Plym Valley Railway
Encyclopedia
The Plym Valley Railway is part of the closed South Devon and Tavistock Railway
near Plymouth
, a branch line of the Great Western Railway
in Devon
.
The Plym Valley Railway is currently rebuilding the 3/4 mi Marsh Mills to Plym Bridge section of the line. The line is being re-created in 1950s to early 1960s period, preserving steam and diesel locomotives, carriages, wagons and other rolling stock, buildings, machinery and equipment of historic railway interest.
The PVR is located just off the A38 Marsh Mills junction, Plymouth. Follow the brown tourist signs from Marsh Mills roundabout, or follow the signs for Coypool Park and Ride. Parking is available in the P&R carpark opposite the railway on Sundays.
Train rides are operated on numerous Sundays throughout the year. The railway successfully opened an extension of its line to passengers in May 2008. Trains now operate over 3/4 mi of track to Lee Moor crossing, the site where the gauge Lee Moor Tramway (now occupied by a cycle path
) crossed the standard gauge branch on the level. The extended line incorporates three stone bridges which have been rebuilt by the line's volunteers, two of which cross the Cann Quarry canal
. Construction of a new level crossing with traditional wooden gates has been completed where the Plym Valley cycle path crosses the railway. Beyond the level crossing further track has been laid and work continues in rebuilding the line to Plymbridge Halt.
The 0-4-0
ST steam locomotive "Albert" returned to service in December 2007 after receiving major repairs to its boiler. Albert has operated on all passenger trains and diesel No. 13002 has been used regularly on engineering trains. In 2009 preparation work commenced on returning 0-6-0ST "Byfield" to steam, seeing the locomotive stripped down to its main components for assessment.
South Devon and Tavistock Railway
The South Devon and Tavistock Railway was a broad gauge railway linking Plymouth with Tavistock in Devon, England. It opened in 1859, was extended by the Launceston and South Devon Railway to Launceston, Cornwall, in 1865, and was closed in 1962....
near Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, a branch line of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
The Plym Valley Railway is currently rebuilding the 3/4 mi Marsh Mills to Plym Bridge section of the line. The line is being re-created in 1950s to early 1960s period, preserving steam and diesel locomotives, carriages, wagons and other rolling stock, buildings, machinery and equipment of historic railway interest.
The PVR is located just off the A38 Marsh Mills junction, Plymouth. Follow the brown tourist signs from Marsh Mills roundabout, or follow the signs for Coypool Park and Ride. Parking is available in the P&R carpark opposite the railway on Sundays.
The restoration
The Plym Valley Railway have constructed a new platform north of the site of the original Marsh Mills station. The trackbed through the original Marsh Mills station is still occupied by the line that serves the Marsh Mills china clay plant. The new Marsh Mills platform includes a shop, buffet and small museum.Train rides are operated on numerous Sundays throughout the year. The railway successfully opened an extension of its line to passengers in May 2008. Trains now operate over 3/4 mi of track to Lee Moor crossing, the site where the gauge Lee Moor Tramway (now occupied by a cycle path
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
) crossed the standard gauge branch on the level. The extended line incorporates three stone bridges which have been rebuilt by the line's volunteers, two of which cross the Cann Quarry canal
Cann Quarry Canal
The Cann Quarry canal was a canal in Devon, England which ran for just under from Cann Quarry to the River Plym at Marsh Mills . The canal was first proposed in 1778 but then largely remained in stasis until 1825. The canal was opened as a tub-boat canal on 20 November 1829...
. Construction of a new level crossing with traditional wooden gates has been completed where the Plym Valley cycle path crosses the railway. Beyond the level crossing further track has been laid and work continues in rebuilding the line to Plymbridge Halt.
The 0-4-0
0-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven...
ST steam locomotive "Albert" returned to service in December 2007 after receiving major repairs to its boiler. Albert has operated on all passenger trains and diesel No. 13002 has been used regularly on engineering trains. In 2009 preparation work commenced on returning 0-6-0ST "Byfield" to steam, seeing the locomotive stripped down to its main components for assessment.
Locomotive status
- Steam locomotives
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST "Albert" – operational
- W.G. BagnallW.G. BagnallW. G. Bagnall was a locomotive manufacturer from Stafford, England. It was founded in 1875 by William Gordon Bagnall and ceased trading in 1962 when it was taken over by English Electric Co Ltd. The company was located at the Castle Engine Works, in Castle Town, Stafford...
0-6-0ST "Byfield" No. 2 – under overhaul
- Diesel Locomotives
- British Rail Class 03British Rail Class 03The British Rail Class 03 locomotive is, together with Class 04, one of BR's most successful smaller 0-6-0 diesel-mechanical shunters. The class, numbering 230 examples, was built by British Railways' Swindon and Doncaster works in 1957-1962 and numbered D2000-D2199 and D2370-D2399...
0-6-00-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
D2046 Under mechanical overhaul - British Rail Class 08British Rail Class 08The British Rail Class 08 is a class of diesel-electric shunting locomotive. From 1953 to 1962, 996 locomotives were produced, making it the most numerous of all British locomotive classes....
0-6-00-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
13002 – operational - British Rail Class 37British Rail Class 37The British Rail Class 37 is a diesel-electric locomotive. Also known as the English Electric Type 3, the Class was ordered as part of the British Rail modernisation plan....
Co-Co 37207 William CookworthyWilliam Cookworthy-Bibliography:*Early New Church Worthies by the Rev Dr Jonathon Bayley*Cookworthy's Plymouth and Bristol Porcelain by F.Severne Mackenna published by F.Lewis...
– under overhaul - British Rail Class 50British Rail Class 50The British Rail Class 50 is a diesel locomotive built from 1967-68 by English Electric at their Vulcan Foundry Works in Newton-le-Willows. Fifty of these locomotives were built to haul express passenger trains on the, then non-electrified, section of the West Coast Main Line between Crewe,...
Co-Co 50017 "Royal Oak" – Stopped for repairs - British Rail Class 117British Rail Class 117The British Rail Class 117 diesel multiple units were built by Pressed Steel from 1959 to 1961.When first introduced, these three-car units were all based with the similar Class 121 single carriage units on British Railway's Western Region for suburban work out of London Paddington, as well as...
DMUDiesel multiple unitA diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
DMS 51407 & DMBS 51365 – T304 – - Currently on loan to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire RailwayGloucestershire Warwickshire RailwayThe Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway is a volunteer-run heritage railway on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire/Warwickshire Borders that has reopened the closed railway line between Laverton Halt and Cheltenham Racecourse railway stations in Gloucestershire/Worcestershire., it currently... - Plymstock Cement Works 0-4-0 Diesel Hydraulic "Vanguard" shunter – operational
- British Rail Class 03