Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway
Encyclopedia
The Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway built the broad gauge
railway line from Totnes
to Buckfastleigh
and Ashburton
in Devon
, England.
in 1864, and a second Act in 1865 allowed for an extension to Ashburton. Construction was a protracted affair, the line finally opening on 1 May 1872. It was worked from the outset by the larger South Devon Railway Company
until 1 February 1876 when this was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway
, who continued to operate the line.
The Buckfastleigh company was amalgamated
into the Great Western Railway in 1897. This in turn was nationalised into British Railways on 1 January 1948. The line closed to passengers in November 1958 but goods traffic continued until 7 September 1962.
It was re-opened as the "Dart Valley Railway", a heritage railway
, on 5 April 1969, the opening ceremony being performed by Dr Richard Beeching
. In 1971 the line beyond Buckfastleigh was again closed and the A38 road
was built on the route of the railway.
The South Devon Railway Trust
took over the running of the line on 1 January 1991.
An extension from Totnes station to the Steamer Quay in the town centre was opened for goods traffic only on 10 November 1873. This section was closed in 1965.
Since becoming a heritage railway, a new Totnes (Littlehempston) railway station
has been opened to avoid the need for trains to run into the Network Rail
station. A footbridge over the river links the two stations.
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
railway line from Totnes
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
to Buckfastleigh
Buckfastleigh
Buckfastleigh is a small market town and civil parish in Devon, England situated beside the Devon Expressway at the edge of the Dartmoor National Park. It is part of Teignbridge District and, for ecclesiastical purposes lies within the Totnes Deanery. It has a population of 3,661...
and Ashburton
Ashburton, Devon
Ashburton is a small town on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, adjacent to the A38 Devon Expressway.It was formerly important as a stannary town , and remains the largest town within the National Park, with a population of around 3,500...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England.
History
The company gained its Act of ParliamentAct of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in 1864, and a second Act in 1865 allowed for an extension to Ashburton. Construction was a protracted affair, the line finally opening on 1 May 1872. It was worked from the outset by the larger South Devon Railway Company
South Devon Railway Company
The South Devon Railway Company built and operated the railway from Exeter to Plymouth and Torquay in Devon, England. It was a broad gauge railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel-Chronology:* 1844 South Devon Railway Act passed by parliament...
until 1 February 1876 when this was amalgamated into the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
, who continued to operate the line.
The Buckfastleigh company was amalgamated
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
into the Great Western Railway in 1897. This in turn was nationalised into British Railways on 1 January 1948. The line closed to passengers in November 1958 but goods traffic continued until 7 September 1962.
It was re-opened as the "Dart Valley Railway", a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
, on 5 April 1969, the opening ceremony being performed by Dr Richard Beeching
Richard Beeching
Richard Beeching, Baron Beeching , commonly known as Doctor Beeching, was chairman of British Railways and a physicist and engineer...
. In 1971 the line beyond Buckfastleigh was again closed and the A38 road
A38 road
The A38, part of which is also known as the Devon Expressway, is a major A-class trunk road in England.The road runs from Bodmin in Cornwall to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire. It is long, making it one of the longest A-roads in England. It was formerly known as the Leeds — Exeter Trunk Road,...
was built on the route of the railway.
The South Devon Railway Trust
South Devon Railway Trust
The South Devon Railway Trust is a charitable organisation that operates a heritage railway from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in Devon, alongside the River Dart...
took over the running of the line on 1 January 1991.
Stations
- AshburtonAshburton railway stationAshburton railway station is a closed railway station situated in the town of Ashburton in Devon, England. It was the terminus of a branch line from Totnes. -History:...
- BuckfastleighBuckfastleigh railway stationBuckfastleigh railway station is situated on the South Devon Railway, a heritage railway in Devon, England. It serves the town of Buckfastleigh.-History:The station was opened by the Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway on 1 May 1872...
- StavertonStaverton railway stationStaverton railway station is situated on the South Devon Railway, a heritage railway in Devon, England. It serves the village of Staverton.The station was opened by the Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway on 1 May 1872...
- TotnesTotnes railway stationTotnes railway station serves the towns of Totnes and Dartington in Devon, England. It is situated on the Exeter to Plymouth line and is operated by First Great Western...
An extension from Totnes station to the Steamer Quay in the town centre was opened for goods traffic only on 10 November 1873. This section was closed in 1965.
Since becoming a heritage railway, a new Totnes (Littlehempston) railway station
Totnes (Littlehempston) railway station
Totnes station, previously known as Totnes Riverside station and Littlehempston Riverside station, is a railway station situated in Littlehempston in the English county of Devon. It is the southern terminus of the South Devon Railway, a steam operated heritage railway...
has been opened to avoid the need for trains to run into the Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
station. A footbridge over the river links the two stations.