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South Devon Railway - the unofficial website

South Devon Railway's unofficial site - first with the news, pictures and information.

Heritage Transport Gala

Easter - Visitors (1)

Easter - Visitors (2)

1950/60's Weekend

Summer Diesel Gala

1940's Weekend - The Trains

1940's Weekend - General

A Day On The Footplate

The Clean Up Train

The Qwails Pop Video Shoot

Inside Out Filming

Santa By Steam

70th Anniversary Evacuees

The Bigger Picture - Peter Lemar

Footplate Experience Day

How Do They Do That - 3

How Do They Do That? -2

A Photographers Guide to the South Devon Railway

How Do They Do That? - 1

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ARCHIVED NEWS ITEMS

31st January - 1st January 2010

W55000 IN B.R. GREEN

FIRST OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF

THE CLASS 122 RAILCAR IN EX-WORKS CONDITION

See the Bubblecar running during our "From Autos to Railcars" Gala

Sunday 14th - Sunday 21st February

TEIGNBRIDGE REMEMBERS

OPERATION PIED PIPER

In September 2009 we reported on the day that nearly 150 children, their teachers and staff from Teignbridge Council, along with a group of original evacuees arrived at Buckfastleigh Station for a trip on a steam hauled train to Totnes and back. The events of the day were to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of Operation Pied Piper at the start of the Second World War in 1939. Children from large cities began to be evacuated on trains taking them to what were considered safer homes in more rural areas. Many who were heading for the Teignbridge area departed their trains at Buckfastleigh, from where they were taken to their new temporary homes by road. Of course we now know that these early days became known as 'the phoney war' and many children were returned to their families after a few weeks, only to be evacuated for a second time when the German bombing began in earnest.

On September 16th 2009 the commemorative events took place and included a visit to Buckfastleigh Town Hall, where the children took part in a mock air raid and were led to the safety of the Town Hall basement. There, with lights dimmed, they listened to a storyteller relating how things really were in those dark days of wartime. The children where then able to ask questions and talk to the fouteen original evacuees who had come along to share their experiences of the real thing. Tony Bartlett of Teignbridge District Council filmed throughout the day and produced a DVD which was shown to an invited audience at Buckfastleigh Town Hall, last night Wednesday 27th January.

Sarah Anne Harvey and Maureen Douglas-Green were invited to the evening and immediately seized on the opportunity to offer the District Council a 'mini' exhibition of the photographs taken of the children and teachers when they came to the railway. Sarah commented "we are pleased to take any valid opportunity to keep the South Devon Railway in the public eye and, in this instance, show the educational value of the railway."

Maureen travelled on the train with the children, who were making the address labels worn by evacuees and filling in reproduction ration books. Her pictures were printed in colour to show that the event, and the children taking part in it, were definitely from the year 2009. However the parents at one school - Broadhempston Primary - had been invited to dress their children as they might have been dressed in 1939. These children wore their labels and carried cardboard boxes of the size and type that would have contained their gas masks. Sarah concentrated her photography on these children and in keeping with the period printed the photographs in a warm monotone. Our photographs show the display including a poster produced to advertise the forthcoming 'From Autos to Railcars' event during the February Half Term holidays.

In 1939 the evacuees from the cities came looking for a future.

Those same evacuees discovered on September 16th 2009 that

the future was somewhere they could relive their past.

AFTER THE SNOW

A FIRST GLIMPSE OF SPRING?

In an emailed letter today Sunday 17th January Chris and Jean Bowden, who are two of our regular contributors, reported that they had been for a walk at Staverton, and seen some of the first snowdrops. As it was such a sunny and balmy day in Devon today we thought it a good time to remind ourselves of what is just around the corner after so many weeks of miserable weather. As luck would have it we had a photograph in our library of snowdrops taken at Staverton on February 6th 2008, so it would seem that despite the recent weather we may be two or three weeks ahead of the game.

NAME AND SHAME!

