First preserved railway I visited and travelled on was the Dart Valley Railway (now South Devon) at Buckfastleigh - August 1969, would have been 9 going on 10 at the time.
We were away on holiday and for several years my parents had taken me for rides on the St Ives branch.
They realised I was getting an affection for Great Western branch lines. Though not railway enthusiasts themselves they encouraged my interest and seemed to enjoy train trips as a change from the car.
Anyway what remember of it was a 14xx tank loco sandwiched between four auto trailers it was probably either 1420 or 1450 which were resident on the line at the time.
I seem to recall the ticket office inside the station building was not in use but there was a shed by the platform entrance with a ticket window.
We chugged down to the bridge before Totnes were we stopped and the driver changed ends (Totnes Riverside / Littlehempston station was years away!) and it was just a ride to nowhere in those days.
On getting back to Buckfastleigh I recall there was a Pullman Car inside the good shed which was functioning as the cafe and one could sit inside it - we had a cream tea in there.
Then after a mooch around the station (it was all still intact then as the A38) dual carriageway had not compromised the site at this stage.
We went to the Ian Allan Bookshop which occupied the space now partially used by the museum there my father bought me a copy of George Behrend's "Gone With Regret".
After that initial visit trips to the Dart Valley became regular features of our holidays in Devon and Cornwall and a few years later for my 14th birthday my father bought me some shares in the company which now operates just the Paignton to Dartmouth Line and the River Boats.
Though I still go to Devon and Cornwall for holidays several times a year I don't visit what is now the South Devon Railway as often though I did pay two visits during the 50th Anniversary Gala week in 2019. Just too many other competing transport attractions in the area!
Happy memories!
You must make a return visit to Eridge station to see the newly restored "Southern" side of the station in green and cream colours matching the Spa Valley platform buildings. A newly restored waiting room in traditional style and new footbridge similar in style to the previous one.For me, one of my favourite places is the Spa Valley railway simply because of how easy both Southern and The Spa Valley railway have made connecting between services at Eridge.
Not been for a few years but once the preserved railways do open up again, I would like to visit.You must make a return visit to Eridge station to see the newly restored "Southern" side of the station in green and cream colours matching the Spa Valley platform buildings. A newly restored waiting room in traditional style and new footbridge similar in style to the previous one.
No Ashburton was never opened as such.Really interesting John. Were any of the trains running through to Ashburton still in 1969?
No Ashburton was never opened as such.
If I recall when the DVR were granted their Light Railway Order it was only from Buckfastleigh to the Junction at Totnes.
Though I seem to recall there being some specials run over the Buckfastleigh - Ashburton section and the locos were stored and serviced there before operating through to Buckfastleigh to pick up their trains.
I think they did run a service on the final day October 1971 and rail tour ran through that day.
Some photos on the Cornwall Railway Society web site.
Ashburton Branch - South Devon Railway (cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk)
There were two "final day" specials on 2nd October 1971. One was from Paddington, and the other from Swansea, and I was on the latter. I don't have a singular "best memory", but this is one of the several that I do remember. I do have some photos of the day, so I'll have to see if I can add them here.No Ashburton was never opened as such.
If I recall when the DVR were granted their Light Railway Order it was only from Buckfastleigh to the Junction at Totnes.
Though I seem to recall there being some specials run over the Buckfastleigh - Ashburton section and the locos were stored and serviced there before operating through to Buckfastleigh to pick up their trains.
I think they did run a service on the final day October 1971 and rail tour ran through that day.
Some photos on the Cornwall Railway Society web site.
Ashburton Branch - South Devon Railway (cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk)