South Devon Railway - West Country Branch Line Gala & Cider Festival 28-30th May

Well after the very succesful Easter Cambrain event, the next gala on the South Devon will be our West Country Branch Line & Cider Festival on Saturday 28th to Monday 30th May.

Timetables are near complete and will be posted on line shortly.

Loco's planned to be in use are : 1369, 5526, 3205, D2246, D7612 and Railcar W55000.

Services will comprise a mixture of full line runs, plus shorter runs to connect with the cider festival at Staverton station. Around 40 different ciders, plus a few real ales will be on sale at the festival bar, which once again is being run by the Devon Diesel Society and helping generate funds for the restoration of D402, plus help look after the delightful Staverton Station. A pint will cost a very reasonable £2.50, and there is also a quiz on the Sunday evening.

In addition to the passenger services, and making a change from our popular demonstration freight trains, during the gala we will be running demonstartion brake van specials. Brake van specials were a feature on many of the West Country branches in their final years, and with no fewer than six brake vans (including four Toads) available such scenes will be re-created when 1369, 5526 and D2246 take turns on these workings. 3205 will also get an outing too.

The auto train will be in operation on all three days, but makes more trips on the Saturday, and stops at Nappers Halt are also included in the timetable.

Also on the Saturday 1369 will make one round trip with a two coach Great Western branch passenger train. Further details with regular updates can be found via the sdronline website.

Looking forward to another great event ......

 

South Devon always manage to do something different and this keeps people coming back. The last BR train in September 1962 was a brake van special, and one which has been long remembered, so 5526 in particular will be repeating history. The other classes too have often featured in brake van trips over goods lines - oh, happy days!

Yet another not to be missed gala.

 

Railways and cider; not sure what day yet as it is looking to be a busy weekend, but I'll be there...

 

Working timetables with all train, loco and stock movements and loco allocations sent to the various sdr websites so keep an eye out for these in the next day or so. Also a list of the 40 odd ciders and ales will appear within a few days too - only £2.50 per pint with all proceeds going directly towards the restoration of D402 and the upkeep of Staverton station.

 

The first 32 ciders turned up today, with the others and the real ale expected to arrive tomorrow. The brake vans (6) are now all coupled and ready to run after servicing - look very nice indeed. Formation is four Toads at the Totnes end, then a BR Standard Brake, then a Shark Ballast Plough. Should have a final list of ciiders out onto the web sites sometime within the next couple of days - only £2.50 per pint too.

 

Popped in Saturday "en-route" and spent a pleasent morning at the festival yesterday. The view through the railcar windows gives a perspective of the line that I haven't ssen before.I must say that the stations and the line in general look immaculate. Am I correct in saying that the track has been relaid or re-ballasted through Buckfaslteigh platforms? It really does enhance the appearence of the station and complements the appearence of the buildings and furniture with their fresh paintwork.
Sitting at the rare breeds farm with a coffee, listening to the prarie barking away up the bank whilst the dock tank simmers in the loop with a rake of brakevans. Wonderful stuff.