|
I was talking to old Tom Forrester the other day about the Half Price Weekend. He's the Bobby in the North Box you know. Oh you're not sure what a Bobby is. Well that's what railwaymen call the signalman, it dates back from when they used to walk in front of the trains with a flag in the old days I think. Well anyway, old Tom was saying how much the staff and volunteers were looking forward to the weekend of the 20th and 21st March. "What's so special about it?" I asked.
"Well it's like this. We've got a seven mile long garden here on the railway and every year it needs a lot of tidying up. But we can only do that in the 'closed season', when the trains aren't running. And that means a lot of hard work in January and February. So the Cutting Back Gang go out in all weathers and tidy the line up. They cut back all the old growth from the previous year, just like you do in your own garden, to encourage the new seasons growth. Besides which it makes sure the passengers are going to keep getting good views of our beautiful countryside as the train runs alongside the River Dart."
He paused to light his pipe. "They're proud of what they do so they want the passengers to see how tidy everything looks now. And the Permanent Way Gang are the same as well. They've relaid a long section of track down at Bulkamore and you should have seen them some days when they came back - soaked to the skin and shivering with the cold! But they finished the job in time and now it means that the 5 mph speed restriction can be removed down there. That's a relief for the drivers too because it helps them run to time."
"I didn't realise all that went on." I interrupted. "Ha!" Tom continued, "that's only the half of it. Look around the place, the Station Group have repainted the white lines on the platform edge, they've made a new sign for the loop platform and they've started to refurbish the Museum. So all in all we can't wait for the passengers to see what we've been doing. Besides which we do miss the sound of steam trains running."
Tom knocked his briar on the fence. "But the most important thing about the Half Price Weekend is that it's our way of thanking our regular visitors, our neighbours, all of our local friends and volunteers down the line for the support they give us during the year. And you know what they all say about the South Devon - once you've been you fall in love with the place."
I nodded at Tom. I know all about that, falling in love with the place I mean. How can you not? With fabulous scenery, much of which cannot be seen from the road; the sight and sound of ex Great Western locomotives pulling carriages painted in chocolate and cream or ex British Railways carmine and cream and the hugest of welcomes from volunteers who just want you to have the perfect day out; you cannot help but fall in love with such a superb recreation of a country railway in its heyday. And if you've never visited the South Devon Railway before then the Half Price Weekend is the perfect taster.
|
The approach to Totnes |
Expressway Models Shop at Buckfastleigh Station |
Commenting on the “half-fare” weekend, South Devon Railway General Manager Dick Wood, said: “With 2010 being the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railway, it should be a memorable year for everyone who loves the sight and sound of steam trains on the heritage railways here in the West Country, and we will be playing our part to mark the anniversary with a number of events in our season.
The first is our half fare weekend which we usually run at the start and end of every main season.
There are some superb views of the lovely valley of the Dart to be had at this time of year, and there really is no better way to see them than from one of our relaxing steam trains. The line-side is always at its best in the Spring with beautifully manicured banks and hundreds of primroses and wild daffodils.
We’ve always been true to our charitable roots by giving something back to our many friends and supporters every year, so our Spring half-fare day is just the ticket and always a popular event."
THE HALF PRICE WEEKEND IN A NUTSHELL
All fares are half the normal price
An adult round trip will cost just £5.00; a child return (ages 5-14) will be £3.00;
Under fives and SDRA members go free.
Nine trains a day in each direction on 20th & 21st March
Trains hauled by ex Great Western Railway steam locomotives
Last train of the day is diesel hauled
Refreshments available on board the trains
Trains run at the following times
From Buckfastleigh
10.00am 10.45am 11.30am 12.15pm
1.00pm 2.15pm 3.00pm 3.45pm 4.30pm
From Staverton
10.15am 11.00am 11.45am 12.30pm
1.15pm 2.30pm 3.15pm 4.00pm 4.45pm
Arriving Totnes Littlehempston
10.30am 11.15am 12.00pm 12.45pm
1.30pm 2.45pm 3.30pm 4.15pm 5.00pm
From Totnes Littlehempston
10.45am 11.30am 12.15pm 1.00pm
2.15pm 3.00pm 3.45pm 4.30pm 5.15pm
From Staverton
10.55am 11.40am 12.25pm 1.10pm
2.25pm 3.10pm 3.55pm 4.40pm 5.25pm
Arriving Buckfastleigh
11.15am 12.00pm 12.45pm 1.30pm
2.45pm 3.30pm 4.15pm 5.00pm 5.45pm
Large Free Car Park at Buckfastleigh
Only 25 minutes from Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay
Riverside Walks, a Maze and Children's Play Area
Picnic Area and Wooded Parkland
Large Refreshment Rooms serving food, cream teas and drinks
Expressway Models - extensively stocked model railway and gift shop
Large Working Model Railway - free to view
You could travel for free all weekend
The South Devon Railway Trust
The Railway Station, Buckfastleigh
Devon TQ110DZ
Tel. 0845 345 1420 (local rate) Fax. 01364 642170
Photographs Copyright © Sarah Anne Harvey
| 
