South Devon Railway Trust
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South Devon Railway
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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.
The South Devon Railway has just been named the Heritage Railway of the Year 2007.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Route
The current railway is seven miles long, and stretches from Totnes (Littlehempston) station to Buckfastleigh station. Staverton station is the only intermediate station on the line, and the location of the only passing loop. 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.[1][2]
[edit] 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.[3] 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.
[edit] Rolling stock
Stock currently in service is highlighted in bold. As the status of rolling stock frequently changes this list may not be up to date.
[edit] Steam locomotives
- 1369 – a small GWR 1366 Class 0-6-0PT shunting locomotive. It is painted in GWR livery and currently faces Buckfastleigh.
- 1420 – an auto fitted GWR 1400 Class 0-4-2T. It is in BR green livery but currently undergoing an overhaul.
- 2180 Tiny – a South Devon Railway 0-4-0vb shunting locomotive on display in Buckfastleigh station museum. This is the only original 7 ft 0¼ in (2,140 mm)broad gauge locomotive still in existence in the United Kingdom.
- 3205 – a small GWR 2251 Class 0-6-0 goods locomotive. Painted in GWR livery, it is currently being overhauled.
- 3803 – a large GWR 2884 Class 2-8-0 freight locomotive painted in GWR livery. It currently Buckfastleigh.
- 4920 Dumbleton Hall &ndash a GWR Hall Class 4-6-0, a medium size locomotive that was used on both passenger and freight trains. It is painted in GWR but is not workable so just kept on static display.
- 5526 – a GWR 4575 Class 2-6-2T, this is a typical medium sized branchline locomotive. It is painted in BR black livery and currently faces Totnes.
- 5786 – the archetypal GWR 5700 Class 0-6-0PT pannier tank, this locomotive carries that company's livery and currently faces Buckfastleigh.
- Lady Angela – a small Peckett 0-4-0ST shunting locomotive used as Buckfastleigh station pilot during Special events
- Ashley No. 1– a small Peckett 0-4-0ST shunting locomotive on static display.
- Carnarvon – a Manning Wardle-design 0-6-0ST built by Kitson & Co. (their Works Number 5474). It is currently out of service awaiting an overhaul.
- Errol Lonsdale 68011 – a Ministry of Defence Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST, built to a standard design for large shunting locomotives first produced during World War 2. It is on static display.
- Glendower – a Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST that formerly worked for the National Coal Board in Wales. It is out of service awaiting an overhaul.
- Sapper WD132 – another ex-Ministry of Defence Austerity 0-6-0ST. It is kept on static display.
[edit] Diesel locomotives
- D2246 – a British Rail Class 04 0-6-0 shunting locomotive.
- D3666 – a British Rail Class 09 0-6-0 shunter currently undergoing overhaul.
- D6737 – a British Rail Class 37 Co-Co locomotive.
- D7612 – a British Rail Class 25 Bo-Bo mixed traffic locomotive painted in two-tone green.
- 20110 – a British Rail Class 20 Bo-Bo freight locomotive in BR Blue.
- 20118 Saltburn-by-the-Sea – another Class 20, this one is painted in Railfreight grey .
- 33002 Sea King – a British Rail Class 33 Bo-Bo named after a Westland Sea King helicopter. It is currently undergoing restoration.
- 50002 Superb – a British Rail Class 50 Co-Co Warship Class passenger locomotive named after HMS Superb. It is currently undergoing restoration.
- Dusty – a Ruston diesel-hydraulic 0-4-0 industrial shunter.
- MFP 4 – a diesel-mechnical industrial shunter built by John Fowler & Co..
- Yorky L052 &ndash a Yorkshire Engine Company 0-6-0 diesel electric industrial shunter.
[edit] Diesel Multiple Units
- 59659 and 59740 – two British Rail Class 115 trailers that have been used as locomotive-hauled coaching stock but are currently stored out of use and offered for sale.
- 122100 – a British Rail Class 122 single-car DMU.
- 51592+59719+51604 – a three-car hybrid British Rail Class 127/115 unit sometimes runs as a two-car unit.
[edit] Coaching stock
There are a number of historic coaches in use, mainly built by the Great Western Railway.
9111 King George and 9116 Duchess of York are two "Super Saloons" once used on the Plymouth to London Ocean Mail trains, as was Special Saloon 9005. Hawksworth Brake Composite Corridor (BCK) 7377 was formerly used on the Royal Train. Saloon Coach 8294 was a GWR Directors' Saloon and part of Queen Victoria's Royal Train but is not currently in service.
More ordinary coaches are Tourist Standard Opens (TSO) 1285 and 1295, and a Collett Brake Third (BT) number 1645. Third Corridor (TK) 536 is a "Toplight" coach on long term loan from Great Western Society. 6515 is another BCK that has been converted for disabled passengers, and W276 is a Gangway Brake (BG) parcels van.
These are supplemented by a few British Rail Mark 1 coaches: TSOs W4496 and W4962; Standard Open (SO) W4785; Composite Corridor (CK) E15644; Brake Standard (BS) E43147 and Resturant Buffet (RB) W1917. Resturant Miniature Buffet (RMB) W4805 has been rebuilt to include a bar and is mainly used on dining trains, while a former Brake Standard Corridor (BSK) W35326 has had a kitchen built into the luggage area.
Three ex-BR auto coaches are also on the railway, numbers W225, W228 and W240.
[edit] Coaching stock
On the South Devon Railway there are a number of historic coaches, mainly from the original Great Western Railway. One example of this is Hawksworth 7377, which is a first and third class brake van, formerly used on the Royal Train.
[edit] In service
[edit] Great Western Railway coaches
- Super Saloon 9111 King George
- Super Saloon 9116 Duchess of York
- Special Saloon 9005
- Brake Parcels W276 (known as the BG, which stands for Brake Gangwayed)
- Tourist Standard Open 1285
- Tourist Standard Open 1295
- Collett Brake Third 1645
- Brake Composite Corridor, now converted to disabled coach 6515
- Brake Composite Corridor 7377. Hawksworth coach, previously used on the royal train
- Third Corridor 536 (Toplight coach on long term loan from Great Western Society)
[edit] British Rail Mark 1 coaches
- Resturant Buffet 1917 (Western Region)
- Tourist Standard Open 4496 (Western Region)
- Tourist Standard Open 4962 (Western Region)
- Standard Open 4785 (Western Region)
- Resturant Miniature Buffet 4805 (was rebuilt to include bar, mainly used on dining trains) (Western Region)
- Composite Corridor 15644 (Eastern Region)
- Brake Standard Corridor 35326 (Kitchen built into luggage area) (Western Region)
- Brake Standard 43147 (Eastern Region)
- Auto Coach 225 (Western Region) (Note that this coach has Great Western auto fittings)
- Auto Coach 228 (Western Region) (Note that this coach has Great Western auto fittings)
- Auto Coach 240 (Awaiting Major restoration)(Western Region) (Note that this coach has Great Western auto fittings but with MK1 style seating)
[edit] Out of service
[edit] Great Western Railway coaches
- Saloon Coach 8294. Was a GWR directors Saloon and part of Queen Victoria's Royal Train
[edit] References
- ^ Butcher, Alan C. (2006). Railways Restored 2007. Ian Allan Publishing, 150. ISBN 0711032165.
- ^ Taylor, Alan; Treglown, Peter (May 1999). South Devon Railway - A Visitors Guide. South Devon Railway Trust.
- ^ Timetables 2007. South Devon Railway Trust. Retrieved on 12 July 2007.
[edit] External links
