The Ashburton Branch
(South Devon Railway)
(South Devon Railway)
Credits, Many thanks to all contributors - please see a list on the home page.
USEFUL MAPS
Members and general visitors to the CRS site will be interested in visiting http://www.railmaponline.com From the opening page a full map of the UK can be accessed which can then be enlarged to show every railway line in the UK. Not just today's network but lines from the past have been overlaid. As you zoom in sidings and even tramways become visible.
A valuable tip from Guy Vincent.
Members and general visitors to the CRS site will be interested in visiting http://www.railmaponline.com From the opening page a full map of the UK can be accessed which can then be enlarged to show every railway line in the UK. Not just today's network but lines from the past have been overlaid. As you zoom in sidings and even tramways become visible.
A valuable tip from Guy Vincent.
The Ashburton branch closed to passengers 3rd November 1958 and to goods 10th September 1962.
Preservationists sought to secure the line but sadly the section between Buckfastleigh and Ashburton succumbed to the A38 developments and is now buried under a dual carriageway. However the Asburton branch, somewhat truncated, was reopened as the Dart Valley Railway and now thrives under the title of the South Devon Railway. Pictures of the current line are widely available. However in this section we have sought to remind you, how it was, and for much of it, to see thankfully it has prospered. The South Devon is well worth a visit.
Preservationists sought to secure the line but sadly the section between Buckfastleigh and Ashburton succumbed to the A38 developments and is now buried under a dual carriageway. However the Asburton branch, somewhat truncated, was reopened as the Dart Valley Railway and now thrives under the title of the South Devon Railway. Pictures of the current line are widely available. However in this section we have sought to remind you, how it was, and for much of it, to see thankfully it has prospered. The South Devon is well worth a visit.
Ashburton
John Cornelius writes on 1st October 2016 - Ref the following three pictures. :- With talk about the South Devon Rly possibly extending back to Ashburton,sometime in the future,which would be a good move I'm sure and I hope it happens rather sooner than later.
However, here's a few pics I took there in August 1970, when members of the Taunton GWS group
were on a trip to the then Dart Valley Rly and called in for a quick look around. Besides 1450 & 1638 being stored there, 7827 was being restored in the old goods shed and we saw 4555 leave to take up duty at Buckfastleigh as Ashburton at that time was used as the loco depot.
cheers JOHN C.
However, here's a few pics I took there in August 1970, when members of the Taunton GWS group
were on a trip to the then Dart Valley Rly and called in for a quick look around. Besides 1450 & 1638 being stored there, 7827 was being restored in the old goods shed and we saw 4555 leave to take up duty at Buckfastleigh as Ashburton at that time was used as the loco depot.
cheers JOHN C.
A 'gem' of a shot from Ron Kosys -
action and inaction at Asburton as the crew rest against the platform and somebody in white overalls cleans the smoke box. It's early morning at Ashburton 21st July 1971.... Western Railrover. Overnight from Paddington. A real proper Devon General bus from Newton Abbot to Ashburton. 1420 gets a brush up before heading off light engine to Buckfastleigh to work the days trains. Copyright Ron Kosys
AK04 Ashburton 21st July 1971 1420 gets some attention to its running gear. There is much of interest in this study from under the canopy -
note the piles of GWR 'chocolate' timber waiting to keep the fires going. Also the bold notcies for the Booking Office & Waiting Room.
Was he a 'Way out' Stationmaster!!
Copyright Ron Kosys
Morning Keith,
Yet another piece of BR publicity from the early 1970s following Ron K's excellent shot yesterday, a handbill advertising the last through train to Ashburton which ran on October 2nd 1971. The train, headcode 1Z45, departed London Paddington at 0825 hauled by celebrity Western Region Brush 4 diesel D1660 'City of Truro'. This was replaced at Totnes Riverside Jctn by steam locos 6435 and 1638. Full details of the train can be found on the Six Bells Junction website.