In a recent email to our Letters Page it was suggested that it would be a good idea to show the world who the people responsible for running this website, and taking the 'snaps' were. Head and shoulder photographs were suggested and whilst Maureen and I were prepared to go along with this idea unfortunately the good old Windows OS wasn't, and try as we may to put some portraits up all we kept seeing on our screens was "You have performed an illegal operation". After much head scratching we came up with the idea of trying some different images which, fortuitously, Windows has allowed us to do. Mind you we do realise now that we will be instantly recognisable and won't, therefore, be able to sneak around in the shadows to achieve those extra special people pictures.

Sarah gets a bee in her bonnet about a bee in a bush.

(She never did get that photograph)

Whilst Maureen practices photographing a dandelion?

for her news series of articles "A Walk in the Back Garden"

For the sensible photographs of us click here or go to the About Us page.

UNVEILED AT LAST

BUT NOT YET COMPLETED

Here's the image you've all been waiting for and what a stunning job the team have made of converting W55000 into near original condition. The refurbishment is not yet quite complete - the handrails and exhaust pipes are still to be replaced - and even we were caught a little off guard when the railcar was outshopped from C & W Works this morning, Monday 11th January, and we found her in the loop siding at Buckfastleigh. A huge thank you to the team who have worked continuously throughout the Christmas and New Year breaks to bring us this dramatic transformation of how railcars and D.M.U.'s looked in the 1950's and 60's as they began to replace steam hauled services.

A HISTORICAL VIEW OF A BUBBLECAR

THE SECOND OF THE CLASS IN 1963

Introduced in 1958, W55001 is seen five years later in August 1963, at Sorley Tunnel on the Kingsbridge Branch still in its original livery and condition. As can be seen here the two exhaust pipes were joined together above the destination indicator forming a small box. In the mid 1960s this was changed to two separate pipes and the lower reporting number panel plated over. Rod Budd has triumphed in supplying me with this photograph, although unfortunately he does not know the name of the photographer. Although the photograph is in excellent condition (it is 47 years old) I have attempted to restore some of the original colour and I'm going to attribute the copyright to Rod as guardian of the image for the original photographer.

THE LINE IN WINTER

(WITH APOLOGIES TO THE FILM OF NEARLY THE SAME NAME)

Once again I am indebited to those sending in photographs of the South Devon Railway under snow, this set being supplied by Andy Mathews. These were all taken at Buckfastleigh on Wednesday 6th January between 10.00 and 10.30am. For those of you who have perhaps never been to Buckfastleigh it lies under the lower slopes of Dartmoor and travelling just a couple of miles from our station, up onto the Moors, would have taken you into much deeper snow than can be seen in these photographs - with drifts possibly up to 30cms deep. No doubt just a 'powdering' of snow for some of our many European viewers!

Class 50 50002 Superb	Class 37, Class 33 and Class 20	Class 25 and the 'Yorkie'
Looking towards Totnes with carriages stored temporarily in the loop	The diminutive Wickham Trolley	Here's one for modellers. Closer study will reveal a snow covered bicycle under the stairway to the south signal box.

I wanted to write a caption that said "Aaahhh, don't the diesels look sweet in their stripey winter bonnets"

but then it occured to me that the diesel boys might think I didn't take diesels seriously and would never speak to me again.

So I refrained.

NOT A FOOTPRINT IN SIGHT!

On Wednesday 6th January people living in Devon woke to find a layer of snow covering the ground. Amounts varied considerably depending on where you lived, with North and East Devon suffering the worst snowfalls but South Devon and the railway did not escape. Even the English Riviera in Torquay, Paignton and Brixham saw the white stuff, although by mid afternoon most of it had thawed along with the excitement of discussing the 'new ice age' as opposed to the much vaunted and never ending rants of global warming.

