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OK, it's called The Dartmouth Steam Railway on the notice boards outside Queens Park Station at the top of Torbay Road, Paignton. But for locals like me it will always be the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway. Never mind. That steam train trip to Kingswear and back remains a classic. It's a comfortable opportunity for visitors to relax and do some great sightseeing. There's also a wide variety of wildlife cameos on offer. From the carriage window I've seen foxes on the railway embankments and seals hauling-out on shoreline rocks. Dolphins leaping as they crossed Tor Bay have been spotted off Roundham Head, and I've watched porpoises close to shore. Gannets diving into the sea to grab young mackerel or other fish from the shoals near the beaches also provide exciting marine dramas. And gulls, waders and birds of prey feature in the on-going Bay show. The Channel views often include big vessels, from cargo ships to the occasional ocean liner. Then there are the pleasure boats, ferry boats and fishing boats leaving, or returning to, the harbours of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. On the morning of my recent journey the steam railway staff were busy on Queens Park Station as I boarded the train that was pulled by the Lydham Manor engine. Then, with a toot and a puff of steam, we were off. Sitting next to the carriage window I had Bay views on the left and urban fringe countryside views on the right. The guard checked passengers' tickets and soon we were above Goodrington Sands, with the flumes of Splashdown Water Park above the prom. Looking back beyond Roundham Head I could see the hills of Torquay, Hope's Nose and Thatcher Rock. The sun shone from a blue sky and the Bay sparkled. Southward across the water were Brixham and Berry Head, our national nature reserve. Youngsters were chirping away as they pointed at things from the carriage windows. And a moment or two later we were crossing Broadsands Viaduct for a great view of Broadsands Beach and Churston Point. Marridge Wood was behind Elberry Cove. Inland the holiday camps were busy. A brief stop at Churston Station ended with a whistle and toot that sent us on our way again. Passengers were chatting, kids were chuckling, and many adults were under the spell of the South Devon countryside. Then all of a sudden we were in the darkness of Greenway Tunnel. And the kids were yelping with surprise and excitement before the Lydham Manor returned us to the sunshine. The view of Maypool and the Dart estuary was spectacular as we crossed Greenway Viaduct. But the panorama was dominated by the vision of Britannia Royal Naval College on the hillside of Dartmouth's suburbs. That set the seal on the occasion. And soon the train was crossing Waterhead Viaduct above the creek at Kingswear to stop at the station. Most of the passengers got off to catch the Lower Ferry to Dartmouth. But I was content to stretch my legs on the platform before settling on my carriage seat for the return to Queens Park Station. Well, the total experience of the journey is high on my list of personal attractions. And it was great to travel divorced from the vehicle congestion of crowded urban streets and roads, and the racetrack noisy atmosphere of dual carriageways and motorways. The journey had lifted me out of the urban rut into a 3D world of sun, sea and steam engine magic. KNIGHT AND DAY (12A) .....
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