early days of the Dart Valley Railway

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

Omitted to state it was August 1971 when I visited
Charles B

 

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

 

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

 

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





Steve B

 

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

 

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

 

In

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

 

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.

 

A really sad day when Ashburton was severed

 

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.

 

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. 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.

 

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