But as we see in the following photographs just a few miles away from the coast there was sufficient snow to create wintery picture postcards. Rod Budd has kindly supplied me with these two images of what he claims is an unusual event in Staverton, and I am extremely grateful to him since they are definitely pictures for the archives. Shame nothing was in steam but there you are perhaps, as in 1947, we might get some decent snow in May for one of our Gala Events.

Staverton Station and not a footprint in sight

From the level crossing looking north to Buckfastleigh

W55000 (THE BUBBLECAR) PROGRESS

As can be seen from our photographs the end of the external refurbishment of Class 122 No. W55000 is well within sight as the first coat of mid Brunswick green is applied. Whilst still well on track for the target completion date the only delaying factor would be the band of attrocious snow and ice, under which Britain finds itself suffering, preventing the volunteer team from actually getting to Buckfastleigh to continue their daily work on the vehicle.

It has also been confirmed by South Devon Railway Management that Sarah Anne Harvey will be the first to photograph the completed vehicle in its original B.R. ex works condition somewhere on the line. We cannot reveal where or when this will be but rest assured that sdronline will once again bring you the news as and when it happens. So as they say "keep watching this space folks."

AN OLD FRIEND RETURNS TO BUCKFASTLEIGH

At 08.58am Tuesday 5th January pannier tank 1369 arrived from Chinnor where it had been hauling Santa trains. After its annual inspection it will then return to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway until early 2011 to operate their service trains for the season. As can be seen there was a dusting of snow on the ground at Buckfastleigh.

Our thanks to Marina Mitchelmore for supplying the image

RECORD FIGURES FOR THE SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY IN 2009

A STUNNING 40th ANNIVERSARY YEAR

Despite the deepest recession for years and against all the economic odds the South Devon Railway has increased its passenger figures, turning in well over 100.000 passengers through the Booking Office and beating its previous 2007 record. The following Press Release, from Saunders House, is being sent out to local press and media and the railway journals this morning, Tuesday 5th January. We print it here verbatim and in its entirety.

The scenic South Devon Railway (SDR) enjoyed a record breaking 40^th anniversary year in 2009 carrying 107,985 passengers over the seven mile route which runs down the glorious valley of the River Dart from Buckfastleigh to Totnes.

After the last Mince Pie special trains ran on 31 December, the railway’s managers totalled up the year’s passenger figures which showed that 99,591 adults and children, plus another 8,394 children aged under five, rode the line in 2009 to make it a fitting end to a great 40th Birthday season.

Achieving over 100,000 passengers for the second time in three years is a major milestone for the largely volunteer run line, being an increase of 8.99% on the 2008 total of 99,073 passengers, and also well up on the previous record figure set in 2007 of 100,449 visitors.

In previous years, the SDR has not counted the under fives (who travel free) in its passenger figures but it wanted to know the scale of its family market, so the information is doubly useful, although the like-for-like figures also show an increase on the 2008 total as anticipated.

The impressive figures show that the former Great Western Railway branch line is going from strength to strength as one of Britain’s oldest heritage steam railways having first opened in 1969. The SDR has painstakingly recreated the ‘Golden Age of Steam’ over the ex GWR branch line which was first closed to passengers 52 years ago in 1958 before the infamous Beeching axe swung in the 1960’s and shut down many rural routes across the South West.

Passing through some of the West Country’s most delightful rural scenery, the SDR prides itself on the quality of its heritage experience and literally transporting visitors back in time to the heyday of the old GWR, a fact recognised by Ian Allan Publishing’s judges in awarding it the prestigious title of ‘Heritage Railway of the Year’ in 2007.

South Devon Railway Chairman Alan Taylor said: “We’re all thrilled that 2009 has proven to be our best year ever with a record number of passengers and a truly memorable 40th anniversary season which saw ten different GWR engines running on the line.

“We have achieved these great milestones by broadening the SDR’s nostalgic appeal to visitors of all ages, providing better visitor facilities and promoting the railway as a great day out along with our linked attractions at the award winning Totnes Rare Breeds Farm and Buckfast Butterfly & Otter Sanctuary.

