Buckfastleigh railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Buckfastleigh
Station on heritage railway
Location	Buckfastleigh, Teignbridge England
Coordinates	50°28′58″N 3°46′08″W / 50.48284°N 3.76877°W / 50.48284; -3.76877
Operated by	South Devon Railway
Platforms	1
History
Original company	Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Western Railway
Post-grouping	Great Western Railway
Key dates
1 May 1872	Opened
3 November 1958	Closed to passengers
1969	Reopened

Buckfastleigh railway station is a special train station in Devon, England. It is part of the South Devon Railway. This railway is a "heritage railway," meaning it's a historic line saved for fun, scenic train rides. The station serves the town of Buckfastleigh.

History of Buckfastleigh Station

Buckfastleigh station first opened its doors on 1 May 1872. It was built by a company called the Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway.

Changes Over the Years

In 1897, the Buckfastleigh, Totnes and South Devon Railway joined a much bigger company. This was the famous Great Western Railway. Later, in 1948, the railway became part of a national system called British Railways.

The station stopped carrying passengers in November 1958. However, trains carrying goods continued to use the line until September 1962.

Reopening as a Heritage Railway

The station got a new life on 5 April 1969. It reopened as the Dart Valley Railway, which is a heritage railway. A heritage railway is a historic line that has been preserved. It lets people experience train travel from the past.

In 1991, the South Devon Railway Trust took over running the line. They continue to operate it today.

Station Improvements

In 1971, Buckfastleigh became the end of the railway line. This happened because the tracks beyond the station were removed. This allowed for improvements to the nearby A38 road.

Since then, special workshops have been built at the station. These workshops are used to fix and restore old trains. They keep the locomotives and carriages used on the railway in great condition.

Railway Museum

The old building where goods were stored, called the goods shed, has been turned into a railway museum. This museum is home to a very special train named Tiny. Tiny is the last remaining "broad gauge" locomotive. Broad gauge means its wheels are set wider apart than most modern trains. It's a rare piece of railway history!

Train Services

Buckfastleigh station is busy on all days the South Devon Railway operates. Trains run daily from late March until the end of October. Usually, one train set makes four journeys each day. On busier days, more trains might run to carry all the visitors.

Preceding station	Heritage railways			Following station
Staverton		South Devon Railway		Terminus