 143s but they are far preferable to nothing, which is what was previously available.
In the longer term, a battery powered train would be better in order to reduce carbon emissions, and noise. But again, a DMU▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) is far better than no train.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
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« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2023, 10:57:27 »
Quote from: broadgage on April 05, 2023, 10:46:08
Good news, and as someone said in another thread "WSR take note"

"What-if"s are wonderful.  What if someone wanted to run a low-cost commuter service over a heritage line into a main Network Rail connection - would a handful of no-longer-needed trains cover the first few years?   The question here (or rather going off topic) is 143s, but there are now also 153 and some 156 units in storage.  For a service that's only the length of a heritage railway, on board loos would be nice rather than mandatory, and a fleet of these deposed units might help overcome spare part issues that put now-unique and life-expired stock out of commission for extended periods.

Sorry - going off topic ...
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TonyK
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« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2023, 16:42:10 »
While it would be lovely to see the line reinstated back to Barnstaple and/or Halwill Junction for Meldon etc, at present there isn't really that much track laid. It's going be a very short ride. There is a campaign to get the railway back to Bideford, just up the road in Devon terms, although it has so far only got to where the Portishead campaign was in about 1980.

They are a very enthusiastic bunch at the TVR, and seemingly very capable. So who can say?
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johnneyw
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« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2023, 11:58:09 »
First train out of Great Torrington for umpteen years.... okay so it was only 300 metres but you have to start somewhere.  See the Beeb article on link below for a few more details.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-66416776
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