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early days of the Dart Valley Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Reading General, May 3, 2018.

  1. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    In about 1969 or 70 a family holiday chanced ( or maybe not so chanced as I was navigating) on Buckfastleigh station and were surprised to find a Pannier in action (6412 or 6435 ) with 4 autocoaches, I think the line had just opened. Visiting last week, I was trying to picture the scene, but it's not easy as it has changed quite a lot. Has anyone any photos of that time which show the general scene.?

    1369 (in blue undercoat) 1638 6412 6430 6435 4555 1420 and 1450 all present and spread about the yard which I think must have been near the original signal box and lost to the bypass. The following year I think it was 7827 had arrived and possibly 4588
     
  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    I was taken there by my parents around the same time and have some 'instamatic' snaps somewhere in the house, will look them out when I get a chance.
     
  3. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    just the job, I used to have some to, no idea where they went
     
  4. 44662

    44662 New Member

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    Hereis an "instamatic" snap I took of Ashburton during a visit to the Dart Valley on my day off from my summer job washing up at Holcombe Hall between Dawlish and Teignmouth.
     

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  5. Andy Williams

    Andy Williams Member

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    A few images of the Dart Valley Railway taken on a rainy day in 1969.

    SVR 1036.jpeg SVR 1039.jpeg SVR 1040.jpeg SVR 1047.jpeg SVR 1051.jpeg SVR 1056.jpeg SVR 1061.jpeg SVR 1064.jpeg
     
  6. 44662

    44662 New Member

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    Omitted to state it was August 1971 when I visited
    Charles B
     
  7. Reading General

    Reading General Part of the furniture

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    wonderful, it took me ages to get my bearings and the photos certainly help
     
  8. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    Like Andy, I've spent a bit of time digging out the pictures I took in March and July '69. It was my only steam ride that year - and the loco was sandwiched between the auto-trailers. I recall that I was not very impressed at the time.

    Peter
     

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  9. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    These were taken on a visit before the line reopened, probably in 1967.

    kscan_0004.jpeg

    kscan_0005.jpeg

    Steve B
     
  10. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

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    Guys, apologies, but for those of us born after 1970, can someone please give us a clue as to the picture locations? :confused:
     
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  11. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

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    All of mine were taken at Buckfastleigh station except for the 6th one (6412 in the middle of the auto trailers) which is at Staverton Bridge. Buckfastleigh station has changed quite a bit since then.

    Peter
     
  12. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    In
    Interesting photos though Peter thanks for posting, makes you think how far things have come at Buckfastleigh since then.
     
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  13. Johnb

    Johnb Nat Pres stalwart

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    I was a volunteer on the DVR in the early days spending a lot of time on track clearing and replacing rotten sleepers under the watchful eye of an ex BR PW Inspector, a great character called Ashley Burgess if anyone remembers him. Transport was normally by a Wickham trolley and unpowered trailer unofficially named Flower and Petal. The opening week's service was with the sandwich auto train, four push pull trailers with the 6400 sandwiched in the middle. I took a lot of pictures on day 2 having been manning the gates at Staveton on day 1. In the early days watering was done at Ashburton and I got a couple of rare pics of this operation before the line was severed. I must get around to scanning the rest.

    6435 Ashburton-2.jpg 6435 Ashburton.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2018
  14. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

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    A really sad day when Ashburton was severed :Depressed:
     
  15. 44662

    44662 New Member

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    Like the first post on this thread I made my visit last Friday and had not been since that day in 1971. This time it was a short walk in the rain to Totnes Riverside instead of a bus ride from Newton Abbot to Buckfastleigh. Although I knew about the loss of Ashburton I did not realise how much the road had intruded on Buckfastleigh. Despite the rain it was a great visit and I am impressed at what has been achieved at both ends. Totnes was just a run round loop on my earlier visit. A big thanks to all the other posters who have provided photographs as back in 1971 all I could afford was an "instamatic". Thankyou to the South Devon for great day last Friday.
     
  16. Greenway

    Greenway Part of the furniture

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    I wasn't at the opening of the branch but I was on the last train (officially?) to Ashburton. I boarded at Buckfastleigh.
    The main memory of the day was the late Cyril Freezer selling raffle tickets for a painting by Terence Cuneo "Castles at Tyseley. Never did get to know who the lucky devil was who won it. :D I managed to join a few working parties, at the week-end mainly, in the Little Hempston area but family commitments did not allow for frequent visits. I came across a few of the folks later on the Dartmouth line, after that line took over from BR.
     
  17. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    Sorry, I should have said. Both mine were taken at Buckfastleigh, and the rather forlorn 14xx was 1450. I've only seen it once since then and it looks much happier now!

    Steve B
     

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