Steam railway jewel in region's crown

WHEN it comes to tourism in the South West, Carolyn Custerson, CEO of the English Riviera BID Company and chairperson for the English Riviera Destination Management Group, will tell you that the Dartmouth Steam Railway is one of the jewels in its crown and, just recently, I was invited to celebrate its 50th anniversary

Knowing that there would be a sweet sherry or two involved in the proceedings, I caught the train from Exeter to Paignton, which pulled in right next to the Dartmouth Steam Train station. Here, I met some of the drivers, the firemen - including Colin Harmes, who fired that first train - as well as café, booking and office staff who worked there when it first opened. The cast of 1973! Naturally, there were a few VIPS keen not to miss this historic day.

Among them the daughters of Bob Saunders, who founded the DVR Company in the 1960s with the help of John Evans, Rowena Houghton and Sue Johnston. Television railway historian Tim Dunn was there with his father Richard, MP Kevin Foster, and a very colourful Lady Judy - the wife of former chairman, the late Sir William McAlpine - and the current chairman, David Allan.