Tarka Valley Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tarka Valley Railway |
|
|---|---|
Torrington Railway Station
|
|
| Terminus | Torrington |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | North Devon Railway |
| Original gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Stations | 1 |
| Length | 300 yards (274 m) |
| Preserved gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1872 |
| Closed | 25 January 1983 |
| Preservation history | |
| 2008 | Railway society formed |
| 2013 | Planning approved for 300 yards (274 metres) of track |
| 2023 | Phase 1 complete, Phase 2 at the planning stage |
| Headquarters | Torrington |
The Tarka Valley Railway is a special kind of railway in Devon, England. It's a heritage railway, which means people are working to bring an old railway line back to life. Their big plan is to rebuild the section of track between Torrington and Bideford. This part was once a busy railway line that connected to Barnstaple and Halwill Junction.
So far, they have rebuilt a short section of track. It's about 300 yd (274 metres) long and goes towards Bideford. They also added a side track next to the old coal dock. The railway area is safely fenced off from the Tarka Trail, which is a popular path for walking and cycling. The team is also busy fixing up old trains and carriages.
Contents
The Railway's Past: A Brief History
This railway line was built by the North Devon Railway. It first opened on July 18, 1872. The London and South Western Railway operated the trains. From Torrington railway station, trains went to places like Bideford, Barnstaple, and Exeter St Davids.
How the Line Grew
In 1880, the line connected to the Torrington and Marland Railway. This was a smaller railway that only carried goods. Later, in 1923, the Torrington to Barnstaple line became part of the Southern Railway. In 1925, the Torrington and Marland Railway was rebuilt. It became a standard-sized track and opened all the way to Halwill Junction. This new part was called the North Devon and Cornwall Junction Light Railway.
Milk Trains: A Special Delivery
For many years, the Southern Railway ran special "milk trains" from Torrington every day. These trains carried fresh milk from the Torridge Vale Dairies to London. The milk went to big dairies in Vauxhall and Morden.
The trains were very long, sometimes with eight wagons full of milk. They had to be split into smaller parts because they were so heavy. The milk trains stopped running in 1978. This was the last milk train service on the old Southern Railway lines.
Why the Railway Closed Down
Regular passenger trains stopped using Torrington railway station in 1965. This happened because of a plan called the Beeching Axe, which closed many railway lines across Britain. However, freight trains, carrying things like china clay, and the special milk trains continued to use the line until 1982. After that, the line through Torrington was completely closed.
The old station building was then turned into a public house, which is like a pub or inn. It is still a pub today.
Bringing the Railway Back to Life
In the 1990s, the railway tracks were removed. The station became a pub. However, the land where the tracks used to be was kept clear. This was in case British Rail ever wanted to rebuild the line.
Devon County Council took over the ownership of the line. They turned it into a popular cycle path called the Tarka Trail. The owner of 'The Puffing Billy' pub, located at the old station, started collecting old train parts and a small diesel engine. In 2008, the Tarka Valley Railway Group was formed. This group wanted to bring the railway back.
Building the New Track
In 2013, the railway group got permission to lay 300 yards (270 m) of track. This section goes towards Bideford. They have now finished the first part of their project. The railway is now planning the second part, which will extend the line to the first bridge over the River Torridge. They also plan to build a small stop there.
In August 2023, the railway society ran their first train on the 300-yard (270 m) section of track. This was a big step for the project!
What Trains and Carriages They Have
The Tarka Valley Railway has several interesting locomotives and carriages.
| Name & Number | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4000001 "Progress" | .jpg) |
This engine was built in 1945. It has a 60 horsepower diesel engine. "Progress" is currently working and ready to go! |
| 544998 "Torrington Cavalier" | This engine was built in 1969. It started running on diesel and electric power in April 2021. |
| Name & Number | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| British Rail Class 143
143617 Rod Garner |
 |
This train arrived in November 2022. It is painted in the green colors of the GWR. |
| Number | Image | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BR Mk1 TSO 3924 |  |
This carriage is used as a break room for the crew. They plan to turn it into a museum. It is painted in BR Green. |
| PO 653 4 wheel oil tank | .jpg) |
This old oil tank has been restored. It looks like it did when it belonged to the Bideford Gas and Coke Co. |
| BR 743169 China clay wagon |  |
|
| BR 954681 Toadfit brake van | .jpg) |
This brake van is being fixed up. It will be used for special brake van rides! |
| London Passenger Transport Board HW 402 Steel Hoppper "Dogfish" | This hopper wagon arrived in July 2022 from the Swanage Railway. | |
| BR 774178 4 wheel ventilated goods van | This is just the body of a goods van. It is used as a workshop. |
What's Next for the Railway?
The first part of the project involved laying 300 yards (270 m) of track and building a new shop and visitor center. Now, the second part is being planned. This will extend the line by another 300 yards (270 m) to the first bridge over the River Torridge.
At this new spot, a small halt (a simple station) will be built. This will let passengers get off and explore the remains of the old Rolle Canal. The railway hopes to start offering passenger rides in the second half of 2023. This depends on getting all the necessary permissions and training the staff.
Other Local Railway Places to Visit
