South Devon Railway 1960s weekend Saturday 24th May 2014
The station staff were helpful and friendly, always a good start. I went up the line with the 'Collett Goods' and was able to get the front window on the train. A rare treat indeed at a special event! The experience was all the better for a signalling fault at Totnes which had put us quite a way behind schedule, meaning some spirited running to try and make up for lost time. No: 3205 is a beautiful locomotive, the second to arrive at Buckfastleigh in preservation. It was good to ride so close to the loco as it meant I could see the inside motion whizzing round; it became quite mesmerising! At Buckfastleigh I was able to continue my journey to Ashburton, though sadly not by train as the widening of the A38 severed the line just beyond Buckfastleigh station. The railway's 1964 Routemaster bus RM1872 was operating a circular 'rail replacement' service to Ashburton. The trip was very scenic and the was ride smoother than on many modern buses I have traveled on!
It poured with rain for a while waiting for the next train at Buckfastleigh and No:3205 struggled in. I was hoping No:46521 might slip on the wet rails and make some interesting video for me on the return journey down to Totnes, but the crew managed the conditions very well and we only slipped very slightly at Bishops Bridge loop. The Ivatt '2MT' was built at Swindon in 1953 and spent most of its working life in Wales.
I took a final trip from Staverton back to Totnes with No:3205 and was rewarded with some superb running. I must thank the ticket inspector on that train who kindly waited for me to finish filming before asking to see my ticket. Friendly and considerate volunteers like him, and all the other volunteers I encountered, are a credit to the line.
All in all, a superb day out. A big 'thank you' to all the people who made the event happen.
It poured with rain for a while waiting for the next train at Buckfastleigh and No:3205 struggled in. I was hoping No:46521 might slip on the wet rails and make some interesting video for me on the return journey down to Totnes, but the crew managed the conditions very well and we only slipped very slightly at Bishops Bridge loop. The Ivatt '2MT' was built at Swindon in 1953 and spent most of its working life in Wales.
I took a final trip from Staverton back to Totnes with No:3205 and was rewarded with some superb running. I must thank the ticket inspector on that train who kindly waited for me to finish filming before asking to see my ticket. Friendly and considerate volunteers like him, and all the other volunteers I encountered, are a credit to the line.
All in all, a superb day out. A big 'thank you' to all the people who made the event happen.