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South Devon Railway Trust
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The South Devon Railway Trust is a charitable organization that operates a heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon, alongside the River Dart. The heritage railway itself is known as the South Devon Railway, named in honour of the South Devon Railway Company that originally built much of Devon's railway infrastructure, although its previous name of the Dart Valley Railway is sometimes still heard.
current railway is six and three quarter miles long, and stretches from Totnes (Littlehempston) station to Buckfastleigh station.
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Encyclopedia
The South Devon Railway Trust is a charitable organization that operates a heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon, alongside the River Dart. The heritage railway itself is known as the South Devon Railway, named in honour of the South Devon Railway Company that originally built much of Devon's railway infrastructure, although its previous name of the Dart Valley Railway is sometimes still heard.
History
- The line was built by the Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway and first opened on 1 May 1872. It was worked by the larger South Devon Railway Company until 1 February 1876 when this was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway.
- The Buckfastleigh line was taken over by the Great Western Railway in 1897.
- The railway was nationalised on 1 January 1948.
- The line closed to all traffic on 7 September 1962 and was re-opened as the Dart Valley Railway, a preserved steam line, on 5 April 1969.
- The South Devon Railway Trust took over the running of the line on 1 January 1991.
- The South Devon Railway was named the Heritage Railway of the Year in 2007.
Route
The current railway is six and three quarter miles long, and stretches from Totnes (Littlehempston) station to Buckfastleigh station. Staverton station is the only intermediate station on the line. Just north of Staverton is the 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.
Services
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, Sunday Lunch trains and cream tea specials during the summer. Also the railway runs both full day steam and diesel footplate experience courses throughout the year.
Rolling stock
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 broad gauge locomotive still in existence in the United Kingdom.
There are a number of historic coaches in use including two Great Western Railway "Super Saloons", some coaches once used in the Royal Train, and several auto coaches that were used on small branch lines such as this.
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