The Journey
Our track here is 1/2 mile long, which gives a long and interesting ride. We have steep gradients, sharp curves to traverse, so your locomotive will be working hard during your journey. The map below gives the general layout of the DMR. A journey lasts around 6 minutes, which is an average speed of 5mph throughout the whole journey, with a maximum of around 7mph on the mainline. There is plenty to see as you go round the track, a tunnel, bridge, and look out for TV characters by the line-side.
Our roadside section is our best part of the line, here passing motorists get to see our engines working hard pulling up to 30 people up a 1 in 45 gradient. What they are missing out on; only a ride on the railway can provide an answer.
DMR layout
Please click for larger image. Not to scale. An icon should appear which will allow you to expand the image and see the full layout.
DMR Gradient Profile
Please click for larger image. Moving from left to right across the profile constitues a normal ride around the circuit.
Let's take a ride... ...
Our trip on the DMR starts at Wyevale Junction, where your train train is standing in the platform, hauled today by Princess. Once you have boarded and your fare has been taken, and Princess is ready, your train departs, leaving the station immediately behind and out of site behind a group of bushes. The train proceeds slowly downhill alongside the drive up to the upper car park, where you have just come from. Trains travel slowly here because of the steep gradient and sharp curve on a blind bend, along with a level crossing.
As we approach the bend the train slows and momentarily stops for anybody waiting behind the corner to cross the track. After whistling, Princess continues her journey down toward the lower loop alongside the car park. We are now on the original track first opened in 1999. Princess picks up speed as we shuffle over the points onto the left-hand track, alongside more cars parked, underneath the trees. Soon, though, the driver shuts off steam again and slows foe the bend. Sometimes a loud howling noise may issue from Princess as the driver builds up more steam for the ascent back up the hill. A hissing from the safety valves will then start and the driver will know he has enough steam for the steep hill ahead.
As we slow for the bend the driver whistles again for the level crossing, as we go round the bend watch him as he will be quite busy just here. Once we are halfway round the bend the driver will release the brakes and open the regulator - hard, and Princess will accelerate sharply out of the bend to a loud barking noise: it is now that she will be working hard.
As we tackle the hill, alongside the main road, motorists will honk their horns, with Princess replying on her whistle, still working hard. A column of smoke will be hanging in the air from her chimney if it is a still day. Once again, though, the driver will soon close the regulator and slow down the for first crossing, with another whistle (there is no need to stop this time). Princess then begins working again up the gradient toward the station, though not as quickly. We approach the station, but diverge at almost the last minute onto a track which leads to the tunnel. Princess will continue to work up until just before the tunnel, where the driver will open the blower to make steam and turn on the injector, to put water in the boiler.
Through the tunnel we go; it's downhill from here to the picnic area halt, so Princess will not be working hard. The driver, however, will be busy filling the boiler with water and making sure the fire's OK, as we have another serious hill to attack in a few moments. You will notice to the left and right as we drift along, lots of TV and film characters who have made a special appearance here at DMR. We proceed past Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and start accelerating due to the gradient. As we go over the bridge, our driver has finished sorting Princess, and is now getting ready for tackling the hill back to the main station.
As our train is an express, we will not be stopping at the halt for the picnic area; there is no-one there to pick up and no-one wants to get off anyway. We proceed slowly round the bend and over the points toward the oak tree. As we go round this bend and past the teddybears' picnic, the driver opens the regulator wide and once again Princess starts barking as she works hard up the hill. The train accelerates up the hill, we are now on our final part of the journey. We continue round the two last bands, where, as we pass the workshop, the driver will whistle loudly as we approach the station. We roll in past the engine sheds and into the station, coming to a halt in the platform. The driver is now occupied with preparing his loco for the next run; the work never stops for him.
We disembark the train, our journey complete.