D1660 is surprisingly still in front line service today. Renumbered 47076 in 1974, it was later converted to ETH and renumbered 47625 in 1984. In 1991 it was given the 'RES'-themed name 'Resplendent' and later upgraded and renumbered 47749 in late 1995 when it received yet another name, 'Atlantic College'. Following withdrawal and sale by EWS it was acquired by Colas in 2007 and named 'Demelza'. With it's celebrity status recognised the loco appeared at the Old Oak Common open day in September this year reunited with it's original name 'City of Truro'. News just received today (9th) indicates that Colas are selling their 3 class 47s (727 739 & 749) to GB Railfreight. No doubt a favourite loco of the CRS with such a West Country pedigree.
Guy Vincent 9th December 2017 Many thanks Guy
Yet another piece of BR publicity from the early 1970s following Ron K's excellent shot yesterday, a handbill advertising the last through train to Ashburton which ran on October 2nd 1971. The train, headcode 1Z45, departed London Paddington at 0825 hauled by celebrity Western Region Brush 4 diesel D1660 'City of Truro'. This was replaced at Totnes Riverside Jctn by steam locos 6435 and 1638. Full details of the train can be found on the Six Bells Junction website.
D1660 is surprisingly still in front line service today. Renumbered 47076 in 1974, it was later converted to ETH and renumbered 47625 in 1984. In 1991 it was given the 'RES'-themed name 'Resplendent' and later upgraded and renumbered 47749 in late 1995 when it received yet another name, 'Atlantic College'. Following withdrawal and sale by EWS it was acquired by Colas in 2007 and named 'Demelza'. With it's celebrity status recognised the loco appeared at the Old Oak Common open day in September this year reunited with it's original name 'City of Truro'. News just received today (9th) indicates that Colas are selling their 3 class 47s (727 739 & 749) to GB Railfreight. No doubt a favourite loco of the CRS with such a West Country pedigree.
Guy Vincent 9th December 2017 Many thanks Guy
On the Totnes pictures by Cedric Owen (one of the great characters of the era!) - the engine had been condemned and taken out of service in the week prior to the special. It was specially steamed for the trip and then finally taken off for scrap. Thanks for that Roy
Studies of Ashburton taken in August 2013 by Roger Winnen
Between Ashburton and Buckfastleigh
Coverage of this long lost line now buried under the A38 - many thanks to Mike Roach, Chris Osment and Ron Kosys.
Coverage of this long lost line now buried under the A38 - many thanks to Mike Roach, Chris Osment and Ron Kosys.
Ron Kosys writes of his unique day out:- I’d already studied the OS maps before embarking on this Railrover and a discussion with the DVR staff at Ashburton confirmed that the over bridge at Pridhamsleigh was the one to head for. It was thought that this location was to disappear totally under the A38 improvement scheme (whether or not that was actually the case I’m not sure). Although I had allowed plenty of time, being on foot, I thought I had better get a bit of a move on.
As was typically the case whilst I was on my Railrovers, the weather never was the best. It was extremely hazy despite a reasonable forecast for the day as a whole...
Anyway, off I went to Pridhamsleigh, spurred on by the knowledge that the driver was going to give me a bit of smoke to liven my shot(s) up a little.
Not long after I got into position I saw 1420 appear. When is the smoke going to appear? When do I fire the shutter ? It was click and wind on in those days, none of this auto drive stuff that we are spoiled with these days.
Well, the answer is, it didn’t. It just trundled under the bridge on which I was standing and away out of sight to the right as it coasted on its way to Buckfastleigh.
Good job I fired the shutter (and wound on) when I did, otherwise I would not have had the two shots that are attached.
Not the best. But as always the case with a lot of my early shots, they’ll do.
As was typically the case whilst I was on my Railrovers, the weather never was the best. It was extremely hazy despite a reasonable forecast for the day as a whole...
Anyway, off I went to Pridhamsleigh, spurred on by the knowledge that the driver was going to give me a bit of smoke to liven my shot(s) up a little.
Not long after I got into position I saw 1420 appear. When is the smoke going to appear? When do I fire the shutter ? It was click and wind on in those days, none of this auto drive stuff that we are spoiled with these days.
Well, the answer is, it didn’t. It just trundled under the bridge on which I was standing and away out of sight to the right as it coasted on its way to Buckfastleigh.
