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Plym Valley Railway

The Plym Valley Railway is a 1 mile 14 chains (1.9 km) heritage railway based on part of the now-closed South Devon and Tavistock Railway, a branch line of the Great Western Railway in Devon, England. The line originally opened in 1859 and closed in 1962. Heritage first ran in 2001.

History

The line was originally part of the South Devon and Tavistock Railway, a 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) broad gauge railway linking Plymouth with Tavistock in Devon, England. This opened in 1859, was converted to 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) in 1892 and closed in 1962.

Some local enthusiasts formed the Plym Valley Railway Association in 1980 to restore part of the line. Work started near Coypool in 1982 and they bought Bickleigh Siding in 1988 which became the site for a new Marsh Mills railway station. Trains could run the 713 yd (652 m) northwards to 'World's End' from October 2001 and another 617 yd (564 m) to the site of the Lee Moor Tramway crossing from May 2008. At this time the only station was at Marsh Mills but the line was extended to a new platform at Plym Bridge on 30 December 2012, exactly 50 years after the original line closed. This brought the heritage railway to a total length of 1 mile 14 chains (1.9 km).

Location

The Plym Valley Railway is based at Marsh Mills on the eastern side of Plymouth.

Marsh Mills

Located at 50.3953°N 4.0827°W / 50.3953; -4.0827 (Marsh Mills).

The original Marsh Mills railway station opened on 1 February 1860 to enable people in the area around Plympton to reach Tavistock without a lengthy detour to change trains at Plymouth. It was located 25 chains (500 m) from Tavistock Junction where the Tavistock line joined the South Devon Railway's line. Extensive goods facilities grew up around the station including a china clay works on the east side of the line and a military depot at Coypool on the west side of the line. Most of the station site has now been replaced by a road. The Plym Valley Railway opened a new station 7 ch (140 m) further north in 1988. Its single platform is on the west side of the line. The engine shed and sidings are on the same side of the line to the north of the station.

Plym Bridge

Located at 50.4085°N 4.0794°W / 50.4085; -4.0794 (Plym Bridge).

The platform at Plym Bridge opened on 1 May 1906 to bring tourists to the picturesque area of the Plym valley. It was on the east side of the line. Originally built from timber, it was replaced by a shorter concrete platform in 1949. After the line closed, the concrete platform was moved to St Ives railway station so the Plym Valley Railway built a new one on the same foundations which opened on 30 December 2012.