to ilfracombe!!

Nº34069 Hawkinge running into Mortehoe & Woolacombe Station from Ilfracombe, with an up train. Some time during the 1950s. (Photographer unknown)

FACEBOOK - REVERSING BEECHING - THE ILFRACOMBE LINE

Devon suffered greatly from the Beeching cuts and seemed to be mortally wounded for decades after much of the rail network was brutally slashed mainly in the 60s. The Ilfracombe line - a magnificent steeply graded double track main line - did struggle (just) into the 70s, closing on 5 October1970. It was the final nail in Devon's railways, and very nearly the last Devon closure (which was the Kingswear line in 1972, though that line never really closed as such, just turned into a 'heritage' line overnight).

Even in 1970 the closure was seen as ridiculous and soon attempts were being made to reopen the line, which stayed intact until 1975. But the scheme collapsed in a mess of financial shenanigans, and the line was ripped up. The heart had been ripped out of both North Devon's railways and holiday trade.

Some people claim this tainted rail revival in North Devon which should really be a centre for heritage rail. Bideford station, Instow signal box and Torrington station are being or have been restored, and there is the fantastic Lynton and Barnstaple line up on Exmoor, but really the whole area has a lot of catching up to do ....

But now we have Combe Rail, a group dedicated to rebuilding the Ilfracombe line. I like to think I played a small role in helping launch this as it grew out of the Ilfracombe Facebook group, which now has over 800 members!! Hopefully many will join the new organisation and help make this happen sooner rather than later. 

So North Devon is stirring. There is even the chance of a 'Race to Barnstaple' as the Lynton and Barnstaple, Torrington and Ilfracombe lines rebuild back to Barny. There is also the other important route to Barnstaple, the line from Taunton, once a busy partly double track cross country route which cut a lot of time getting to Ilfracombe from here in Bristol. A tiny part of this line has been rebuilt of course, as part of the West Somerset's Taunton facilities. So far there is only a Facebook group, but how long before this line also has an active group promoting its early reopening? I'd love to see a fourth runner in the Race to Barny!

As Climate Change hits harder and harder (and warmer!) and as oil supplies tighten our coastal resorts are going to see a boom in visitor numbers. They are already inventing themselves as ideal short break destinations - but to really cash in on this they have to offer easy rail connection.

The Ilfracombe line revival is part of that process ....

In deep sleep 1973 (source)

by the dart

(All 6.8.2011 © Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

FACEBOOK - RAIL THING - RAILS OF DEVON

My birthday treat this year was a trip to the South Devon Railway, which runs from Totnes (Littlehempston) to Buckfastleigh. I first visited this line in 1972 when it was called the Dart Valley Railway. It was a privately owned heritage style railway back then, which later took over the Kingswear line from BR, the latter route becoming its main interest soon after. A preservation society was set up to take over the Buckfastleigh line, probably the first example of a preservation society taking over a heritage route!

It's a nice line which follows the River Dart for a lot of the trip. It almost connects with the network at Totnes, but has a separate station a pleasant 300m walk from the main station in Totnes. One of the buildings used to be at Toller on the Bridport branch, I have photos of it in its original position.

There's plenty to do at Buckfastleigh, it's easy to pass two pleasant hours there, more if you're a railway buff! And at Totnes there's the excellent farm park with hands-on animals.

The line originally carried on to Ashburton, and one day it will no doubt return there. Amazingly part of the original route was lost to road building back in the days when roads were still being built. It will be nice when the line fulfills its proper purpose again, carrying passengers and freight from Ashburton to the main line at Totnes.

More info (from Wikipedia)

The South Devon Railway is a 6.64 miles (10.69 km) heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon. Mostly running alongside the River Dart, it was initially known as the Dart Valley Railway. The railway is now operated by the South Devon Railway Trust, a registered charity.

The Railway's headquarters and museum are located at Buckfastleigh railway station.

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. A plaque on the station wall commemorates the event.
• The South Devon Railway Trust bought the freehold of the line from Dart Valley Railway plc on 8 February 2010.

Route

The line is 6 miles and 51 chains long (10.7 km). It stretches from Totnes (Littlehempston) station to Buckfastleigh station. Staverton station is the only intermediate station on the line. Just north of Staverton is 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, fish 'n' chip trains and Santa by Steam trains. Also the railway runs both full day steam and diesel footplate experience courses throughout the year.

Rolling stock

Main article: List of rolling stock preserved on the South Devon Railway

GWR 5700 Class 5786 atBuckfastleigh

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 7 ft (2,134 mm) 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 three auto coaches that were used on small branch lines such as this.