Good job I fired the shutter (and wound on) when I did, otherwise I would not have had the two shots that are attached.
Not the best. But as always the case with a lot of my early shots, they’ll do.
Buckfastleigh
Here you see the site soon after BR's closure and the begining of the development of the Dart Valley Railway
Here you see the site soon after BR's closure and the begining of the development of the Dart Valley Railway
A rural scene as 4555, shunts to yard at Buckfastleigh. It looks as if a sale of agricultural machinery was soon to take place in the field in the foreground. However, we are reliably informed that the machinery cluttered the field for some years. The dated scene contrasts with the modern house in the background. This picture 1961 or 62 Copyright Sid Sponheimer
The weedkiller at Buckfastleigh
Buckfastleigh Yard scenes in 1966
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 following gallery, by Mike Roach, was probably taken on that day, or very near to it.
In July 1969, my friend and I decided to buy a cheap day return from St Austell to Totnes, with the aim of visiting the then, embryonic South Devon Railway.
Most trains at this time stopped at Totnes, the journey was fairly uneventful with the typical acceleration past Laira and Marsh Mills, however all was not well with our ‘Western’, things started to deteriorate halfway up Hemerdon Bank and it was touch and go if we were going to reach the summit, which was reached at walking pace with more exhaust than a steam engine! We continued at much reduced speed to Wrangaton and Marley tunnels, with great relief descending Rattery Bank at a fine pace. The days of reliable HST’s were still a long way off.
I recently took the train to London and Hemerdon just doesn’t appear to exist with no drop in speed whatsoever!
The HST design proves that over engineering on the railways pays off, with an installed power output of 4,500 hp (both power cars) on a nine coach formation, they are conservatively rated and this has proven over their lifetime, to be possibly, one of BR’s most successful designs.
To put this in perspective, the ‘Indian Pacific’ passenger train which runs over 4,000 kilometres across Australia, and is approx half a mile long only has one locomotive with a power output of 4,000hp.
Back to my photograph….
In 1969 Staverton Bridge was the nearest station to Totnes and we had underestimated the long walk from Totnes Station along, even in those days, a fairly dangerous road. We made it eventually and were rewarded with the enchanting Staverton Bridge Station and GWR 6435 awaiting our outward trip to Buckfastleigh.
On the return trip I took this photograph.
Here we have GWR 0-6-0PT 64XX number 6435 awaiting return departure in July 1969 from Buckfastleigh, towards Staverton . This locomotive was built in Swindon in 1934, one of a batch of 40, fitted for push/pull designed by Collett, used on generally light passenger work, weighing in at 45tons 12cwt.
She was purchased in working order from BR in October 1965, being utilised on many of the early SDR diagrams.
6435 now resides at the Bodmin and Wadebridge railway.
Ron Kosys photographs have been excellent and we are very fortunate that he documented this long lost period, hopefully this photograph will complement the collection. Many thanks Andrew
Most trains at this time stopped at Totnes, the journey was fairly uneventful with the typical acceleration past Laira and Marsh Mills, however all was not well with our ‘Western’, things started to deteriorate halfway up Hemerdon Bank and it was touch and go if we were going to reach the summit, which was reached at walking pace with more exhaust than a steam engine! We continued at much reduced speed to Wrangaton and Marley tunnels, with great relief descending Rattery Bank at a fine pace. The days of reliable HST’s were still a long way off.
I recently took the train to London and Hemerdon just doesn’t appear to exist with no drop in speed whatsoever!
The HST design proves that over engineering on the railways pays off, with an installed power output of 4,500 hp (both power cars) on a nine coach formation, they are conservatively rated and this has proven over their lifetime, to be possibly, one of BR’s most successful designs.
To put this in perspective, the ‘Indian Pacific’ passenger train which runs over 4,000 kilometres across Australia, and is approx half a mile long only has one locomotive with a power output of 4,000hp.
Back to my photograph….
In 1969 Staverton Bridge was the nearest station to Totnes and we had underestimated the long walk from Totnes Station along, even in those days, a fairly dangerous road. We made it eventually and were rewarded with the enchanting Staverton Bridge Station and GWR 6435 awaiting our outward trip to Buckfastleigh.
