South Devon Railway - heritage line, Buckfastleigh to Totnes

[whole diary]

[LiskeardRich]

****Pedantic post Alert****

Steam-powered train ^ not seen in South Devon for 100 years

How did it get to Looe at end of last year, without passing South Devon?

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Trains cancelled on South Devon Railway after landslip


Staff hope to clear the debris and repair the line before February half-term

Almost 30 services have been cancelled on a heritage railway line after a "significant" landslip.

Two large trees and tonnes of rock, silt and spoil have been brought down onto the track at the South Devon Railway (SDR) between Buckfastleigh and Totnes, said general manager Dick Wood.

The services over the festive period would normally transport between 3,000 and 4,000 people, he added.

SDR is one of Britain's oldest heritage steam railways, having opened in 1969.

Mr Wood said the repairs would involve "a lot of work" and the financial impact would be "significant".

He said the railway had received "lots of messages of goodwill and physical and financial help".

Staff hope to clear the debris and repair the line before February half-term.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Torquay Herald Express:

Half-price opening weekend for South Devon steam railway

The South Devon steam railway is offering half-price fares this weekend.

The South Devon Railway is kicking off the start of its main daily running season with the promotion as part of English Tourism Week.

Nine trains will be running on both days over the pretty seven-mile line from Buckfastleigh to Totnes, which has a mainline train connection, and that will appeal to families and enthusiasts alike.

Dick Wood, South Devon Railway spokesman said: ^After the February storms, we have all been looking forward to the main line re-opening at Dawlish which is a vital link for the West Country and us. Some 25% of our passengers board at the Totnes end of the line, so we really need the main line railway bringing people to the region which is now open for business^ again.

^We usually run our half fare weekends at the start and end of every main season, but the timing of this year^s event is going to be an added bonus for many local people who have not been able to visit us so far and are also looking for a great value for money treat."

Coming two weeks before the Easter break, the South Devon Railway always marks the start of each season with a special cut-price event to say ^Thank You^ to the line^s many regular visitors, local people and volunteers, all of whom love the authentic recreation of the long gone, but not forgotten Great Western Railway.

Fares on both days will be at half-price, so an adult round trip will cost just ^6.20; a child return (ages 3-15) will be ^3.60; Under three^s and SDRA members go free.

The first train leaves from Buckfastleigh at 10.00am and from Totnes (Littlehempston) at 10.45am. Trains will leave both stations at about 45 minute intervals on both days.

Mr Wood said: ^For diehard railway enthusiasts, we^ll be running both a Great Western era train with chocolate and cream coaches and a set of 1950^s style BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) crimson and cream coaches over the weekend pulled by two former Great Western locos.^

Volunteer workers are always being sought to help with the running of the railway and the South Devon Railway Association (which supports the railway) is holding a start-of-season recruitment drive over the weekend too.

The South Devon Railway will be running trains everyday from the half price weekend until November 2.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Western Morning News:

Railway apprentices learn from golden age of steam


First Great Western apprentices and mentor Ashley Bray pictured in front of the South Devon Railway's Class 25 D7612 diesel locomotive. From left are: Rob Kitley, Matt Ryder, Alex Wall, Rikki Winter, Ashley Bray and Lee Buller. Picture by Andy Matthews

Five First Great Western operations apprentices went back to the steam age to learn about some of the principles of railway operating at the South Devon Railway this week.

Their visit was primarily focused around signals and level crossings, as part of their 18-month long studies for the Certificate of Higher Education in Railway Operations Management.

It was inspired by one of the five Newton Abbot based FGW^▸ (First Great Western) trainees, Robert Kitley, who also volunteers at the heritage rail attraction. He said: ^Everybody in the group had a great time. It was a very interesting, informative and enjoyable day for us.^

The visitors also called in on the railway^s Buckfastleigh workshop, which is a thriving commercial enterprise in its own right. It not only machines and fits brand new steel ^tyres^ to wheel sets on heritage steam and diesel locomotives and coaches, but also to diesel trains still running on the national network.

This area of the steam railway^s operations contributes ^750,000 annually to a group turnover that is currently just under ^3 million and increasing annually.

The heritage line, which carries 110,000 passengers every year, employs 50 people, supported by 600 regular volunteers. In total, it pumps an estimated ^10 million into the local economy every year.

South Devon Railway spokesman Dick Wood said: ^The five First Great Western operations apprentices and their tutor based in Newton Abbot had a busy day seeing what makes our steam era railway tick. It gave them a good contrast between us and what the modern railway is like, but basic railway operating principles still remain the same of course. We enjoy good links with First Great Western at many levels, and a good number of our volunteers work for FGW too ^ railways do get into one^s blood.^

Welcoming last week^s reopening of the mainline rail link, he added: ^Some 25% of our passenger business comes through Totnes, so having the Dawlish main line reinstated is fairly crucial to us.^