South Devon Railway (heritage railway)
| South Devon Railway | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| "Rural Idyll" – GWR pannier tank 5786 awaiting departure from Buckfastleigh station for Totnes | |
| Terminus |
Buckfastleigh 50°28′57″N 3°46′07″W / 50.4824°N 3.7685°W Totnes 50°26′24″N 3°41′09″W / 50.4400°N 3.6858°W |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | British Rail |
| Built by | Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway |
| Original gauge | 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) Brunel gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Operated by | South Devon Railway Trust |
| Stations | 3 |
| Length | 6.64 miles (10.7 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1872 |
| 1892 |
Gauge conversion to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Closed | 1962 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1969 | Re-opened as Dart Valley Railway |
| 1991 | Became the South Devon Railway |
| Headquarters | Buckfastleigh |
The South Devon Railway is a 6.64 miles (10.69 km) heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon. Mostly running alongside the River Dart, it was initially known as the Dart Valley Railway. The railway is now operated by the South Devon Railway Trust, a registered charity.
The Railway's headquarters and museum are located at Buckfastleigh railway station.
The line is 6 miles and 51 chains long (10.7 km) It stretches from Totnes (Riverside) to Buckfastleigh. Staverton is the only intermediate station on the line. Just north of Staverton is a signal box known as Bishops Bridge where there is the only passing loop on the line. For most of its route, the line runs along the left bank of the River Dart. This means that the river, and the best views, can be seen to the left of the train when facing Buckfastleigh, and the right of the train when facing Totnes.
Trains on the South Devon Railway operate daily from late March to the end of October. On most days a single train set operates, providing four journeys a day in each direction. On busy days (most of the school holidays) two train sets operate, providing more journeys. Other services include evening Dining trains, fish 'n' chip trains and Santa by Steam trains. Also the railway runs both full day steam and diesel footplate experience courses throughout the year.
The railway is sometimes used as a filming location for period films and television programmes. It featured in early scenes of the BBC's 2015 miniseries And Then There Were None.
The rolling stock preserved on line include many examples of steam locomotives typical of the Great Western Railway types that would have once worked on it, such as GWR 1400 Class number 1420. There are also other types of steam locomotives and a number of diesel locomotives. As well as those used in service there are a number that are undergoing overhaul or restoration, or are displayed in non-working condition. The most significant one of these is Tiny a South Devon Railway 0-4-0vb shunting locomotive on display in the museum at Buckfastleigh station. This is the only original 7 ft (2,134 mm) broad gauge locomotive still in existence in the United Kingdom.
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Wikipedia