On the return trip I took this photograph.
Here we have GWR 0-6-0PT 64XX number 6435 awaiting return departure in July 1969 from Buckfastleigh, towards Staverton . This locomotive was built in Swindon in 1934, one of a batch of 40, fitted for push/pull designed by Collett, used on generally light passenger work, weighing in at 45tons 12cwt.
She was purchased in working order from BR in October 1965, being utilised on many of the early SDR diagrams.
6435 now resides at the Bodmin and Wadebridge railway.
Ron Kosys photographs have been excellent and we are very fortunate that he documented this long lost period, hopefully this photograph will complement the collection. Many thanks Andrew
For more pictures of the Dart Valley Railway in its early days see the Steam Railtours section Pendennis Castle Railtour 2nd October 1965. This features the delivery of 4555 and 3205. Also on its last day see the Farewell to the Ashburton branch railtour 8th September 1962
This photo below shows 60009 Union of South Africa in the workshops at Buckfastleigh following an axle or bearing problem whilst running a special to the South West in August 2015. It spent a week there utilising the company’s excellent wheeling services. The loco ran light engine from the main line and was tested on the branch prior to departing on a north bound train the week after completion of the repairs. Mike Bramich
Bishops Bridge Signal Box
Staverton
Nappers Field
Nappers Halt
Totnes Riverside In the early days the trains ran from Buckfastleigh to a location by the later site of the Riverside statioin. Then for a period prior to the construction of a platform and station buildings at the 'new station' at Riverside (Littlehempston) trains ran onto British Rail metals and through to the main line station.
1982
1985
1986
1988
Six photographs depicting the period when Dart Valley (SDR) trains ran into Totnes station. 1985/88
I worked in WR Train Diagraming Office at Paddington & seeing those pics of SDR trains running into Totnes BR station in 1988. I remembered our Exeter Depot had a Driver & Guard Turn to conduct the SDR crew on those trains. It was a popular turn to work! Yours Doug Nicholls
Engineering train 5th February 2020
Alan Griffin
Alan Griffin
After the 'Lock Down'. Alan Griffin
SDR class 09 D3721 stands at Bishops Bridge with a short goods for stabling at Staverton. This is the first movement along the branch since lock-down and has allowed work to commence to remove the level crossing gate damaged by a road vehicle earlier in the year.
Many thanks Alan - nice to see you back - keep safe.
Early memories of the Fledgling Dart Valley Railway
The late John Vines.
The late John Vines.
Like many others Dad paid a visit to the fledgeling preserved Dart Valley line in 1969, when it was running as a pure Great Western branch line with auto trains paired up fore and aft of a Pannier tank. Pictures from this period are quite historic and show:
Andrew
- The long lost scene approaching Buckfastleigh from the Ashburton direction.
- Staverton x 2: the level crossing and an auto train leaving.
- A distant view from the A384 road near Staverton.
Andrew
Dart Valley 1969 1 The long lost scene approaching Buckfastleigh from the Ashburton direction. Copyright The late John Vines. N.B. If only this picture could be repeated - there are hopes, maybe dreams that the line could be re-extended to Ashburton but it will be a very ambitious and expensive project.
These pictures taken by the late John Vines are submitted in his memory by his son Andrew Vines.
HST Repairs at Buckfastleigh 12th March 2022 Clive Smith
Colas HST power car 43277 stands outside the South Devon Railway Engineering Workshop in Buckfastleigh on Sunday 13th March 2022 following its arrival on an Allelys low-loader on March 11th. Previously this power car has been stored at Arley on the Severn Valley Railway as well as Nemesis Rail Burton, Barrow Hill and Gascoigne Wood in Yorkshire. This is one of five class 43 power cars owned by Colas for use on the Network Measurement Train. The power car is in LNER livery with an EMR logo on the side following the phasing out of HSTs on the East Coast. I expect it will be in the workshop out of sight on the Monday.
Regards, Clive Smith
Regards, Clive Smith
Looking back South Devon Gala Day 2012 Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul - a classic out in the country collection.