A RARE running day at the TARKA VALLEY RAILWAY in Torrington | Ex GWR Pacer 143617 on the old LSWR!

We continue on the trail to rediscover the old North Devon Southern line, after last Sundays visits to the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre, Instow signal and Fremington Quay    • Bideford Railway Heritage Centre GALA DAY!...   and take a look at the delightful Torrington railway station at the Tarka Valley Railway!

Very much like the folk at Bideford, volunteers and staff at this railway also have ambitious aims to rebuild the old London South Western Railway Line between Torrington and the Bideford section of the Barnstaple to Halwill Junction railway line. So far a short demonstration line of 300 yd of track in the direction of Bideford plus a siding alongside the old coal dock have been re-laid, and there was a detailed model showing how the line intend to utilise the old cattle dock to move the cycle trail and start the next phase of their extension plans.

There was plenty to see and do with the ex GWR Pacer 143617 seeing some rare use and giving rides every half hour throughout the afternoon until 15.30, as well as the adjacent Puffing Billy Cafe serving great food and drink.

Back at the end of July, the Tarka Valley Railway celebrated the 100th anniversary of the opening of the North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway. A full one hundred years after the opening of the first passenger railway, the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825, the ND&CJLR marked the end of railway building in Devon being the last line to open in the county in 1925, and we got to have a look inside the Mk 1 coach under restoration and BR 20T brakevan, also open for viewing, alongside various stalls and displays detailing the history of the NDCJLR and the clay industry that this line was built to serve, and we had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon here.

It’s well worth a visit to see the team’s work and to hear about their plans to extend towards Bideford while preserving the Tarka Trail cycle route and seeing how the railway and trail can co-exist. Another exciting one to keep an eye on in the future!

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