“We know that our visitors come back again and again to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of steam in the Devon countryside and this nostalgic and most relaxing form of transport - we even had marriage proposals from two couples travelling with us during our latest Santa and Mince Pie trains!

“The SDR operates nearly all year round and we have a number of great special events to look forward to in 2010, starting with February Half Term week.”

ERROL LONSDALE ARRIVES SAFELY

AT ITS NEW HOME

68011 Errol Lonsdale back on terra firma at Zeebrugge after its sea voyage from Tilbury

After a long journey from Buckfastleigh to Tilbury 68011 was loaded aboard a P&0 ferry bound for Zeebrugge in Belgium, arriving on the 29th December. Seen in the photograph at P&O's Zeebrugge Terminal she continued her journey by road to Stoomcentrum Maldegen where she will be restored and based. Maldegem is in the northwest of East-Flanders close to Bruges, Damme, the coast and Ghent.

Errol Lonsdale has been bought by Chris Hoggett and Matti Thomaes. Chris is a professional loco driver (Crossrail class 66's) and Matti is an Infrabel (Belgian"railtrack") operations supervisor. Both have restoration experience on the Avonside 0-4-0st "Fred" owned by Chris and his father Kevin. Restoration is planned to commence once the two locos now in progress are completed. Kevin Hoggett also tells me that the shipping of Erroll from England to Belgium was generously sponsored by P&O Ferries.

There is an excellent website to view - www.stoomcentrum.be - which has an English translation you can click on.

Dwarfed by the ferry 68011 waits to depart for her new home	Home and on the rails again
In the company of two stablemates	The imposing station building is seen behind 68011

My thanks go to Kevin Hoggett for supplying me with the information and photographs.

AN ENGAGING START TO THE NEW YEAR

For one young couple January 1st 2010 will be an enduring memory

as they got engaged on a steam hauled train in one of the most

beautiful areas of South Devon.

For James and Siobhan from Exeter January 1st will always be a special day in their lives. James explained that he wanted to give Siobhan a special treat on New Year's Day and knew that whilst she had never been on a steam hauled train before it was something she really wanted to do. And so with the surprise planned to perfection by James they arrived at Buckfastleigh and travelled down the line to Totnes. As they returned to Buckfastleigh on the 3.00pm from Totnes, South Devon Railway volunteers became aware that the happy couple had got engaged on the train and an announcement was made over the train's P.A. system, to much clapping and cheering from other passengers.

Siobhan said it had been a wonderful day and the greatest start to the year as she showed me her beautiful engagement ring of which I could see she was justifiably proud. For a young couple a day to remember - and from everyone at the South Devon Railway we wish them health and happiness for their future.

NEW YEAR, NEW DAY, NEW EXPERIENCE.

January 1st 2010 and a Mince Pie Special arrives at Totnes

For many of our passengers on New Year's Day the Mince Pie Special really was a new experience. Under clear blue skies the countryside along the length of the line was at its winter best. Despite the heavy rain of earlier in the week the River Dart had settled down in many parts to that still calm that reflects every tree in perfect detail. Yet in other sections the white waters still cascaded over rocks in an angry defiance of anything that stood in its path. The smoke and steam, seen at its best in low temperatures, hung lazily over fields of bright green grass whose colour was accentuated by days of rain and now the low sun. On days like this the views from our warm carriages are breathtaking and for a greater part of the journey unobtainable from any road or path.

For other passengers a journey on a Mince Pie Special has become a Christmas and New Year tradition as they return year on year. Is it the lure of the freshly heated mince pies served by our friendly volunteers and staff; or is it the sheer relaxation and romanticism of a steam hauled train where, as the countryside drifts by, they can also drift into memories past?

There is still time to sample this experience, four trains a day will run on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd January. It's a great way to start the year and we know you'll want to come back in the summer and do it all over again as the landscape takes on a completely different, yet equally beautiful, appearance.