South Devon Railway

Over het museum

The South Devon Railway runs over a seven-mile branch line of the former Great Western Railway between Buckfastleigh and Totnes Riverside, through the valley of the River Dart. The line was built in 1872 and later became a heritage railway, first known as the Dart Valley Railway. It describes itself as the longest-established steam railway in the south west of England, with more than 50 years of preserving railway heritage.

The railway is run by the South Devon Railway Trust, an educational charity that aims to preserve, operate and exhibit railway vehicles and equipment, with the help of a large number of volunteers. It recreates the atmosphere of a traditional Great Western Railway branch line of the 1930s to the 1960s, using vintage carriages and steam locomotives. The station at Totnes Riverside was built on a green field site from buildings rescued from all over the West Country, while Staverton is an unspoilt country station that has changed little in a century.

The South Devon Railway Museum is in the former goods shed at Buckfastleigh station and tells the story of the Ashburton branch from its beginnings through the broad gauge era, the Great Western and British Railways, and the heritage era. Its highlights include Tiny, the only surviving broad gauge locomotive, and a small Peckett engine named Ashley, which children can use to learn how a steam engine works. Photographs, posters and timetables complete the displays.

Hoogtepunten

• Seven-mile steam train ride along the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes
• Railway museum with Tiny, the only surviving broad gauge locomotive
• Peckett locomotive Ashley, where children can learn how a steam engine works
• Award-winning gardens and children’s play area at Buckfastleigh station
• Unspoilt country station at Staverton

Vaste collectie

• South Devon Railway Museum – History of the Ashburton branch and Devon railways, with the broad gauge locomotive Tiny, the Peckett engine Ashley and interactive track and signalling displays.

Beheerder

South Devon Railway Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices are for the principal full-line return fares (Buckfastleigh to Totnes Riverside and back). Part-journey and single tickets can be bought at the Buckfastleigh or Totnes Riverside booking office on the day. Joint tickets with Buckfast Butterflies and Dartmoor Otters and Totnes Rare Breeds Farm are offered as Three Great Attractions.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: niet aanwezig
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Buckfastleigh station has flat access and reserved parking close to the platform. Many Heritage Travel services include a converted carriage that wheelchair users board by a portable ramp, with room for 4 wheelchairs; its availability on the day should be checked with the railway. The maximum wheelchair size is 1200 mm long, 700 mm wide and 230 kg. Totnes Riverside station can only be reached by a footpath of about 500 yards from the nearest parking at Totnes main line station. The Murder Mystery, Freight Train, Restaurant Car, Pullman Car and Drive a Train experiences are not wheelchair accessible. Accessible toilets are at Totnes Riverside, Buckfastleigh and Birdies Kitchen.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Doe- en voelstations
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

The railway promotes itself as an all-weather family day out. At Buckfastleigh there are gardens, a children’s play area next to the miniature railway station, and the Ashley locomotive and interactive track and signalling displays in the museum.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Buckfastleigh is on the A38 between Exeter and Plymouth; leave at the Dart Bridge junction and follow the brown signs (sat nav TQ11 0DZ). Totnes Riverside is about a 20-minute walk from the town centre.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumwinkel

Birdies Kitchen, the former refreshment rooms at Buckfastleigh, serves food and drink, and the Bridge View Kiosk in the car park sells coffee, pasties and ice cream at weekends and in school holidays. Many trains have a buffet car, and a 1950s restaurant car runs dining trains. The Gifts and Models shop at Buckfastleigh stocks gifts and model railway items. Toilets are at Buckfastleigh, Staverton and Totnes Riverside.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur

Trains can be hired privately, and filming and photo charters can be arranged.

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